The_Dragon

From profootballtalk.com

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

LEAGUE ADMITS FACE-GUARDING SCREW UP

In response to an item in our Conference Championship Ten-Pack regarding a key pass interference call on Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs that allowed the Colts to complete an 18-point comeback and knot the game at 21, a member of PFT Planet has alerted us to a January 25, 2007 "Q&A" on Jaguars.com in which Vic Ketcham writes that the NFL has acknowledged that a bad call was made.

Writes Ketcham, in response to a question that chastised him for suggesting that face-guarding is still forbidden:

"Face-guarding was discontinued several years ago and I completely missed it. I talked to Dean Blandino in the league office and he confirmed what you're saying. Blandino, by the way, was in the replay booth at the Patriots-Colts game. Ellis Hobbs should not have been flagged for pass-interference. He didn't make contact with the receiver and in no way did Hobbs impede Reggie Wayne's ability to catch the pass. Blandino confirmed that the incorrect call was made. It advanced the ball from the Patriots' 19-yard line to the one-yard line and was the big play in a touchdown drive that led to a two-point conversion and a tie game at 21-21. Referee Bill Carollo made no reference to face-guarding in his explanation, but CBS analyst Phil Simms did. Apparently, he, too, doesn't know the rule no longer exists. The next time you hear a TV analyst say, 'he wasn’t playing the ball,' think of the Hobbs play, then turn down the sound."

Make no mistake about it, it was a key call. And, to their credit, we haven't heard a public peep from the "no class" Pats about the play.

Gee, what would Napolian have done if that phantom flag had been thrown on a member of the Colts' defense?

BradfordPatsFan

Was that a 3rd down play? I can't bring myself to recall much of the game beyond the obvious....

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maverick4

A huge play in the game that gave the Colts an easy path to a TD

Oswlek

2nd, but it would have been 3rd and 7.

So Indy was given 18 yards and a first down, and NE had the same taken away from them.

Shocking.

PatsFanSince74

good question...i forget too...could someone remind us...i think it was third and long and they would have had to kick a FG...

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Tunescribe

The only fair thing would be to play the game over from that point on.

stevedogc

How great would it be if BB went to the competition committee with this and complained about the officials not making the correct calls or not knowing the rules. Polian would go nuts.

mtbykr

Well Polian supposidly talked to the officials before the game and let them know how the "compitition committee" wanted the game called........sounds like they got what they wanted!

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primetime

Jesus, that's a heartbreaker.

Robdude

It was a sad thing that Ellis gets a call that basically hands the Colts a touchdown and it turns out he did nothing wrong. Then a clear pass interference occurs on Caldwell in the end zone and no call is made which sets up a field goal instead of a TD for us.

Not to say the refs lost the game for us but in a game this close those 2 calls (or 1 call and 1 no call) make a difference.