Posted on 02/07/2006 6:58:40 PM PST by bikepacker67
As fans continued to weigh in on calls by officials during the Super Bowl, a group has set up an online petition claiming the "NFL is fixed."
The petition, at http://new.petitiononline.com/nfl12006/petition.html, says "We, the fans of the NFL, will no longer stand by and allow our pure game to be corrupted by blatant bias."
The petitions ask fans for suggestions on how the problem can be fixed.
Seahawks fans are voicing outrage over what they say were game-robbing calls by officials in the Super Bowl.
In one, Darrell Jackson was called for pushing Chris Hope away as he broke to catch Matt Hasselbeck's pass in the back of the end zone. Replays showed Jackson extended his arm, but Jackson argued vainly there was no push involved. Seattle settled for a 47-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead -- instead of a 7-0 one.
Later, referees ruled that Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got the ball to touch the goal-line plane on his 1-yard score with 1:55 left, which put the Seahawks behind for good, 7-3.
Referee Bill Leavy upheld the call after a replay review. Holmgren then upbraided Leavy on his way off the field at halftime.
Holmgren walked over to Leavy, a fifth-year referee calling his first Super Bowl, and could be seen angrily telling him, "It wasn't even close."
The second half brought more Seahawks frustration.
Officials flagged first-year starting right tackle Sean Locklear for holding when Stevens did finally catch a pass, a 17-yard grab at the Steelers 2 with 12:11 left and Seattle trailing 14-10. On the next play, Casey Hampton bowled through Pro Bowl blockers Robbie Tobeck and Steve Hutchinson for a sack.
One play after that, Hasselbeck threw his game-breaking interception to doom Seattle's last chance of the game and of a suddenly lost season.
At a welcome home celebration at Qwest Field on Monday, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren took a shot at the Super Bowl officials, saying he knew the game was going to be tough, but he didn't know the Hawks were going to have to play the guys in the striped shirts as well.
Yup... and if the Steelers had lost that Divisional game the Colts would have won by cheating by the Refs as well.
I will restate:
The NFL better CLEAN UP ITS ACT.
You're mistaken there, I believe. If you replaced 'high priced professional' for 'competitive' I might be inclined to hope you're right, but there are a multitude of competitive sports where true athletism occurs. Who needs overpaid primadonnas at outrageous prices when there are so many different, and cheap, alternatives. You like racing? BMX starts at 5 years old, and by their mid-teens they'll either have loved it, or left it. High School sports? Awesome competing! Street hockey? Paintball? Girls softball? Winter sports? Water sports? The list is endless and each are rewarding and gratifying. My nickel's worth ...
I absolutely agree! This conspiracy is huge! The refs favoring the Steelers is only the tip of the iceburg. And the refs actually thought they could fool us by making it appear they were favoring the Colts over the Steelers just a few weeks ago, and all that controversy. They sure are clever, but they don't fool us.
Your 9/11 input is one I missed, so I'll add it to this massive conspiracy map soon. Thanks!
And there still crying.
I vote for #1 regarding Petronski - He's too smart to not know better.
Here's one of the two. See for yourself.
Seattle dominated the game; more yards, more first downs, led in time of possession, led in the turnover department, quarterback had better numbers. Able to move the ball nearly at will agains Pittsburg the whole game. Pittsburg had 3 big plays, other than that were basically stopped. About the only thing Pittsburg led in was final score, which the refs had a huge impact on. They took at least 11 points away from Seattle; add 11 to Seahawks final total, and it's a tie game late in the 4th, where anything could have happened. Refs ruined that game.
You can tell Seattle is a liberal haven. It is a wonder they support a team and game where they keep score.
That about sums it up.
XL*
From my vantage point it did seem that the calls were excessively on the side of the Steelers.
But as far as a fix...can anone say 1919 BlackSox scandal? I don't think the NFL would risk it.
LOL
I agree with post #68 100%
The ref's fixing it is different from the "NFL" fixing. If the NFL fixed it, they told the refs what to do rather than the ref's doing it on their own, for profit.
Most of the people posting are thinking the NFL controlled it from the top, like Tagliabue ordering it, and refs are following orders.
I think the refs acted alone, and as part-time employees had the motive and means to carry it out.
I don't care if its fixed, but tell me who I'm supposed to be betting on dang it!
Dang man, sure looks like a td to me ...
DU Crybaby: About the only thing George Bush won was the Electoral Vote, handed to him by the Supreme Court.
I think this one sums it up the best: http://www.petitiononline.com/11112006/petition.html
They better clarify the rule book and hire some zebras that aren't on the take, elsewise we are seeing the slow slide into illegitimacy.
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