NFL: Polamalu overturned interception the wrong call

ESPN Online ^ | 1/16/06 | AP

[TheBigB]

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.

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.

[TommyDale]

There were probably around 8 or 9 terrible calls over the weekend. I especially liked the one where the play clock expired against Chicago, no penalty called, then Carolina intercepted the pass.

The other horrible call in that game was when they called a touchdown when the ball carrier fumbled the ball a full yard from the end zone, then the ball went out of the end zone.

[Vigilanteman]

Everybody that watched the replay believe Pete Morelli blew the call. Everybody except Pete Morelli.

Accordingly, "the bus" doesn't have to feel bad about making one fumble in 200 plus carries and Vanderjagt doesn't have to blame himself for what wasn't an easy field goal anyway.

[dead]

I liked when the Colts defense ran across the line into the Steelers players and pointed for a false start.

The ref said there was no false start, but the Colts players didn't do anything wrong by running across the line into the Steelers players before the ball was snapped.

It was the little known "NFL Anarchy" rule. Part of the effort to globalize the game.

[Ciexyz]

I've gotta get me a "# 43" teeshirt in honor of my favorite Steeler, Troy Polamalu.

[relictele]

It almost cost my Stillers the game and it revealed once and for all that the media's love of a 'good story' (read: simplistic angle they can beat to death) sways the NFL head office and by extension the game officials.

They wanted Indy to win very badly - unfortunately they got caught out by botching an obvious call.

[TheBigB]

I'm still trying to figure out the rationale for not calling anything on that play. That was just weird.

[Luke21]

That iterference call that set up Denver's first td was bogus. The league is losing credibility.

[diamond6]

You didn't think I was serious, did you Pat?

[Radix]

Horrible call.

The oficials also blew a pass interferance call in the first half of the Patsies Broncos game on Saturday.

[oneofmany]

This is obviously Bush's fault.

[mfnorman]

Morelli was then selected as Super Bowl XL head referee

[peyton randolph]

This is obviously Bush's fault.

A little genealogy research will prove that the referee's fourth cousin once removed had a teacher whose sibling works for Dick Cheney's Halliburton.

[ez]

I've gotta get me a "# 43" teeshirt in honor of my favorite Steeler, Troy Polamalu.

It's a free country...

[Revolting cat!]

[tutstar]

ping...

[peyton randolph]

Morelli was then selected as Super Bowl XL head referee

I truly hope that you're joking.

[OB1kNOb]

Thanks. At least the call made for some humdinger suspense for the last few minutes of the game what with all the freaky plays and such, but in the end it came out right.

[Petronski]

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.

If EVER there was a moment for The Master to make an appearance, THIS is it.

[Ciexyz]

Not paying attention

Good one!