Posted on 02/07/2006 4:55:05 PM PST by bikepacker67
GOT SCREWED, USA -- Complaining about officiating is a time-honored sports tradition. It's much easier to believe your team got screwed than it got whupped because anger is more manageable than sadness.
It's sour grapes, plain and simple.
But, America, please forgive Seahawks fans if they sound a little bitter and paranoid after the rest of the country got its sweet, little fairy tale with Jerome Bettis winning Super Bowl XL in his hometown of Detroit.
It just seems a bit too tidy, considering how things went down.
Here's the rub: No intelligent person, and that includes Pittsburgh fans, watched the Steelers 21-10 "victory" and believed it was well-officiated. Period.
And every -- EVERY -- call went against the Seahawks.
Seahawks fans promise to stop being paranoid just as soon as the NFL proves it isn't out to get them.
The Seahawks, who were tied for second-fewest penalties in the NFL this year, were flagged seven times for 70 yards. Three were critical. Two were dubious. Another flag was so stupid the official explanation didn't actually make any sense.
As for head linesman Mark Hittner's oh-what-the-hell delayed touchdown call on Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's 1-yard touchdown dive? Think the officials want that tape taken to the FBI crime lab?
The Steelers, who were tied for sixth-fewest penalties this year, suffered just three horrible hankies for 20 yards. Two were false starts on their first possession. The third was offensive pass interference on rookie tight end Heath Miller deep in Seattle territory in the second quarter. That call will inspire no wringing of hands, even from Miller.
Thereafter, apparently, the Steelers felt guilty and decided not to break the rules for the next 35 minutes. Jerome probably wanted it that way.
Apoplectic Seahawks fans are not alone. ESPN.com's Michael Smith pointed this out Monday in a story ripping the officials: "The Seahawks lost 161 yards to penalties when you combine the penalty yards (70) and the plays the flags wiped out (91). By halftime alone, when it trailed 7-3, Seattle had had 73 hard-earned yards and a touchdown eliminated."
Let's rewind.
Matt Hasselbeck hits Darrell Jackson for a 16-yard touchdown pass for a 7-zip lead?
Nope. The incidental contact that occurs on nearly every NFL passing play was, actually, offensive interference -- at least the officials decided so after safety Chris Hope stomped and huffed and demanded a flag, perhaps insisting that Jerome wanted it that way.
Beleaguered tight end Jerramy Stevens makes a spectacular catch inside the Steelers 2-yard line setting up what surely would have been a Shaun Alexander touchdown run and 17-14 Seahawks lead early in the fourth quarter?
Nope. Seems that offensive tackle Sean Locklear's incidental hooking (which occurs on nearly every NFL play from scrimmage) on his block of Clark Haggans (who was offside) was too dastardly to ignore.
Maybe the officials were calling the game tightly.
Nope. Only two plays later, Steelers linebacker Joey Porter used an illegal "horse collar" tackle on Alexander, and the officials decided to let it slide, even though that would have transformed a third-and-18 on the Steelers 34 to a first down on their 19.
"Penalties, as much as anything, were the story of the game," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said. "That's unfortunate. And that might be the first time I've said that in my life."
Here's the comic relief.
After the no-call on the horse collar, Hasselbeck tossed a critical interception to cornerback Ike Taylor. Hasselbeck then, apparently, forgot which team he plays for and tried to throw a block in order to spring Taylor. Only he threw a "low block," according to the game's official book.
So not only does he toss a pick and then try to block for an opposing player, but he also gets called for a 15-yard penalty.
Most folks would figure that Hasselbeck was trying to TACKLE Taylor. Seeing Hasselbeck is a quarterback lacking tackling skills, he went low. But the officials decided it was a block. Only Hasselbeck was credited with a tackle on the play.
(The official explanation is he went low on a guy trying to block him, which is against the rules on a change of possession. But the fact that he made the tackle erases, at least for a reasonable person, his potential motivation based on the result. It was a tackle.)
Like we said: Stupid.
Steelers fans should be angry, too. For one, they know how this feels, see their playoff game vs. Indianapolis, when they were the interlopers ruining the heartwarming tale.
Moreover, the execrable officiating cheapens their championship because it's what folks are talking about now, not the glory of Bettis.
Is all this an accusation -- J'Accuse! -- like Porter's ranting about the terrible officiating in the Indianapolis game?
Yes. No. Who knows?
It's just too bad -- for everyone -- that the officials made sure Super Bowl XL wasn't "Extra Large," as the joke went, but "Extremely Lame."
Speaking of polls, that was the cheapest MVP I've ever seen. There was not one player on the field that deserved MVP. IMHO
Just like the lefties who walk up to algore and call him Mr. President.
1999
let's see here...
The Broncos beat the crap out of the Falcons in that game if I remember correctly....
Barely. The "bad call" changed the whole momentum of the game in favor of the Colts.
To say the Steelers weren't rattled is ludicrous on its face.
Enjoy your win in Super Bowl XL*.
I agree. Every single one was correct, except the clip/tackle. I don't know if the rules say that a player who commits a clip that results also in a tackle is guilty of a penalty or not.
Should have been Randle El, for that pass on the fly in the gadget play.
That's only because they don't feel that they should be able to give a ref the MVP!
You, sir, are a cad. Congrats to your team, they well and truly earned your right to gloat. Enjoy!
Pretty quick if it's right. I have no idea.
Let's see how many more chime in in less than "internet search" time. (Which will close out in exactly one minute...:>)
All I know is that the NFL better fluckin clean up its act, or else it'll be the next WWF.
And this asterisk thing is just like on DU, when they put an asterisk after President Bush's name to indicate he was selected, not elected.
You people are blithely unaware of how pathetic you are.
But damn if it isn't entertaining!
At least the Steelers had the longest run 75 yards and the gadget play. We will watch those plays for years and years to come. Hawks were stopped by the Steeler's Defense.
The Hawks had many chances to win but were not able to score points. They lost. They should move on to next season and not be poor losers.
Except Pittsburgh still won.
To say the Steelers weren't rattled is ludicrous on its face.
Except for the fact that Pittsburgh still won.
Enjoy your win in Super Bowl XL*.
Thanks, I am. Pittsburgh won.
LOL :)
most of the recent ones I am pretty good at....
2000 saw the Rams beat the Titans
2001 saw the Ravens kill the Giants
2002 saw the Pats beat the Rams
2003 saw the Buccaneers beat the Raiders
2004 and 2005 were the Pats over the Panthers and Iggles
No kidding. It was painful to listen to Madden describe what they should be doing to what they were actually doing on the field. And then Madden saying that he had no idea what the Seahawks were doing! How often does that occur!
Bingo.
How 'bout those Penguins?
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