Super Bowl 43 Champs - NFL Referees

#1 02-02-2009, 01:57 PM

Once again, we have had a NFL playoffs and Super Bowl ruined by bad or questionable officiating. This year, there were at least 2 games I know of ruined by over zealous or questionable called officiating. The teams that lost still had chances to win, but ultimately, refs should NEVER be deciding outcomes of the game with horrible calls or lack of calls...

Let me first say, congrats to the Steelers. They played well and won the SB. I'm not upset with this nor do I begrudge them winning despite rooting for Arizona. What I am however upset with is the questionable calls by the refs and once again, a TD call being upheld because of VERY VERY VERY CRAPPY review angles.

So let's look at this shall we....

1st Quarter: No penalty on delay of game (Steelers)
The Steelers were driving on their first possession and via the play clock on TV, the play clock read 00. Now, if this was merely a graphical error on the TV, so be it. However, the play did not start for about another 10 seconds. There have been a few complaints about this kind of screwup all season, and I believe there were 2 of them during this years playoffs. This is a big deal because that would have backed them up on a drive in which they scored 3pts.

3rd Quarter: Play whistled dead for defensive encroachment (Cardinals)
Normally, this play would result in a free play for the offense (Steelers) and allow them to take the outcome of the play or the penalty and redo the down. This was whistled dead immediately, screwing the Steelers out of a chance at a big play. Now, the explanation I understand is that because the defense touched an offensive lineman, it was whistled dead. I've never seen this happen during a playoff game, and the rule says nothing about it being whistled dead.

3rd Quarter: Roughing the Passer (Cardinals)
Now, as much as they had let the two defenses play all night in hitting the QB after the pass (both teams) to be called for what amounted to a small shove of Rothelisberger from behind within a second of him throwing the ball, was rather ridiculous. The Cardinals and Steelers both were tagging both QB's all night rather consistently, and for this to be the ONLY penalty of this kind, it just seemed rather inconsistent with how the refs were letting the plays happen.

4th Quarter: Unnecessary Roughness Penalty - Ike Taylor (Steelers)
I'm throwing this in because I've heard a few people whine about it. The play was borderline in general, but you have to be a complete moron to start a shoving match on the opposing teams sideline AFTER the play ends and not expect this penalty. It's practically a given in the NFL anymore...

4th Quarter: Harrison's unnecessary roughness penalty (Steelers)
This penalty was well warranted. In no circumstances, is striking a player who is defenseless needed. On top of that, to essentially punch the guy down, he's lucky he didnt get ejected. (NFL rules state that if had been ruled flagrant, its an ejection) Being the Super Bowl, I feel he got the benefit of the doubt. Who cares if the guy kicked him in the nuts the play before, the point is you dont do this, PERIOD.

4th Quarter: Holmes TD catch (Steelers)
You would think, after the problem they had with Big Ben's TD score in SB 40, that they would correct the situation by getting goal line cameras available for the playoffs or at least the SB. Instead, we had a questionable TD overturned in the 1st quarter, a questionable TD upheld in the 2nd quarter, and a 4th quarter TD that appears to be in/out. The angles I saw show what appears to be Holmes getting both feet in. I also saw in one review what appears to be him only getting one foot down and his other foot being curled up behind the foot is down, never actually touching. The reason this is significant? The TD doesnt stand if he didnt get his feet down. This happened TWICE in the Colts/Chargers playoff game. You'd think that adding 4 cameras to each endzone wouldnt be that damn difficult, but it appears it is...

4th Quarter: Holmes TD Celebration (Steelers)
May seem like I'm picking on the guy, but I'm not. I'm a personal fan of celebrations, and I dont care about them one bit. However, the NFL has a rule regarding the use of props and using the football as a prop during the celebration. This results in a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty. It was not called. This is unacceptable. The refs had been calling penalties all game that while ticky tacky, were at least within the guidelines of the rules. This would have SEVERELY helped the Cardinals field position, and it was so blatantly obvious that the fact it didnt get called was appalling. If they'll call it on Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens, damnit you better call it on Holmes.

4th Quarter: Warner fumbles/pass incomplete (Cardinals)
This play is easily a fumble or pass incompletion. I'm not arguing the outcome, but I'm upset with the lack of replay on this. The Cardinals had actually challenged a very similar play in the game and it took the booth about 3 minutes to overturn it. This play wasnt even reviewed by the Refs on the field, and in less then 30 seconds, the play was upheld. I find it VERY hard to believe it was even reviewed. This is unexcusable regardless of who has the ball that this play wasnt reviewed very carefully and for more then 20-30 seconds. If anything, this play should have been gone over with a fine tooth comb since it basically ended the game.

Some of you will think, hey this guys out to screw the Steelers. I'm not. I'm trying to point out that this could have just as easily been the Steelers getting the shaft. This is not acceptable in any regards for any team to deal with this kind of inconsistent and questionable officiating.

The NFL sent an officiating crew who has called the most penalties ALL YEAR to officiate a game between two teams who have had two of their last 3 games won on the final play of the game. That would be the Colts vs. Chargers game. This officiating crew threw like 50 flags (exaggeration but accurate) and the game was decided by an officiating crew and not the teams on the field. This is getting out of hand, and a crew that throws that many flags is either over careful or out of hand....and it could be borderline either way.

Basically, my whole complaint here is that the officiating is dictating the outcome of games, and in no way is it acceptable. Think about this, would you feel good about winning a game if you knew the refs handed you the win? Would you feel good about winning if you knew you cheated? I'm not calling the Steelers cheaters, but this is the only way I can explain it simply.

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comaman2 · #2 02-02-2009, 02:04 PM

the late hit on rothensbuger by dansby call was bull shiet!!!! and harrison should of been tossed for acting ghetto!!!!!

#3 02-02-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comaman2

the late hit on rothensbuger by dansby call was bull shiet!!!! and harrison should of been tossed for acting ghetto!!!!!

I won't argue against or for either, but the point of this thread is to illustrate just how screwed up the officiating has been in this SB, and over the course of deciding crucial games the past few years...

drfeelgood · #4 02-02-2009, 02:37 PM

1- I don't believe that was delay of game, I think that was a television error. I'm assuming so, since I have heard nothing about it other than here. I could see them missing the call and the snap coming 1 or 2 seconds later, but 10 seconds? I don't think so.

2- If the defensive player came across the line of scrimmage and touched an opponent or was unabated to the QB, the play is called dead. Always.

3- That was a penalty. If it was not called would I complain? No. But it was. It was one of those that could go either way. Keep in mind plays like that early that game could be overlooked by the refs because they want to let them play, you will see all the time penalties called in order to regain control of the game. Things were starting to become a bit chippy and the refs needed to make a statement.

4- I agree, penalty should have been called, stupid to do it. Again, could have gone either way but could have been another attempt to regain control of the game by the refs.

5- Harrison was called for the penalty and rightfully so. This is football, it's rough and emotional. To throw a guy out for that would have been a joke. It was classless but no way did that cause any pain to the Cardinals player. Let the players decide it, I applaud the ref for not throwing a player out for something like that. Your comment regarding this kind of goes against what your thread is about.

6-Don't need to address this one, it was clearly a TD.

7- Again, your comment is going against the purpose of this thread. I applaud the refs for not handing out 15 yards for that. No one cared about the celebration but you, including the Arizona Cardinals. He wasn't taunting anyone, no harm there.

8-I agree this should have been reviewed. I do however think the call was correct and would not have been overturned.

Other issues you failed to touch on:

Check Gandy holding Harrison virtually every play. Not called.

The holding call on Hartwig in the end zone for the safety was complete BS.

The first fumble on Warner that was reversed was also a bad reversal in my opinion, the ball came out, then Warner threw is arm forward and hit the ball, sending it forward. Too close to call, whatever way it was ruled on the field should have stood.

Football is a very tough game to officiate. I think there were both warranted and unwarrented calls made. The bottom line, I think it was done evenly. Pittsburgh won this game, the refs did not affect the outcome.

#5 02-02-2009, 02:53 PM