Lions fans protest MNF call with 'Blind to the bat' billboards
The group of Detroit Lions fans who issued a billboard-based protest during last season’s playoffs have reacted quickly to the latest referee-involved controversy that has plagued the team, buying up space on seven billboards in the Detroit area to blast the events that occurred during “Monday Night Football.”
Carly Zipp, who works in public relations for OutFront Media, the owners of the billboards, told ESPN the group contacted them Tuesday morning about purchasing space for signs. Reading “Blind to the bat,” the seven billboards also feature a man dressed as a referee wearing sunglasses, implying he is visually impaired.
The outrage of course stems from the controversial ending of the Lions’ 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on “Monday Night Football.” After Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson lost possession of the football near the goal line, Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright batted the ball out of the end zone, an illegal play. Officials nevertheless awarded possession to the Seahawks, but NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino has since indicated the Lions should have been given the ball at the 1-yard line.
The group of Lions fans behind the new billboards not only were behind the “Detroit Lyin'” signs following an arguably blown call in the team’s playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys in January, they also purchased billboards that took shots at Ndamukong Suh upon his departure to the Miami Dolphins during the offseason.
(image courtesy of OutFront Media)
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