NFL should feel embarrassed

SEATTLE - And now a word about the officiating in Super Bowl XL. Two words actually.

The interference call, a push-off on Darrell Jackson that cost the Seahawks a first-quarter touchdown, was hideous.

If former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin hadn't been allowed to use his arm to get separation the innocent way Jackson did in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh, Irvin would have caught maybe 20 balls in his career.

And the fourth-quarter holding call on right tackle Sean Locklear that nullified a spectacular catch by tight end Jerramy Stevens at the Pittsburgh 1-yard line was equally egregious.

Upon that we can agree. The problem wasn't that you can make arguments for almost all of the calls(hasselbeck going low not included), but hte fact that there were not one or two questionable calls made against the steelers. Had there been one or two against pittsburgh, there would not be the underlying "the steelers don't deserve it" that we see now.

The fumble by the Seattle WR that was blown dead early and the Rothlisberger chuck in the back on the long INT return were no calls that went against Pittsburgh, but the simple fact that the refs weren't directly involved, makes these blown calls fall to the wayside in favor of "blown" calls where the refs were actually involved.

On a side note - I think the steelers offense not showing up until the 2nd Qtr is the bigger reason why this superbowl was more ho-hum than it could have been.

You want to know WHY all your detractors on this board are 100% wrong? About it fading, I mean. Precise ly because it was the 'big one,' Yes-the controversy will die down -FOR A WHILE...because it's the offseason. Did anyone besides me notice the league DIDN'T FINE HOLMGREN for the comments he made? Hmmmnnn.. highly unusual, ain't it? Because they don't want things to get fired up again. As to the players not sayin' much, probably more worried about getting those fines than anything else, IMHO. But I don't look for it to happen, as it would just fan the embers.

BUT....along comes next season. And the good old, reliable media begin the hype...'defending SB champs." And...you can bet the farm-when the steelers go on the road...there are going to be 'stealer' signs now & then. Especially within their division, since there's no love lost anyway.

Again-like I said...yes , it would have faded-IF it hadn't been the biggest game. The hatred and anger are going to get fueled again this upcoming season. Have you checked out any other nfl talk boards around the country? I have. I checked out the Cardinals, the Bears, Dolphins, Bengals, quite a few. Many are bitching about it the same as we are, and they're quite obviousl NOT seattle fans. Hell, my own Son is a die-hard Pittsburgh fan-and HE even told me the refs helped decide the game. I had hoped before it started this would be the first one to go into overtime, the way the teams had played in the past. We'll never know now.

Last-but certainly-not least-our very adversaries on here -Petronski, Supernatural, MikeInIraq, etc;- are, ironically-another big reason it'll be back. Keep it up, guys. It's the rabid, uncaring, classless "fans" among the ones in the 'steeler nation' that will help bring it back. That's what's going to be so delightful-I find it most ironic. All those boards I went to had another thing in common-each & every one of them had steeler trolls that came in & gave the very same repetitive insults you, me, and everyone else that used to love the sport have recieved here. The old Raiders mantra-"Just Win, Baby." So the refs may have given it to them-so what? Hey-get over it! You lost! (everyone that hated this is automatically a seattle fan) Would you like some cheese with that whine" Etc;etc. You've heard them all. A win at all costs, even though it's destroyed the integrity of the game, when they might've won anyway, had it been allowed to be played fairly.
Watch & see if the flaming doesn't start up again next year. I'll be proven right. Don't get pissed off at these clowns all over the country-smile about it. Because they're going to prove to be their own worst enemy.

Yeah-and several Hawks players bitched too, although that didn't get as much media play. Nobody was fined for screaming out against the untouchable officiating gods, when was the last time you saw that? Look for "Stealer" signs to be in view (unless they tell the cameras to avoid 'em, but now & then one will sneak through) at:Cinncinatti. Cleveland. And Baltimore. If people don't hold them up there, I'm Uncle Sam. And then the flaming on boards, etc. will start all over again. Our side will be assisted by the great "Steel Nation", or whatever they call it. There will always-forever-be a dark cloud hanging over the team now, and it's really sad-they've always been a decent organization. If their "fans" (mainly talking about the arrogant ones, but all of them should've stood up & demanded a clean-up) would have been as irate as everyone else, since a great game was ruined, the league may have apologized, not just to Washington, but to football lovers everywhere, fired the refs, etc; tightened up the organization-guess what? All would've been ok. They stuck to their guns & said "Nothing's wrong with our officiating." Add the great pittsburgh fans like we've got here, and it was the kiss of death. Even though I'm never watching another super bowl again-, I can't wait 'til next season. ;)

Don't matter if they would've jobbed Pittsburgh. They screwed up a potentially dynamite game. IMO, they jobbed fans of the sport, period. I'll never be able to take the NFL seriously as long as I live now-and I'm old enough to have been around for every super bowl. There was a time in my life where I quit watching football until the playoffs-other than a few games during the season. Would watch every playoff game, then that was it. The reason I did that was, I was just sick of the NFC blowing out the AFC for God knows how many years. Time to go back to that-I won't be watching next year.

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