This thread all started about DB speed and how it affected us in the playoff with the Colts. Yes it hurt but the officiating was sub par and every Colts and Pat fan knows it. I beg to differ sir on you comment about the outcomes. Pollian went to the league to change the rules when he could not win when people were physical on his players. He personally moaned to the point where it changed the league rules with his power in the competition committee. 2005 was tainted but the refs screwed up and couldn't get the Colts in the SB (see Polymalu).
I will swap you the arm on Clark for the Hobbs phantom touch and hence screw up call by the refs, the Brown call and then the worse play of the game, the CALDWELL MUGGING CALL WITH THREE MINUTES THAT CHANGED THE WHOLE OUTCOME OF THE SUPERBOWL. If it was in the first quarter fine.
I am sorry but the Colts win was tainted. Did the Pats deserve to win blowing a big lead to that in a playoff? Sick or not, 2nd stringers or not, they needed to play better so perhaps in the end the Colts deserved it to get Peyton his win and that over with. Point was, you can't have calls like that in a Championship game (all four of them).
The Pats got lucky with the Raiders a few years back, but it was a rule book call. People never talk about the fact that Brady got wacked in the head by the DB on the blitz. Could have been called RTP anyway. Would have made up for the Raiders RTP in 76 I guess.
DW Toys
Well, you are the first I have heard from that truely feels NE got screwed. I would like to get all the plays in question straight. The Wayne "no call" would never have happened had the proper call been made on the previous play to Clark. In addition, that score would then have been 21-10 at half. I assume the Brown call was the pick play that during the game, Simms said was the correct call. The replay where they show the overhead shot, and the clear contact? IMO, correct call. The Caldwell call, I was as surprised as you that they didn't call it. However, in light of the NO CALL on WAYNE earlier in the contest, I think the officials drew it even. The thing on that play was, even though Reche reached out and got his hand on the ball, it was clearly overthrown, even had Reche been able to catch it, IMO he's OB. IMO, the official did not feel like the Pats should benefit from a poorly thrown pass. On the other hand, on the SECOND Wayne PI, where (samuel) did the "face guarding" (which is no longer a rule), the officials felt like the ball was on target, Wayne beat his man, the DB was out of position and had made a desparation attempt that illegally impeded the offensive player. IMO, refs did not feel like Pats should benefit, or Colts be penalized on a play that clearly had the DB beat. Tainted? HA, no way.
On the Troy P. play (it has been awhile), I was amazed at that call as well. HOWEVER, the refs have actually been somewhat consistent. He caught the ball, rolled, as he gets up, his knee knocks the ball out, he clearly did not meeet the definition of a "football move", therefore, call was incomplete. Wayne had a long pass at end of half vs. Jax where he caught the ball got two feet down, rolled, ball comes out, grazes turf befor eWayne regain control, they call it INC. More egregious by far than the Troy P. call.
In the end, as I watch, my gut says pick, the RULE says otherwise. In the end, the "tuck"?, THAT was a fumble, but the RULE says otherwise. Sadly, NE took advantage, Colts did not.
As far as speed, I answered that as well. The DBs played very well in AFCCG, speed or no speed, they made the plays. Speed, IMO, is a bit overrated. Look at Fletcher's catch. Wasn't the defender supposedly FASTER in the 40 than Fletch?? Look at guys like Fred Blitnikoff, how was he so successful. Why weren't other burners MORE successful than they were? Willie Gault, Renaldo, and others, why can't they just do a fly pattern down after down and score?
Oops, Polian, I forgot. I guess I don't understand why folks have a problem with the rules being enforced as they were written? If a guy constantly gets mugged (illegally), and it disrupts the play, time and again, what would you expect. Hell, the NFL made it pretty clear that the game wasn't called the way the rules CALL for it to be called. I have a hard time believing that everyone just bows down to Polian, or that he has extra clout because he is on the competition committee.
Common Pats answer is hey, Colts could have done it too. I guess I would say, get someone from the Pats on that same committee if you think it helps so damn much.