http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060116/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_steelers_colts_wrong_call

Quote :

"NEW YORK - The NFL said the referee made a mistake: Troy Polamalu caught the ball. The league acknowledged Monday that referee Pete Morelli erred when he overturned on replay Polamalu's interception of a Peyton Manning pass Sunday in the playoff game between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. ADVERTISEMENT Mike Pereira, the league's vice president of officiating, said in a statement that Morelli should have upheld the call, made with 5:26 left in Pittsburgh's win over the Colts. After the reversal, the Colts went on to score a touchdown and a 2-point conversion, cutting the Steelers' 21-10 lead to 21-18. That led to a wild final few minutes and Pittsburgh clinched its win only when the Colts' Mike Vanderjagt missed a 46-yard field-goal attempt. On the play, Polamalu made a diving catch of Manning's pass, tumbled with it in his hands and got up to run. When he did, he fumbled the ball, then recovered. Colts coach Tony Dungy challenged and Morelli ruled Polamalu had not completed the catch. About a dozen TV and scoreboard replays indicated otherwise. Had the call stood, the Steelers would have had the ball at their own 48 with an 11-point lead. "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." The NFL almost never makes public the result of its reviews, although it did three years ago, when Pereira said officials should have called pass interference against San Francisco on the final play of a wild-card game with the New York Giants. The correct call would have given New York a second chance to kick a game-winning field goal in a 39-38 loss. After the game, Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter said of the ruling: "I know they wanted Indy to win this game; the whole world loves Peyton Manning. But come on, man, don't take the game away from us like that." NFL spokesman Greg Aiello had no comment on Porter's statement. In the past, players who have made such statements have been subject to fines."

That was the worst call of all time. I mean, you allow mistakes by a ref when there's no instant replay... but I cannot see how in the world they ruled that interception an incomplete pass. Bad call. I'm glad the NFL is calling the official out.

1/16/2006 5:13:20 PM

its cause there are so many rules that they dont use common sence anymore

1/16/2006 5:17:10 PM

I don't think that ref was following a rule, I think he was dead wrong. And so does the NFL.

1/16/2006 5:18:05 PM

He was just trying to will the Colts to the SuperBowl. Complete the fairy tale...I mean the team that started 13-0, coach's son died, and now they're winning the SuperBowl...it's all media hype.

Way to call that nigga out.

1/16/2006 5:22:11 PM

yeah i figured they found some loophole that could be construed as calling that an incomplete pass

basically to keep golden boy manning in the spotlight

the same golden boy who calls out his o-line instead of being a team leader like bettis was in admitting it was his fault that he fumbled, for example

1/16/2006 5:24:17 PM

peyton's a bitch. a true bitch.

1/16/2006 5:32:28 PM

the thing is

the ref made that sort of call after a review

that was one of the officiating decisions made in the history of the NFL

1/16/2006 5:52:41 PM

absolutely mind blowing. I was so angry when that call was made. Glad the NFL is trying to rectify it and they can thank God that the steelers didn't lose yesterday because now it's kind of a moot point.

1/16/2006 6:08:01 PM

I agree with what Kornheiser said. If Harper returned that fumble all the way for a TD, that would have been the biggest play in NFL history

1/16/2006 6:14:55 PM

The NFL know's what they did

They can concede this all they want

Doesn't change the fact that they gave Indy an opportunity

1/16/2006 6:17:48 PM

refs make mistakes

pittsburgh won

its ok

1/16/2006 6:17:51 PM

that wasn't a mistake

it was an intentional wrong call

1/16/2006 6:19:16 PM

Ill put some blame on Polamalu there though...


He should have never tried to run with that ball until it was secured, the INT was WAY more important than any yardage he could have gained...


Even still, it was a completely ludicrous call.

1/16/2006 6:20:05 PM

^not true, with nobody around him instinct says run, chances of him fumbling off of his knee are 1/1000 , chances of gaining 20-30 yds were high, game was not over yet, DB's are coached to run when they are not tackled

it is not like he was a lineman that should be coached to just fall on a fumble

1/16/2006 7:08:39 PM

No, I don't blame Polamalu... he tried to make a big play, that could've been a touchdown had he not fumbled, but nonetheless, he's a fantastic player and those are the kind of plays you expect from someone like Polamalu. Watching the replay of that interception... it's amazing to see him dart across the screen to get in front of that pass... He's just an amazing athlete.

The NFL and that official dodged a HUGE bullet. We would've heard about that call in superbowl MMMMMMMXL

1/16/2006 7:11:27 PM

^^ I totally disagree.


In a 7-7 game its different.


When you are up 21-10 you secure the ball before you even think about getting up. The chance of going the distance when you have been on the ground in the middle of the field are pretty slim anyway.

Esp. cause he's not the fastest DB in the league by any means...

I'm not saying DONT GET UP. I'm saying you gotta secure the ball before you get up. If his own knee could cause that fumble then I'm damn sure a jarring hit by a tight end or RB could have as well.


You don't think SECURING the change of possession was more important than getting yards after the catch in an eleven point game with 5 minutes left?

Come on...

[Edited on January 16, 2006 at 7:23 PM. Reason : a]

1/16/2006 7:22:07 PM

He secured the ball when he caught it.

He just happened to knock it out of his hand with his knee.

Shit happens.

1/16/2006 7:23:38 PM

1 missed call down

10 more from this weekend to go

1/16/2006 7:28:29 PM

well if it came out then it obviously wasnt secured.


Perhaps he shouldnt do Ninja Gaiden moves when attempting to return interceptions.


Everyone knows the referee blew the call on the incomplete pass, it should have been a fumble.


However, if that ball had rolled into the arms of a Colts player people would be claiming Polamalu was an idiot for not securing the ball...

This fumble was worse than Reggie Bush's lateral based on the context of the game.. so to give him a free pass makes no sense after everyone said Bush was a moron.

[Edited on January 16, 2006 at 7:29 PM. Reason : a]

1/16/2006 7:29:06 PM

Yeah, but shit happens when you try to make plays. Bettis isn't a moron for fumbling... although it was hard to believe. That shit happens. People fumble. What SHOULD NOT happen is a blown call on a challenge. That is UNACCEPTABLE. I can handle everyone fucking up once in a while, but holy shit, you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT FUCK UP A CALL WHEN YOU GET 3 GOOD CAMERA ANGLES AND ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND.

1/16/2006 7:35:33 PM

Quote :

"Ninja Gaiden moves "

praytell, how did you keep your balance the last time you intercepted a pass during the NFL playoffs?

1/16/2006 8:19:29 PM

fuck the steelers

1/16/2006 8:28:06 PM

anybody got a link to the play? i assumed pittsburgh had the game and left to go to a friends party for the panthers game and missed it.

thanks

1/16/2006 8:32:05 PM

does it really matter now? I mean didn't the steelers still win?

1/16/2006 9:22:47 PM

It still matters cause if the refs can fuck up something that easy, then it should raise serious doubts about the quality of officiating. It has more context than just yesterday

1/16/2006 9:25:15 PM

Quote :

"yeah i figured they found some loophole that could be construed as calling that an incomplete pass basically to keep golden boy manning in the spotlight the same golden boy who calls out his o-line instead of being a team leader like bettis was in admitting it was his fault that he fumbled, for example"

Pretty much


I understand that refs make mistakes and I can totally live with that...that is why they implemented the review system. There should be INDISPUTABLE evidence to OVERTURN a call on the field. The ref took 10 mins to overturn a valid call...TOTAL BULLSHIT

So give it up to the boy, BEN, for turning around and making that tackle.

Steelers win and all is well

However, had he slipped Ben's hands he would have been gone and it would be the biggest travesty EVER

PS Joey Porter is my hero I'll chip in on his "I got fined" fund

[Edited on January 16, 2006 at 9:59 PM. Reason : crazy code]

1/16/2006 9:59:31 PM

Quote :

"common sence "

1/16/2006 10:04:44 PM

i thought it was funny that the best QB on the field was roth.

1/16/2006 10:24:52 PM

Quote :

"However, had he slipped Ben's hands he would have been gone and it would be the biggest travesty EVER"

bigger than the tuck rule?

1/16/2006 10:26:50 PM

Quote :

"AND ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND."

Thats something else that hasnt been addressed...Im pretty sure there is a time limit for how long the ref can review the play...they reviewed that play FOREVER...it was at least 5 minutes, maybe 10...as if someone was sitting up in that booth digging through the rule book looking for something, anything, that could be used to rule that an incomplete pass.

1/16/2006 11:25:08 PM

Polamalu looks like a monkey/lion/caveman

1/17/2006 12:01:22 AM

^^^touche

^^I thought so too, maybe it just seemed like FOREVER

^actually his face isn't that bad...it's that GOD AWFUL hair, but it does make him standout (though his play does that all on its own)

1/17/2006 12:43:48 AM

I wish I had hair like that

1/17/2006 12:44:23 AM

yeah there's no way it was a mistake by the official. he had plenty of time to look at the replay before deciding to fuck the steelers over.

1/17/2006 2:14:20 AM

i wasn't even really rooting for the steelers, and i knew that ref fucked up as soon as he make the call after looking at the video.


i mean shit, both teams knew what the call SHOULD have been. (you could tell by the shots of the sidelines, about which team looked happy, and which one didn't)

1/17/2006 2:55:20 AM

No, he is a monkey man.

1/18/2006 11:21:06 PM

Quote :

"It still matters cause if the refs can fuck up something that easy, then it should raise serious doubts about the quality of officiating. It has more context than just yesterday"

it's part of the game. people fuck up. next you'll be asking for computerized spotting of the ball for all those 1 yd runs that have to be measured and the ref gave them a good spot. if you think your so perfect go ref a IM game. less people on the field and less time but yet you'd still fuck up 15 times a game.

it's just a game.

however I thought it was a bad call as well by the ref

1/21/2006 10:04:57 PM

Every time I read this thread title I start thinking he actually got robbed...then I remember that I'm an idiot...cary on

1/21/2006 10:09:40 PM

I don't see why they don't do that already. I mean a GPS chip or some kind of chip in the ball and some wires beneath the field. Accurate spotting!

1/21/2006 10:12:01 PM

^That wont work. The players arm always extends forward long after hes ruled "down".

1/21/2006 10:15:00 PM

hell with wires. just spend billions and design robots. robots won't get it wrong and will make instant rulings. false starts everytime b/c line moved a millimeter

1/21/2006 11:37:24 PM