Super Bowl XLIII (43) Crew
 

Referee = Terry McAulay #77
Umpire = Roy Ellison #81 (Riveron)
Head Linesman =
Line Judge = Mark Perlman #9 (Leavy)
Side Judge =
Field Judge = Greg Gautreaux #80 (Steratore)
Back Judge =

Replay Official =
Video Operator =

Alternate Referee =
Alternate Umpire =
Alternate Wing =
Alternate Deep Wing =
Alternate Back Judge =

SUPER BOWL XLIII
Pittsburgh vs. Arizona
R- Terry McAulay #77
U- Roy Ellison #81
HL- Derick Bowers #74
LJ- Mark Perlman #9
FJ- Greg Gautreaux #80
SJ- Michael Banks #72
BJ- Keith Ferguson #61
ALT- Ron Winter #14
ALT- Darrell Jenkins #76
ALT- Darryll Lewis #130
ALT- Doug Rosenbaum #67
ALT- Billy Smith #2


PRO BOWL
AFC vs. NFC
R- Scott Green #19
U- Jim Quirk #5
HL- Paul Weidner #87
LJ- Gary Arthur #108
FJ- Boris Cheek #41
SJ- Rick Patterson #15
BJ- Bob Waggoner #25
ALT- Jeff Bergman #32

The umpire in the Pro Bowl game, Jim Quirk, is retiring after this season. Nice going away gift, a trip to Hawaii. Good for him.

At this point, why doesn't the NFL just go with an entire back up crew? (I guess I should say 'the National Football League' if I ever want to be an NFL employee).

As a side point, has an official ever had to be replaced during an NFL game (injury, illness, etc.)? Just curious

Alternates to the SB crew are paid either a full game fee, or a half-game fee, and a full game fee if they go into the game. Yes, only 2 more positions would be an entire crew, so why not pay the extra coin? Responsible spending perhaps.

In the AFC final, the HL was replaced near halftime: Carl Johnson replaced Ed Camp (HL) towards the end of the 1st half and remained in for the remainder of the game. Morelli scrambled to the opposite sideline to notify Johnson that Camp was apparently ill/injured after the Ravens touchdown. Immediately after the extra point, Camp gingerly walked off the field and Johnson replaced him. This crew on a very quick turn around without missing a blink. Johnson jumped right in and the game continued smoothly.

I can't see as needing more than 2 or possibly 3 alternates in any game. One ready to take over for the R, one possibly for the U, and the other for the wings and deep officials.

REPLY: Just last evening, HL Ed Camp had to leave the Balt-Pitt AFC Championship game with a partial tear to his Achilles tendon. Alternate Carl Johnson replaced him for the second half. Curiously enough, Camp was an alternate on last year's NYG-NE Super Bowl, but didn't see any field time.

You don't say! :p

REPLY: JR...shows you I don't read as much as I should...:D I did speak to Ed who said it was a partial tear of the Achilles tendon.

So you want a guy who worked BJ all year to come in and work LJ in the Super Bowl? The NFL's system works great as the backup actually has worked at that position all season.

Ancient history but former head of the referee department Jerry Seeman who at the time was an R replaced a wing official. Think it was Jerry after he took over the department increased the number of alternates.

What I find interesting is that the responsibilities of the FJ and SJ are virtually identical. I can't imagine what one would do that the other wouldn't, aside some once-a-game procedural differences.

If the second-highest rated FJ graded better than the highest graded SJ, why not use two FJs as the deep wings?

REPLY: Update from Ed: Partial tear of Achilles...no surgery necessary...Rest...meds...6-8 weeks of physical therapy...and a Tom Dempsey boot...Dr. expects full recovery.

That's good news Bob. If the NFL guys are anything like me, the higher level they work, the more they don't want to leave unvoluntarily.

As usual, the NFL referees are terrible in the Super Bowl. The defensive holding on the Cardinals was flat terrible just now.

The personal foul for roughing the QB against Arizona that gave Pittsburgh the first down was horrible.

The personal foul for roughing the holder was a joke on the field goal.

They missed an obvious block in the back against Pittsburgh on the 100 yard return at the end of the first half.

It was the same way the last time the Steelers were in the Super Bowl.

Of course they are terrible. They are only the cream of the crop in a system that evaluates officials more closely than in any other pro sport. Probably none of the guys sitting at home wopuld have made that holding call right? Go away fanboy.

I knew I'd get a quick reply out of the "Defend at all costs" crowd. Of course none of you would ever admit that they might have missed a call.

So is that the only reason you posted this? To troll the board and get replies about it?

I personally think they've done a pretty good job so far. I thought the Roughing the Holder and one of the late hit calls were a little ticky-tacky, but I also think they got every challenge review correct. I'm also watching the game with people who just love to question and bash each call, hence is why I'm upstairs right now.

There have been calls missed tonight (as there are in EVERY game) but THAT hold was not one of them

And of course they don't review it when Warner's arm was going forward at the end of the game. Congrats to the Steelers on another gift of a Super Bowl courtesy of the NFL.

I know very little about officiating football. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I had absolutely NO stake in this year's Super Bowl ("my team" wasn't playing...and I didn't bet).

With that said: I thought, as a neutral observer, that the officiating crew did an outstanding job tonight. You had two teams that did not play with any discipline and were "chippy". I thought the crew did a very good job, in what, I have to believe, was a difficult came to officiate.

Just my, "I'm a baseball umpire," opinion.

Actually it was reviewed in the booth
 

and word sent down that it was not a pass attempt.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedi...8922.bruty.jpg

http://http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/mu...129.biever.jpg

And another pic
 

nm

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedi...129.biever.jpg

The only call that I saw that I disagreed with was the roughing the passer against the Cards. I think every holding call was exactly right, but I should point out that I didn't see a good portion of the second quarter. The roughing the holder seemed like a no-brainer.

I thought the ref's did a good job.. yes they are gonna miss some calls that is part of the game.

horrible officiating
 

not to mention there was holding on the 100 yd return by #26 of the steelers on Kurt Warner, grabbed his jersey and threw him down

Im sick of watching pittsburgh get all the calls, seems like everytime I watch their game they get all the breaks

I can't believe anyone would argue the roughing the holder call. It was blatant and it was right in front of the one guy who is watching for exactly that.

oh yeah and Im not a cardinals fan
 

caint wait to hear all of the excuses for your boys.

He's talking about the passer not the holder. The penalty he's talking about came before the holder penalty.

Edit: IMO, the crew did a good job.

I don't know what game you're watch rosebud, but that was probably one of the best officiated games of the season.
I thought the RTP call Walt mentioned was a little picky but overall they had a "super" game. Pittsburgh was not given anything and that is coming from someone who does not care for the Steelers.
I do though, care about the game and it was exciting, competitive and superbly officiated.

I think that a possible reason people think the game was poorly officiated was because there were so many penalties and it caused the game to slow down immensely. However, all of their penalty calls were completely justified.

... nor are you a game official or an intelligent student of the game. When your ignorance is on such display, you should remain silent and attempt to learn something by listening and reading related material.

Not him, the poster up the thread. I was actually agreeing with the poster I quoted.

I wouldn't have called that RTP in a high school game.

Those holds were all there and were all relevant. Two offensive lines that were (in places) completely overmatched.

What excuses? They called a great game. Yes, Arizona shouldn't have had to use a challenge on the Warner arm coming forward, but they got an extra challenge by rule there. The RTP call was weak, IMO. But all those holds were there and there were a few more that probably could've been called. I've never seen so many hook-and-turns in a game in my entire life.

What's excuses would they need? They called a good game.

My fault, Rich.

Nah, mine. I was quoting one guy and actually responding to another. I can see how that was confusing.

Time for bed. Good Super Bowl, although I went the entire game without having a single beer, which breaks some kind of streak, I'm sure.

I think you're letting your bias against football officials cloud your judgment. As a fellow official, I think it is pretty sad you are not even willing to give these guys the benefit of the doubt.

How would you feel if we started slamming basketball officials in the basketball forum the way you do football officials?

There's a reason we come across as defensive with you, and that's because we put up with enough bull sh#% from ignorant fans and coaches, we don't need to put up with it from fellow officials!

Your tirades are tired. Why don't you pick up a flag and whistle if you think you can do so much better than every other football official you've seen work?


I agree with you, they stayed on top of a chippy game and did a good job overall. I don't necessarily agree with some of the calls but I had the luxury of sitting in my easy chair.

The umpire caught some good holds by the line, especially a couple of take downs by offensive linemen that were beat.

Ah bull, you're a respected official. Thanks for chiming in. :)

you guys are a joke, you cant ever just admit that the officiating was one sided (for the 1st 3 quarters) and it effected the outcome of the game.

Obviously the NFL game is too hard to officiate 100% correct, Oh well its fun trying to convince you to at least consider this one was more than slightly lopsided. Just like the last steelers game vs Seahawks.

Mcually is a flag happy, and did not give Arizona the benefit of the doubt all night. I wish Mike Carey would have done the game tonight, Or even #85.

TROLL ALERT!
TROLL ALERT!
TROLL ALERT!
TROLL ALERT!

Go away fanboy. PISS OFF!

Channeling Jurassic I see. :D

Actually, I thought the *line play* was the worst I've ever seen at the NFL level -- the number of hook-and-turns and simple takedowns were more than I've ever seen in a game. You just don't let that go cause you "don't want to throw a lot of flags."

OK, I'm done playing with the troll.

When I first saw the RTP I thought it was a poor call as well. On the second replay what I noticed was a defender who wasn't full speed and could have easily held up. Instead, he continued his movement and extended his arms to hit Ben after the ball was thrown. I assumed that's why McAuley threw the flag. At worst this was a close call that maybe should have gone the other way. To call it an absolutely horrible call shows someone's ignorance.

I wish Mike Carey would have done the game tonight, Or even #85.

That wouldn't have changed a thing. The fouls would have still been there and they would have flagged them. It is obvious that you know nothing about football or officiating.

In an ealier post you made mention that the referees in the Super Bowl were terrible. That is not even close to accurate. Referees is singular as there is only one.

Now go away, your ignorance is showing!

I thought the crew did a fine job. They had several close calls that looked fine to me.

I have no idea how anyone could say the holder was barely touched. And I think it was one of the announcers these trolls love to trust who said the holds did effect the plays they occurred on.

Next up for the fanboys: bashing the Final Four and NBA Finals refs. I can't wait. :rolleyes:

No im not a tree hockey fan!!

Ya; the ole' bugger rubbed off of me. :D

All of these arguments were rebutted in the other thread.

If the officials were "pro-Steelers", how did they call that holding in the end zone?

Sounds like this yahoo took the under.

What's funny about the RTH flag is that it is so rare, that it is often difficult to find footage of these plays, for training tape purposes. It's always nice to see "how the weird ones" happen - just to show that anything can happen.

Some people at the SB party I attended commented on how professionals could commit such egregarious infractions, citing the RTH and all the holding.

Doesn't mean they were correct.

Sure they called some against the Steelers. Can't make it too obvious. I did think they did a good job on the holding calls on the linemen, but not the one on Arizona. That was ticky tack. The holding call on Pittsburgh in the end zone for the safety was an easy call. The center executed a perfect takedown on the d-tackle.

I didn't bet on the game and I'm not a fan of either team.

ZM, if I'm correct you're a basketball official, right? Please tell me, what's the general reaction on the basketball board when someone shows up and displays their ignorance about basketball officiating?

He has not been around very long. He will find out around March when that board will be inundated with fans and names we have not seen.

Peace

And those same people would have complained if they did not call those penalties. You cannot win either way. And that is why you cannot care what people that do not officiate think. :D

Peace

Just wondering, did the officials miss any calls against the Cardinals or make any bogus calls against the Steelers?

And what makes you correct?

Oh I don't know, maybe because when I watch 10-12 NFL games per weekend from weeks 1-17, stuff like Holmes using the ball as a prop is called all the time.

I didn't think Harrison's personal foul penalty was that bad.

Are you asking if they missed anything that the Cardinals got away with?

I have NFL Sunday ticket and here is the truth -- you can only watch 3 games on a Sunday and 1 on a Monday no matter how many are available to you. And many people watch the same number. Doesn't mean they are qualified to evaluate the Super Bowl officials, who, BTW, graded out #1 at their positions throughout the season.

What is the exact wording of the rule? I've seen player who act like the football is stuck to their hand when trying to spike it and not be penalized.

And yes, I was wondering if the Cards got away with any uncalled penalties. It seems odd that any objective viewer would only notice and note the things that went in favor of one team.

They'd be treated just as they deserve to me treated; ridiculed and demeaned for our enjoyment.

You can set your calendar to it.

My guess is we'll learn from him how the NCAA and NBA are rigged as well.

Well the football guys kind of exposed your lack of knowledge. Watching games on TV gets you no points towards passing any rules test.

But it does let you have a opinion on other imortant parts of the Super Bowl.

Polls show the Budweiser Ads, Fetch and Clydesdale, finished one-two in popularity. You agree?

I liked Alec Baldwin for Hula and the Gossip Girl for Cheetos.

Let me guess, you could relate to the guy under the moose in the one for
Monsters.com?

I had money on Taco Bell for funniest ad. I think the polls are rigged for Budweiser, though.

Yeah, the "football guys" really showed me. Defend the NFL guys at all costs really put me in my place. :rolleyes:

I guess playing football and being successful at it means I don't know anything about it.

There, you finally got something right!

Smartest thing you've said yet!

Amen to that!!!

Peace

Billy Packer was a pretty successful college basketball player. What does he know about officiating?

Theismann was a pretty good player. I wouldn't want him explaining the rules.

Joe Morgan was a pretty good baseball player. He's another that doesn't have a clue about the rules.

Shall we go on?

One of the funniest things an official can hear is when someone tells you they used to play the game and therefore they know the rules. LOL.

That's exactly right. Officiating isn't playing. Coaches and players all the time have no clue about the rules but think they have standing to argue them "cause they play."

How about this one, heard from an irate mom after an 6th grade AAU bb game. "My brother used to play for the Celtics, I know the rules."

Perfect example - Anyone remember Donovan McNabb's being surprised that a game can end in a tie?

Yeah, players - past and present - are all rules mavens.

You've got to include Tim McCarver in this list. :D

This list would be like an Oscar acceptance speech. There's just too many to mention.

"I'm sorry if I've forgotten anyone."

NFL Official Review
 

Anyway, the official review is out for the SB.

He was split...ish. He admitted that they blew the USC with the ball prop. He said that it happend so late after the play, like 20 seconds, and a relatively quick talcum impersonation, that the officials were already moving to extra point positions.

In a game that tends to last 3-4 hrs, and pregame starting 5 hrs before, there is a lot of dead ball time, they missed one here.

He admitted that the final AZ play should have at least been reviewed, though he agreed that the play was right, but was close enough that it should have been looked at.

Everything else seemed pretty close to current NFL dogma. Roughing the passer has gotten to the point of near absurdity, I know that nobody wants to watch a lot of NFL w/o star QBs, but common, it's football! But seriously Defense, get the clue... DONT GO NEAR THE HEAD!

Overall grade for the Crew as whole 1-7, I would give a 5.

I agree with that. After having played for 16 years, I stepped into officiating as well - and working my way through the rule book had my head spinning, and I remember saying out loud "Really, I can't do that?" (relating to defensive holding, for a DL to pull an OL player out of a gap to let the LB blitz - Never knew it was wrong until then).
There are SO many things that a player doesn't know about the rules. Even if they were commited enough to read the rulebook, there are so many nuances, philosophies and interpretations!

Yes - playing football and being successful at it still means you don't know anything about the RULES.

Saw a thing on HBO sports before the SB about Michaels. Someone who was being interviewed (Ebersol maybe) said Al had a great knowledge of the rules. I don't think its great, its not bad for an announcer though.

But he kicked one in the SB, on the play at the end of the half, he kept proclaiming it was either a TD or the half was over. AZ had a penalty after the change of possession. Pitt got the ball with clean hands, and had the TD not stood, would have gotten an untimed down from some spot on the field (wherever the infraction was +15/H.o.D.). Correct?

I know I was screaming at my TV.

I thought I heard McAuley say the penalty was before the change of possession. If that's true, Pittsburgh still got the ball with clean hands so they could decline the penalty and keep the ball. But if they accepted the penalty, it would have been enforced from the previous spot and the down replayed. What I heard the announcers say was the penalty was against Arizona and even though they were the offense at the beginning of the play, they became the defense after the COP (they never specifically indicated if the foul was before or after COP). They kept going on and on about how the half can't end on a defensive penalty and I was screaming that it doesn't matter who the foul is on. If accepted (in most cases), you have one untimed down. It's just very unusual for the defense to accept a penalty to give the offense one more chance to score.

I've got the game on DVR so I need to go back and watch to hear what McAuley had to say again. Does anyone know for sure if the penalty was before or after the COP?

Here is the official review with Mike Pereira.
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e8fa89

It was before. BTW "clean hands" refers to a penalty by each team, one on A before the COP and then on B after.

actually no it doesn't
 

It actually refers to when a penalty by the team last in possesion occurs. If it occured before they last gained possesion then it is not clean hands, if it occurs after they last gain possesion, then they have clean hands and get to keep the ball. There does not have to be 2 penalties to have a clean hands discussion.

I did re-watch the play on DVR and McAuley did say the penalty was before the interception. I also watched official review and learned about a difference between HS and NFL penalty enforcement. Pereira said a personal foul by the offense prior to a change of possession does tack on the penalty at the end of the run and a period is extended if the penalty is accepted. There would have been one untimed down if Harrison had not made it to the end zone.

It's really surprising, since most of us, justifyably, think a lot less of people who "think" they know the rules we play under, but actually don't and choose to offer instruction anyway, feel so comfortable critiquing NFL official's rule knowledge.

Considering all the extra time most officials, at lower levels, spend on rules review, debating interpretations, discussing topics, arguing perspectives down to the gnat's eyelash level, while acknowledging that NFL officials likely spend a lot more time on these activities than us, there's some reluctance to accept the simple fact that it is highly likely that every NFL official understands NFL rules better than ANYONE else.

Maybe it's just the nature of the beast.