Sign in to follow this  
Capt_Picard

Super Bowl XL Problems

Recommended Posts

First a story...

NFL Defends Super Bowl Officiating

 

February 7, 2006

 

By KOMO Staff & News Services steelers_plays_020506.jpg

 

NEW YORK - The NFL came out Tuesday and said they were fine with the hotly-debated officiating in the Super Bowl.

 

Two days after the Steelers beat the Seahawks 21-10 in the NFL title game, the league said Tuesday that no mistakes were made by the game officials, although Seattle coach Mike Holmgren might disagree.

 

"The game was properly officiated, including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement.

 

The officiating has been a the major topic of discussion since Sunday night. Right after the game, Holmgren suggested that the first-quarter offensive interference call on the Seahawks' Darrell Jackson, negating what would have been the game's first touchdown, probably should have been "a no call."

 

Holmgren, a former chairman of the NFL's rule-making competition committee, fueled the debate Monday during a rally for the Seahawks at Qwest Field when he said, "We knew it was going to be tough going up against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn't know we were going to have to play the guys in the striped shirts as well."

 

The questionable calls:

 

- Replays on the offensive interference call showed that Jackson's arms made contact with Pittsburgh's Chris Hope and that they separated afterward. Under the rules, pass interference took place but sometimes the call isn't made.

 

- The first TD of the game scored on a third-down rollout by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger late in the first half. Roethlisberger appeared to come down short of the goal line, but it was unclear on replay whether he had gotten the ball to the line before going down. Referee Bill Leavy upheld the call because there was not enough incontrovertible evidence to overturn it.

 

- Holding call on Sean Locklear in the fourth: Locklear's penalty erased an 18-yard completion from Matt Hasselbeck to Jerramy Stevens to the Pittsburgh 1 that would have put the Seahawks in position to go ahead 17-14 with around 12 minutes left. It was a close call that was difficult to see on replay.

 

- One call that clearly appeared erroneous came after that penalty, when Hasselbeck threw an interception to Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor, then made the tackle but was called for a block below the waist, giving the Steelers an extra 15 yards. They scored soon afterward on a pass from Antwaan Randle El to Hines Ward. Replays showed Hasselbeck never made contact with the player he was supposed to have hit illegally, instead going straight to Taylor to make the tackle.

 

The Super Bowl crew headed by Leavy was comprised of officials who graded out best at each position during the regular season.

... and a commentary.

Ken's Commentary: Support Holmgren's 'Tell It Like It Is' Fund

 

February 7, 2006

 

By Ken Schram ken_schram.jpg

 

SEATTLE - Mike Holmgren doesn't need the money.

 

But he sure as hell deserves the support.

 

So, during the radio show that I do with John Carlson every day, we came up with the idea for the Mike Holmgren "Tell It Like It Is" fund.

 

See, there's a good possibility that the Seahawks coach will end up being fined by the NFL, either for yelling and arguing with officials during the game on Sunday, or for his comments during the Seahawks rally at Qwest Field to welcome the team home.

 

"We knew it was going to be tough going against the Pittsburgh Steelers -- I didn't know we were going to have to play the guys in the stripped shirts as well," Holmgren said Monday.

 

The NFL is taking it in the public relations shorts for the atrocious calls that took the game away from Seattle on Sunday.

 

The 'Stealers' didn't earn that Super Bowl victory, the refs handed it to them.

 

Maybe now the NFL will hire and train full-time officials instead of relying on part-time amateurs who can't tell a touchdown from a tennis serve, or offensive pass interference from offensive passing of gas.

 

Be that as it may, Mike Holmgren did what he had to do, and said what needed to be said.

 

If he gets fined because of that, we should have his back.

 

He doesn't need the money.

 

He just deserves the support.

 

Want to share your thoughts with Ken Schram? You can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com

Your thoughts?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This was Leavy's first time as the head referee. In a game as important as the Super Bowl, you would think that the NFL would put a seasoned referee in charge!

 

 

The Stealers.......I like that..... :laugh:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I feel that a great team can overcome anything, the Steelers beat Indy when calls were not going their way, and what lost the game for the Seahawks was the Drop Passes, Missed Field Goals (in a dome Stadium) and horrible clock management at the end of the 1st half and end of the game, also a ball one of the Seahwaks recivers was caught and droped but he took 3 steps and a Football move, the Ref Called it Incomplete after a Steeler picked up the ball and had a clear shot for the endzone, the only bad call was the Personal foul on Hasselback making the tackle after the interception, but the steelers had one of those against them in te playoffs also, and at least I can say is thecall is universal, the calls in the superbowl are not as bad as Tom Brady's Tuck Rule cal that gave NE a win over the Raiders a few years ago, to let NE win their 1st Superbowl

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this