NFL should feel embarrassed

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/13808261.htm ^

[bikepacker67]

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

It stunk.

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.

[bikepacker67]

Hey Mike, I think you've used up your allotment of Font +4's

Please see the supply Sergeant.

[freedumb2003]

But since it doesn't further your cause, I guess it doesn't count HUH?

Maybe he can't get the whole thing from where he sits in his mommy's basement.

[bikepacker67]

It must really suck backing a losing team. And then trying to find solace with "we wuz robbed."

I wouldn't know...

In the last 5 years my NFL team has won thrice and my beloved MLB team has exorcised a fatass pinstriped demon.

All is golden in my sport world.

[AmishDude]

Aol.com videos has a summary of the plays in one video labelled "Steelers 21 Seahawks 10", the only one it doesn't show is the clipping call. But it does show the uncalled block in the back against Roethlisberger and it also shows a good angle for the Roethlisberger rushing TD.

If you look carefully and watch the stripe on the ball, it looks like it probably crossed the plane. If not, the ball would have had to have been spotted using a micrometer. The video labelled "Ike Taylor interception" shows a bit of it, but at a bad angle. It does appear that #26 had his foot touch Matt Hasselback in the attempt to leap him. Just putting yourself into a position to block a player below the waist may, by itself, be illegal, I don't know enough of the rules. But clipping, as I have said, is a safety issue so it would not surprise me if the rule book takes it to the limit.

[Richard Kimball]

I know. However, it's so much fun stirring the pot. This was the game I cared about, and it went EXACTLY like I wanted:

FWIW, I've stated several times, both teams looked bad, the officiating was worse, and the NFL now has both an officiating and public relations problem on it's hands. Like it or not, just as Super Bowl V is remembered as the blooper bowl, this Super Bowl will be remembered as the one where the refs used terrible towels for flags.

For a long time, it's been no secret that the NBA slants officiating to keep stars from fouling out of games, and to put the cities from the biggest markets in the Finals. Their ratings have suffered. I do not believe that the NFL does that, BUT, I think the officiating sucks, and this game was a visual example of it. The NFL is developing the same problem as the NBA. Their games are losing legitimacy because of the quality of officiating. Articles blasting the officiating have appeared in newspapers all over the country.

The NFL was so busy putting on a show, they forgot to put on a game. Just as an example, the decision to use a new ball on every play in the first half very likely contributed to the poor offensive performance. This affected both teams as new balls are more slippery. Having a bunch of game ball souvenirs was more important than the teams. The endless time outs kill team momentum. That affects both teams equally, but it hurts the game.

Personally, I hope the complaints DON'T die down, not to take anything away from the Steelers, but to get the NFL to address legitimate problems.

[bikepacker67]

Personally, I hope the complaints DON'T die down, not to take anything away from the Steelers, but to get the NFL to address legitimate problems.

Yup... And if Stiller fan was HONEST he would be calling for the same - afterall, they were an ankle tackle away from getting JOBBED themselves.

[airborne]

*(yawn)*

[bikepacker67]

It ain't going away folks...

[MikefromOhio]

THE GAME IS OVER!!! GET OVER IT!!!!

[airborne]

I bought my World Champs apparel today!

[freedumb2003]

So, you were the BENEFICIARY of the WORST REF CALL OF ALL TIME??

And you have the AUDACITY to suggest the refing in this game was bad????????

[airborne]

It ain't going away folks...

Gee, I hope not!

[discostu]

Get over it. The interference call was legit, the TD was legit, the hold was legit. And incessant whining is pathetic. Move on, get a life, suck it up, grow up, stop the madness.

[discostu]

Actually it says absolutely nothing. I don't think any ref has ever done back to back Super Bowls, they try to spread these bonuses.

[bikepacker67]

Not until the NFL honchos take it seriously.

66% of us think it was fixed.

[MikefromOhio]

You won't see me doing that until probably 2008 when the Browns finally win one with Romeo Crennel at the helm :)

But the Steelers winning it certainly will put some steam back into the Browns-Steelers rivalry....

[MikefromOhio]

6.6 percent is more like it....

[airborne]

66.6%

Satan fixed the game!!

[CWOJackson]

While I won't make any predictions regarding the final score of Super Bowl 41, I have no hesitation to predict that the officials will be a lot less obvious next year.

[discostu]

Wer already went over this, we didn't bitch when the refs took a 1/4 of a SEASON from us. Get over it. Stop beating the dead horse.