Broncos' Bly calls out officials on key plays

DENVER · Cornerback Dre Bly couldn't hold back after two important calls went against the Denver Broncos in the second half of Sunday's loss to Jacksonville.

On a third down and 17, Jacksonville receiver Reggie Williams bumped into Bly, who landed on the ground, but an illegal contact penalty was called on Bly. That gave Jacksonville an automatic first down.

On Jacksonville's last drive, a long pass to tight end Greg Estandia was broken up by safety Marquand Manuel, who was facing Estandia, and Marlon McCree, who hit Estandia in the back. A pass interference penalty was called.

Bly wasn't pleased with either call.

"I guess, you know, you watch film, and after the first couple of weeks they feel they have to get a call against us," Bly said.

Bly was referencing controversial calls early in the season in which a Jay Cutler fumble was called an incompletion against San Diego and an apparent offsides infraction on Broncos linebacker Jamie Winborn wasn't called when Denver stopped New Orleans on a key third down. Bly referenced that again later in his postgame comments.

"The first couple games, I guess they've been evaluating us and saying we won games we shouldn't have won, so I guess they're going to get a call against us," Bly said.

The illegal contact call led to a Jaguars touchdown, but the pass interference call was almost as damaging. The Broncos never got the ball back after the call, which happened with 4:33 left on a second and 8.

"Being right there looking at it, I would have bet a dollar to a doughnut it wasn't (interference), but it doesn't really matter, that didn't lose us the game," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

"You saw it, that's all I can say about it, man," Manuel said. "I didn't touch him."

The Broncos saw a replay on the stadium video board of the interference call, and they were animated in their arguments with the officials.

"Just watching the replays, it's kind of hard not to say anything without getting fined," said cornerback Champ Bailey, referring to NFL fines for criticizing officials.

Contact the writer: 476-4891 or frank.schwab@gazette.com