Conflicted on Officiating in the Super Bowl. Opinions please.
PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:07 am
All I’m hearing now is that the officials cost the Seahawks the game, but I didn’t get that impression and that wasn’t the consensus opinion among the people who watched it with me. So I’m interested in your opinions on the matter.
I have one request regarding this discussion. I am soliciting opinions, not a debate on other people’s opinion. Please limit your posts to your opinions with why you think they are right instead of why someone else’s opinion is wrong. Thanks.
Here are the controversial calls as I know them:
1) Offensive pass interference call negating a Seahawk touchdown.
2) Illegal block called on Seattle QB Hasslebeck while he was trying to make a tackle on the interception return.
3) Holding call that negated a First and Goal on the two yard line.
4) Roethlisberger touchdown
5) Hasslebeck fumble
My comments follow:
Mike Holmgren officially blamed the refs. I guess that’s easier than blaming your number one receiver who dropped more balls than he caught and the fact the he himself seemed dazed and confused at the half – perhaps part of the reason that the Seahawks wasted 20 seconds of the final minute forcing them to attempt a 50+ yard field goal instead of trying to get closer to the goal. The Seahawk two minute drill was simply awful in both halves. But whatever, don't blame poor performance when you can say it was the refs that cost them the game.
On the calls:
1) The receiver pushed the defensive back backwards preventing any play on the ball by the defensive player. That is the text book definition of offensive pass interference. I’m sorry a penalty negated a touchdown, but it was the right call.
2) Bad call. The only clearly bad call in the game. The others can be regretted and debated, but this one is the only one that was truly bad. Hasslebeck was trying to tackle a ball carrier. It is not illegal to tackle a ball carrier by diving at his legs.
3) This was questionable. The lineman had the defensive player’s arm hooked with his own. Sometimes, offensive linemen get away with this, sometimes they don’t. This time he didn’t.
4) This was a tough call. It looked like the end of the ball touched the edge of the stripe. It was very hard to tell since the NFL refused to place cameras directly on the goal line. The video evidence was not enough to overturn the call on the field either way, so the play stood as called.
5) The Hasslebeck fumble. Has Hasslebeck fell, a Steeler grazed him with his hand. Upon review, they called him down by contact, so no fumble. This was a correct call. Any contact, no matter how light, while a player is down or falling down makes the player down by contact. No one is talking about this play, which is good since it was a good call. But why is this obscure rule understood by the talking heads on TV but offensive pass interference isn’t? Unless you are looking to stir up unnecessary controversy, I’m not sure.
I have one request regarding this discussion. I am soliciting opinions, not a debate on other people’s opinion. Please limit your posts to your opinions with why you think they are right instead of why someone else’s opinion is wrong. Thanks.
Here are the controversial calls as I know them:
1) Offensive pass interference call negating a Seahawk touchdown.
2) Illegal block called on Seattle QB Hasslebeck while he was trying to make a tackle on the interception return.
3) Holding call that negated a First and Goal on the two yard line.
4) Roethlisberger touchdown
5) Hasslebeck fumble
My comments follow:
Mike Holmgren officially blamed the refs. I guess that’s easier than blaming your number one receiver who dropped more balls than he caught and the fact the he himself seemed dazed and confused at the half – perhaps part of the reason that the Seahawks wasted 20 seconds of the final minute forcing them to attempt a 50+ yard field goal instead of trying to get closer to the goal. The Seahawk two minute drill was simply awful in both halves. But whatever, don't blame poor performance when you can say it was the refs that cost them the game.
On the calls:
1) The receiver pushed the defensive back backwards preventing any play on the ball by the defensive player. That is the text book definition of offensive pass interference. I’m sorry a penalty negated a touchdown, but it was the right call.
2) Bad call. The only clearly bad call in the game. The others can be regretted and debated, but this one is the only one that was truly bad. Hasslebeck was trying to tackle a ball carrier. It is not illegal to tackle a ball carrier by diving at his legs.
3) This was questionable. The lineman had the defensive player’s arm hooked with his own. Sometimes, offensive linemen get away with this, sometimes they don’t. This time he didn’t.
4) This was a tough call. It looked like the end of the ball touched the edge of the stripe. It was very hard to tell since the NFL refused to place cameras directly on the goal line. The video evidence was not enough to overturn the call on the field either way, so the play stood as called.
5) The Hasslebeck fumble. Has Hasslebeck fell, a Steeler grazed him with his hand. Upon review, they called him down by contact, so no fumble. This was a correct call. Any contact, no matter how light, while a player is down or falling down makes the player down by contact. No one is talking about this play, which is good since it was a good call. But why is this obscure rule understood by the talking heads on TV but offensive pass interference isn’t? Unless you are looking to stir up unnecessary controversy, I’m not sure.
