As an official in any sport, you never want to make a call that decides the game unless it is blatantly obvious in EVERYONE's eyes and NOT just "my judgement".
Hey, Rock.
As an official, you automatically assume the role of potentially making a call that could have an impact on the game. That's what officials do! We enforce the rules! Although we use game sense, we don't duck tough calls by hiding behind a "game sense curtain" and we surely don't back away from calling fouls involving player safety.
Derock, maybe we should revamp officiating and take a poll of the fans to see if a foul should be called because we shouldn't throw a flag unless it is "blatantly obvious in EVERYONE's eyes". And not to use "judgement" would rewrite the rule books as roughing the kicker is a judgement call!
Maybe you can teach me something. When is it OK not to throw a flag (in youth ball) when the foul is a safety issue? I'm sure you're game sense will kick in soon...
p.s. Derock, why do you lead with your chin???? [/B][/QUOTE]
A safety issue??? Running into the kicker is a safety issue but Nedney's safety was at NO time at risk. Safety is of no concern when there is slight contact. If Nedney doesn't purposely spin and fall, would the R still have thrown his flag? Probably not.
Come on fellas, I can't be the only person who see this as a bad call. Get your heads out of the rule book for a second and use some common sense. Nedney put on an act of spinning and falling intentionally to draw the flag. You don't have to know the rules to see that was an act. If Nedney does not put on his act, the contact would not be severe enough to displace the kicker or be a safety issue. The defender had an angle for the ball and was going for the ball--NOT Nedney. He misses the ball, Nedney misses the field goal and receives slight contact. Running into the kicker would be a direct line into the kicker--NOT what we saw.
Nedney's "act" was dishonest and misleading. However, I don't fault Nedney. It is the official's responsibility to be able to see that this "act" is a desperate attempt to draw (or sucker) the R into making a call.
When you're in a close game between two competitive teams that could go either way, it is often 1 play that swings the advantage in the other teams favor. The Titans gained an advantage AND the win from the running into the kicker call.
Officials should have very little, if any, influence on the outcome of the game. This game will be remembered more for that call than the game winning field goal. Bad call.