Salisbury GOES OFF on this weekend's offciating

[big mike]

The overturn of the Polamalu interception was even worse than the interference call against Assante Samuel. How could anyone watching those plays make the calls that were ultimately made.

The Polamalu call was even worse, because the ref had the benefit of replay which clearly showed possession by Polamalu and he overturned the call on the field. Was there anything conclusive there that showe Polamalu not having posession and control.

The rule is that you need to have possession, two feet down, and make a foot ball move before losing the ball. If you catch the ball as going to the ground, the rule is that you have to retain possession as you hit the ground. The refs rule sorta makes sense under this, as he explained, that Polamalu lost the ball as he was still "down" (his knee was down), so he didn't retain possession when he was on the ground.

Another horrendous call (actually two) IMO was in the Carolina-Bears game, when Steve Smith should have been called for illegal contact on his two long touchdown plays. On the first one, the cornerback had fine position, was facing towards the endzone, running with Smith, and Smith hit the cornerback from behind, just plowing right through him, knocking him down, to get a free shot at the ball. That's offensive pass interference, plain and simple. But, they called it on the cornerback (illegal contact). Sure, they made contact - Smith's hands touching the CB's back! Apparently, the rules are now interpreted that if there's ANY contact between the CB and WR, it's gotta be defensive pass interference, even if it's the WR pushing the CB (same as the Samuel play). Pathetic. Smith did that twice, and they didn't call him either time - giving Carolina that game.

There should be an investigation and some firings, and maybe it's time to make interference calls reveiwable.

IMO pass interference should definitely be reviewable.

 

[big mike]

I'm more interested in a good explanation of that reversal. Polamalu caught the ball (as stated by the ref), landed, and rolled over on his back - stop the play here and it's a clear cut catch and interception (as if a defender touched him down).

So it's mind-boggling to say that taking it one step (or move) further and getting up off of the ground can make it any less of a "catch".

Remember, if you catch the ball when going down, you have to retain possession when you're on the ground. The ground can't cause a fumble - but it can cause an incompletion, if you're catching the ball and go down before the third step. Since Polamalu still had one knee down when he lost it, he was still "down", so he didn't retain possession as he was down. Perhaps if a defender touched him while he was down, they could have ruled him down there, play over. But, nobody did. So, he needed to retain possession the whole time he was "down".

 

[big mike]

3) How about the illegal hit by "JUICER" Todd Sauerbrun to knock the ball from Hobbs. I could have SWORN that leading with your helmet was considered SPEARING and was a 15 yard penalty.

He didn't spear Hobbs, he speared the ball. That happens all the time, and is not illegal. They mostly only call spearing on hits on QBs anyway.

 

[big mike]

the worst non-call of all - the 3 denver secondary guys smacking Andre Davis, allowing the 3th to pick off the long pass at the end.

That one was horrendous. They seem to think that if one guy picks off the ball, it doesn't matter if other defenders are nailing the WR before the ball gets there. Clear pass interference.

 

[Joker]

Polamalu caught the ball, hit the ground with his knee, hit hos other knee, rolled over clutching the ball with full control, got up on one knee, dropped the ball and picked it up....100% INT....no basis to overturn that call on the field...Polamalu demonstrated full control of that ball for SECONDS in REAL time...that call was an absolutely blatant mockery of the rules by that official...he should be fired and prohibited from EVER being involved in professional sports on any level ever again

 

[mtbykr]

No

Remember, if you catch the ball when going down, you have to retain possession when you're on the ground. The ground can't cause a fumble - but it can cause an incompletion, if you're catching the ball and go down before the third step. Since Polamalu still had one knee down when he lost it, he was still "down", so he didn't retain possession as he was down. Perhaps if a defender touched him while he was down, they could have ruled him down there, play over. But, nobody did. So, he needed to retain possession the whole time he was "down".

Sorry but you are wrong here. Palamalou caught the ball than hit the ground and rolled over (maintaining possesion the whole time), when he went to get up to run he knocked the ball out of his hand with his knee (he was making a football move in trying to get up instead of just staying down) And let's not forget that there has to be indesputible evidence to overturn it -----in this case the evidence was that indy's season was over and that shouldn't happen!

 

[dhamz]

There were awful unexplainable calls in the 3 games I saw. I only caught part of the Seattle/Wash game.

The Pats game had the PI call on Samuel and the missed false start on the FG.

The Steelers/Colts game had the overturned INT, the no call on the tackle of Randel El when he beat the guy deep in the first half, and the ridiculous no call on that 4th and inches where both teams lines were on the other teams side of the ball.

The Bears/Panthers game might have had the most ridiculous call of all when they ruled Thomas Jones broke the plane and scored a TD when he fumbled the ball before he even reached the 1.

That list doesn't even include some questionable calls like Bailey's fumble which could have gone either way because there was no ref in position to make the call and no camera in position to show a replay. There was also the call in the Panther/Bear game where they overruled the play on the field and the guy down even though it looked like no one touched him and then he fumbled and Peppers ran it back for a TD.

 

[upstater1]

On the Polamalu INT, one knee equals two feet. In other words, he had possession. Under the refs standards, you can fall to the ground, sit there for 10 seconds, get up and drop the ball, and it's incomplete.

 

[fillip]

The PI call on Samuel was just sickening. If I were a Denver fan I would be upset about that call. Who wants to win that way?

 

[Pats/Hokies Fan]

Folks, I'll admit that there were some horrible calls.

But I will refuse to admit that those 2 calls (pass interference, Bailey's fumble) necessarily cost us the game.

But if I was an official today, I'd still be embarrassed by some questionable calls this weekend... Polamalu's INT was definetly the worst of them.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

There were awful unexplainable calls in the 3 games I saw. I only caught part of the Seattle/Wash game.

The Pats game had the PI call on Samuel and the missed false start on the FG.

The Steelers/Colts game had the overturned INT, the no call on the tackle of Randel El when he beat the guy deep in the first half, and the ridiculous no call on that 4th and inches where both teams lines were on the other teams side of the ball.

The Bears/Panthers game might have had the most ridiculous call of all when they ruled Thomas Jones broke the plane and scored a TD when he fumbled the ball before he even reached the 1.

That list doesn't even include some questionable calls like Bailey's fumble which could have gone either way because there was no ref in position to make the call and no camera in position to show a replay. There was also the call in the Panther/Bear game where they overruled the play on the field and the guy down even though it looked like no one touched him and then he fumbled and Peppers ran it back for a TD.

That one was a bad call correctly overturned on the replay - what killed Carolina on the play was the face mask which was a good call, I have no complaint about that being correctly handled in the end.

 

[The Gr8est]

Folks, I'll admit that there were some horrible calls.

But I will refuse to admit that those 2 calls (pass interference, Bailey's fumble) necessarily cost us the game.

But if I was an official today, I'd still be embarrassed by some questionable calls this weekend... Polamalu's INT was definetly the worst of them.

It is correct of course that the Pats shot themselves in the foot five times, but it is also true that the bogus PI call was critical to their chances of success.

The Pats had been fighting horrible field position all night in a hostile loud environment, yet they were still able to struggle to a 3-0 lead midway through the 2nd quarter. Things were going the Pats' way even with Faulk's fumble. Denver wasn't running effectively and Plummer was shaky.

Left to their own devices I think the Broncos would have scored 3 points at best.

The horrendous call caused a huge change in momentum and field position...prior to that I really think the Pats felt they had control of the game. The Pats had survived overcoming the horrible field position disadvantage and it was wrongfully snatched away from them...and if you think I am exaggerating how import gaining the upper hand in controlling the game is to BB and the Pats, then consider that just last week they eshewed a very makeable FG in order to pooch punt and pin the Jaguars deep in their own territory.

Being pinned deep in your own territory is frustrating and exhausting for a team...and after overcoming it the refs outrageously and unfairly put them right back in that hole.

Of course, after watching the rest of the games, it sure seems like the NFL
had some preferred outcomes in mind.

 

[dhamz]

That one was a bad call correctly overturned on the replay - what killed Carolina on the play was the face mask which was a good call, I have no complaint about that being correctly handled in the end.

While they got it right on replay, it never should have come to that. The official standing right on the goalline as the ball rolled by him ruled it a TD. It was ridiculous. It wasn't even a close play. It was more than a yard away when he fumbled.

 

[borg]

On the Polamalu INT, one knee equals two feet. In other words, he had possession. Under the refs standards, you can fall to the ground, sit there for 10 seconds, get up and drop the ball, and it's incomplete.

Exactly...a complete joke... If he was touched while on the ground, it would be an interception...This whole possession rule needs to be overhauled. The retaining possesion while out of bounds concept is mindboggling. A WR can catch the ball in the corner of the end zone , get 2 feet down, get dragged out of bounds 15 feet past the sidelines, then be stripped of the ball and the zebras say no catch. Come on.

 

[minvardar]

Boomer Esiason was also saying the officiating was very questionable this weekend. I have not seen one single person not agree that the officiating was bad this weekend.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

While they got it right on replay, it never should have come to that. The official standing right on the goalline as the ball rolled by him ruled it a TD. It was ridiculous. It wasn't even a close play. It was more than a yard away when he fumbled.

That would be nice, but he was one of 4-5 officials standing there in discussion, the TD call was a safe call to make because it left Carolina the option to challenge and left Chicago the option to accept the face mask penalty and retain the ball on the overturn. As long as they get it right in the end I'm cool - it's those blasted non-challengable like down by contact - that wind up chapping my backside.

 

[sunnie1959]

The one consistent thing about nearly all the games this weekend was the lousy officiating. Those lousy calls turned the games around completely. The Steelers won yesterday despite the officials trying to hand Indy a victory on a silver platter. I am still steaming mad about the losuy calls against the Patriots. During the playoffs, the officials need to be the best in the league,and totally unbiased. It looked like they were making up the rules as they went along. It was totally disgusting. There were bad calls during the Bears game as well.

 

[fleabit]

That Colt PI call was just bogus, how can they overturn that? You know who was on the other end of that mic the ref was wearing: the NFL front office. I'm sure he got a "don't care how you justify it, it was not an int.." Either that, or he is completely incompetent.

As far as the Bronco game goes:

Imo, as a Bronco fan, I felt that Lelie was just covered really well. However, there was bumping back and forth for the last 15 yards. It's hardly a surprise it was called, it happens all the flipping time, and for a lot less bumping. It isn't as if they screwed up huge. They DID bump into each other. Bad call, but as your team with the "tuck rule" can admit, sometimes the calls go your way, it happens.

The Baily fumble was just that. No one had an angle (camera angle that is), I never saw the ball go through the endzone. It's just wishful thinking on your part that it did. Quite frankly, since he was hit at the sideline, and the ball left his hands immediately, the only way I could picture it having it being ni the endzone was if BAILY was in the endzone, and that's called a touchdown. He was hit from the side, the ball shot out sideways, to his left. There was nothing definitive in any way, shape or form that it went anywhere but directly out of bounds. Admit it: if it had been your team making that play, you'd say exactly the same thing. Nothing conclusive, certainly not a screwed up call, and most definately nothing shown that could overturn it.

You lose credibility when you start with the whole "missed those holding calls!" mantra. As any pro player will tell the media, holding happens, all the time, on both sides of the ball. On EVERY play. They typically let the players play, and only call the really blatant stuff. The home teams -always- sees holding from the other team, but ignores your own, that's just homerism for ya. I do the same. But I don't complain about it afterwards.

So in our game, I'd say there was one bad call: the PI call. I think it was good coverage, but much worse stuff gets called week in and week out. It isn't as if he just slightly bumped into him, they were slapping at each other like little girls for 15 yards. Typically, the defender ends up getting the benefit of the doubt. Just like in the Colts game. The runner and the tackler went at each other. The runner stiff-armed, the other was trying to tackle. They BOTH face-masked each other. Yet only the defender got called for it.

 

[CheerforTom]

That Colt PI call was just bogus, how can they overturn that? You know who was on the other end of that mic the ref was wearing: the NFL front office. I'm sure he got a "don't care how you justify it, it was not an int.." Either that, or he is completely incompetent.

As far as the Bronco game goes:

Imo, as a Bronco fan, I felt that Lelie was just covered really well. However, there was bumping back and forth for the last 15 yards. It's hardly a surprise it was called, it happens all the flipping time, and for a lot less bumping. It isn't as if they screwed up huge. They DID bump into each other. Bad call, but as your team with the "tuck rule" can admit, sometimes the calls go your way, it happens.

The Baily fumble was just that. No one had an angle (camera angle that is), I never saw the ball go through the endzone. It's just wishful thinking on your part that it did. Quite frankly, since he was hit at the sideline, and the ball left his hands immediately, the only way I could picture it having it being ni the endzone was if BAILY was in the endzone, and that's called a touchdown. He was hit from the side, the ball shot out sideways, to his left. There was nothing definitive in any way, shape or form that it went anywhere but directly out of bounds. Admit it: if it had been your team making that play, you'd say exactly the same thing. Nothing conclusive, certainly not a screwed up call, and most definately nothing shown that could overturn it.

You lose credibility when you start with the whole "missed those holding calls!" mantra. As any pro player will tell the media, holding happens, all the time, on both sides of the ball. On EVERY play. They typically let the players play, and only call the really blatant stuff. The home teams -always- sees holding from the other team, but ignores your own, that's just homerism for ya. I do the same. But I don't complain about it afterwards.

So in our game, I'd say there was one bad call: the PI call. I think it was good coverage, but much worse stuff gets called week in and week out. It isn't as if he just slightly bumped into him, they were slapping at each other like little girls for 15 yards. Typically, the defender ends up getting the benefit of the doubt. Just like in the Colts game. The runner and the tackler went at each other. The runner stiff-armed, the other was trying to tackle. They BOTH face-masked each other. Yet only the defender got called for it.

To be honest man, you're the literally first person I've heard claim the PI call was semi-justified, and I've heard Pats fans, neutral fans and analysts discuss it. I think even the trolls admitted that it was crap, but that it didn't affect the overall outcome of the game. You do call it a bad call though, so don't get me wrong.

For me, it was the culmination of a year-long frustration, cause it seems every time the QB goes deep in this league nowadays, after the play is down it's just a matter of waiting for the flag.

I'm tired of arguing about the Bailey fumble, so I'll just point this out: don't forget that Bailey was in the process of holding his arms out in celebration since he didn't see Watson at all. That motion of holding the ball out another 2 feet from his body makes a big difference. It DID pop out pretty sideways, the replay shows that, but I think there's little doubt he was close enough to the endzone to make the path of the ball breach the plain. HOWEVER, with no camera evidence the refs made the right call in not overturning it, regardless of what actually happened - this was another (more indirect) way we got bit in the ass by the officiating, they really should have some kind of camera for this situation.

Getting back to the crappy officiating all over the league this weekend, I don't know if this one's been mentioned yet, but it was pretty blatant - the play clock CLEARLY running out on Grossman, yet he was allowed to snap the ball... and he throws a pick. The pick certainly isn't the ref's fault, but the play happening at all is.

 

[dhamz]

He was hit from the side, the ball shot out sideways, to his left.

That is ridiculous. The ball did not shoot out sideways. If you think it did, you must work for the Warren Commission and think footballs and bullets stop and turn in midair since the ball landed well out of bounds past the end line to the left. If it went out sideways as you say it had to have turned in mid air to land where it did. The ball went forward at an angle. From where Bailey was when he got hit, with 1 foot just in front of the pylon and the ball in the other arm it seems unlikely to me that the ball never crossed through the end zone but no one can say for sure either way.

The major issue is that there was no angle that shows it either way. That is a bad job by CBS and the NFL for not keeping a camera on each end of each goaline. What was needed was a shot from the other side of the field right on the goalline to see if it crossed before going out. There was none so the ruling on the field which no matter what was called was no more than a guess by a ref way out out of position has to stand.