Breaking News: NFL says Polamalu call WRONG

[pats1]

It's on ESPNews right now.

This morning, there were plenty of stories saying the NFL stands by the referee, and it was a judgement call.

 

[marty]

It's on ESPNews right now.

This morning, there were plenty of stories saying the NFL stands by the referee, and it was a judgement call.

There's hope for the NFL after all! Thank god that call didn't change the outcome of the game!

 

[PATSummerallofthe80s]

Any comments on the no call Pass Interference on Randal-El or the no call encroachment?

 

[Ceresco]

Good now they better fire that ref and find a way to clone Ed Hochuli so he can do every game.

 

[aabtec]

its about time...

 

[emoney_33]

a ref who can get a call wrong after a replay, and get it so wrong should never ref another NFL game again.

He basically said there was CONCLUSIVE evidence that it was an incomplete and he was 100% wrong... He obviously either had a colts bias or doesn't know the rules of the NFL and thus should never ref again!



oh and I think they need to do something about refs further away from a play throwing a flag like what happened in the pats game. That should be the side judge's call unless he ASKS for help. That's like in baseball, the 1b umpire comes running down and tells the homeplate ump that it's a strike, strike 3 he's out.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

It's on ESPNews right now.

This morning, there were plenty of stories saying the NFL stands by the referee, and it was a judgement call.

I wonder if they would have fessed up if the Colts had won.

 

[Murphys95]

Good. Glad the league made a statement. It was in their best interest, now the issue can be put to bed (until next week). The NFL is lucky the Steelers pulled this one out.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/news/story?id=2294309

"The definition of a catch -- or in this case an interception -- states that in the process of making a catch a player must maintain possession of the ball after he contacts the ground," Pereira said.

"The initial call on the field was that Troy Polamalu intercepted the pass because he maintained possession of the ball after hitting the ground. The replay showed that Polamalu had rolled over and was rising to his feet when the ball came loose. He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch. Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the field that it was a catch and fumble.

"The rule regarding the performing of an act common to the game applies when there is contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did not happen here."

 

[mtbykr]

Well

Glad to hear the NFL did it, although we all know it never would have happened if the dolts had one. For this reason the pats won't get an apology! It's ok for the NFL to say they were wrong as long as the outcome of the game wasn't affected---if it was they won't say it!

 

[BradyisGod]

Good. Glad the league made a statement. It was in there best interest, now the issue can be put to bed (until next week). The NFL is lucky the Steelers pulled this one out.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/news/story?id=2294309

"The definition of a catch -- or in this case an interception -- states that in the process of making a catch a player must maintain possession of the ball after he contacts the ground," Pereira said.

"The initial call on the field was that Troy Polamalu intercepted the pass because he maintained possession of the ball after hitting the ground. The replay showed that Polamalu had rolled over and was rising to his feet when the ball came loose. He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch. Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the field that it was a catch and fumble.

"The rule regarding the performing of an act common to the game applies when there is contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did not happen here."

Good. This also makes Mike Francesa wrong who said that "the call was correct and to the letter of the law", while he didn't agree with the rule, it was similar to the tuck. I knew he was BS.

 

[Willie55]

Isn't it pathetic that all of us sitting on our couches at home know this crap better than the professionals being paid to make the decisions.

 

[Fanfrom1960]

Isn't it pathetic that all of us sitting on our couches at home know this crap better than the professionals being paid to make the decisions.

So true. The biggest weakness of the NFL may be that the officials are just part timers vs. "pros" like baseball umpires are. Still, you'd think they could come up with enough knowledgable ones for the playoffs, especially the second round. Ben Dreith is probably saying right now 'gee, I wasn't so bad." Still, F___ him too.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

BB is on WEEI now and he just confirmed that the side judge told him he didn't see interference, but I guess he either didn't have the stones to argue his non call or perhaps Tripplet doesn't cotton to showing up another member of his crew who throws one 20 seconds late from 30 feet away. He's being slightly obtuse for obvious reasons, but it's also pretty clear he believes the ball went through the end zone. Says he has been calling for cameras focused on the line for a long time but the league has always taken the position that in playoff games in particular the network has plenty of cameras. Unfortunately it never has one trained on the most critical position on the field.

The NFL has so much egg on it's face after this weekend they had to cop a plea on at least one offense. The Polamalu call was certainly the most egregious. I doubt they'll plead guilty on all counts but you can pretty much bet that's the effect they hope to net. They are very uncomfortable today with the position their officials put them in in both AFC playoff games and to a lesser extent in one of the two NFC games. BB did also say that they no longer compile playoff crews based on individual officials ratings as they had done for a time. They are back to taking entire crews intact. I have a feeling that is about to change. Along with replay for interference calls. Perhaps they need to encourage if not mandate that the ref with the primary responsibility on the play be consulted when a call like that is made and he did not throw his flag. The judgement excuse doesn't cut the mustard because most of what these officials do is judgement driven.

 

[sieglo]

He's being slightly obtuse for obvious reasons, but it's also pretty clear he believes the ball went through the end zone. Says he has been calling for cameras focused on the line for a long time but the league has always taken the position that in playoff games in particular the network has plenty of cameras. Unfortunately it never has one trained on the most critical position on the field.

They need four cameras.... Two to cover from each side of the goal line, and two to cover each sideline. Then they need the technology to split screen the camera views, synchronize them, and then watch the play frame by frame. If the ball crosses the goalline in a frame, but isn't yet outside the sideline, then it's a touchback.

I'm not sure they currently have this synchronized split screen technology under the hood. But they need it to get these play calls correct.

 

[Joker]

Where's Mike??He wrote this long winded dissertation yesterday essentially stating it was the correct call and implying we are all morons...where is he now?