Questionable Calls Superbowl 43

[fljet]

Originally Posted by RMR

Fans are very rarely interested in reality in discussions like this. They are more interested in pissing and moaning.

They ask questions, but then when their questions get answered the person answering is either FOS or "covering up for the refs." That's just the way it is.

I spend a lot of time on a couple of college fan forums and it's really pretty comical. I used to try to explain rulings etc., but you know it's bad when you can provide a quote directly from the rule book and still be informed that you are wrong.

I have learned to let Matthew 7:6 be my guide.

Point well taken, I am not saying Im right or wrong, and Im not saying anyone on this that comments is right or wrong. My agenda was to point out that there were an abnormal amount of questionable calls and actions in this game, 90% of them helping PITTS. What prompts me to do this is about ten of you saying that you thought the crew did a "great job" is bologna. I also knew coming in to the game that Mcually's crew called the most penalties in the NFL this year and absolutely predicted prior to the game that this game would come down to a call. (Which is why I took the cards +7 and made an assload of money)
I understand that it is not easy to get all the calls right, nor would I expect that to happen, but when you have a game like that it causes fans to lose confidence in the officiating. Again I am a neutral fan who was disappointed because I like millions of other neutral fans dont think the Cards got a fair shot, just like the Seahawks in 2005.

If you think this game was officiated well and you dont agree, then you are just drinking the Mike P. kool aid, wake up and smell the coffee. The fans are the ones that pay the bills and as being a season ticket holder for 12 years I am entitled to my opinion.

PEACE

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by fljet

Point well taken, I am not saying Im right or wrong, and Im not saying anyone on this that comments is right or wrong. My agenda was to point out that there were an abnormal amount of questionable calls and actions in this game, 90% of them helping PITTS. What prompts me to do this is about ten of you saying that you thought the crew did a "great job" is bologna. I also knew coming in to the game that Mcually's crew called the most penalties in the NFL this year and absolutely predicted prior to the game that this game would come down to a call. (Which is why I took the cards +7 and made an assload of money)
I understand that it is not easy to get all the calls right, nor would I expect that to happen, but when you have a game like that it causes fans to lose confidence in the officiating. Again I am a neutral fan who was disappointed because I like millions of other neutral fans dont think the Cards got a fair shot, just like the Seahawks in 2005.

The biggest myth is sports are that fouls are supposed to be even. Just like players and teams to not make equally great plays, you cannot expect players and teams to make the same number of mistakes. Officials officiate mistakes. If everyone followed the rules, you would not need officials. Someone has to be out there to identify those mistakes.

I did not see any plays where the Steelers ran into a holder (which you almost never see at any level BTW). The Steelers had the only penalties that resulted in points which put the Cardinals in position to score on the next drive. They had a penalty before that that backed them up closer to the end zone before the holding that resulted in a safety in a personal foul. There were quite a few personal fouls by both teams and one was pretty stupid on a Steelers player, but the Cardinals did not convert. And no body told the Cardinals not to cover a receiver that made about 4 catches in the same drive and allow him an opportunity to win the game. Did the officials make the Cardinal DB fall so that the MVP could run 30-40 yards down field? Or did the officials tell their sideline player to run into a chasing player on the last play of the first half? And you really can make a case that the play calling by the Cardinals forgot about Fitzgerald until the game was almost over. What would have happen if they run plays to him most of the game?

When are you going to acknowledge those mistakes?

Originally Posted by fljet

If you think this game was officiated well and you dont agree, then you are just drinking the Mike P. kool aid, wake up and smell the coffee. The fans are the ones that pay the bills and as being a season ticket holder for 12 years I am entitled to my opinion.

PEACE

In any profession, the average person is not an expert one what it takes to be successful at that profession. And whether you like it or not, the fans are not going to ever dictate that. No one needs to drink anything, we have actually been in situations where we have had to make calls in a split second and there is not instant replay to back us up. And when you have been in those situations, you realize how hard it is to call a game with bigger, faster and stronger players. And it is amazing to me how many times these officials get plays right. The replay system backs up officials most of the time. And you for one did not even understand the idiosyncrasies of that system. And I do not care if you are a season ticket holder that is your problem. I am not a season ticket holder and would not be. If I was I would complain to the people I am wasting my money for, not people that do not run the organization and only know of things from a far. I can see you are not a very smart consumer.

Peace

[RMR]

Originally Posted by fljet

I also knew coming in to the game that Mcually's crew called the most penalties in the NFL this year and absolutely predicted prior to the game that this game would come down to a call. (Which is why I took the cards +7 and made an assload of money)
I understand that it is not easy to get all the calls right, nor would I expect that to happen, but when you have a game like that it causes fans to lose confidence in the officiating. Again I am a neutral fan who was disappointed because I like millions of other neutral fans dont think the Cards got a fair shot, just like the Seahawks in 2005.

So what exactly are you trying to say? Are you saying that the crew cheated for the Steelers in this game and in Super Bowl XL? that's certainly how your comments here come across.

Oh, and what "call did the game come down to"?

[ajmc]

The closest analogy I can think of to describe the value of some of the comments, observations and suggestions made regarding the SB officiating would be adding a spectator section to an Emergency room, so those who have either participated in or witnessed prior accidents could shout "opinions" to the ER doctors.

Sometimes it seems we forget it's the game itself, and how it's played (which includes coached, managed and officiated) which creates the interest and attraction that draws the spectators. Spectators buy tickets so they can, hopefully, enjoy watching the game unfold.

As evidenced by some of the comments made here, spectating does not necessarily impart great wisdom or an acute understanding of the fine points of the game. The vast majority of spectators understand their role is to observe, enjoy and be entertained and are totally satisfied with those benefits.

[Rick KY]

#1 - The Holmes imitation of LeBron James... How is what Holmes did any different than tossing the ball or spiking the ball, or doing the weave through the legs with the ball? Seriously. I thought at first it should have been flagged, but then thought it about it for while. If the ball is a prop then every TD would end with a foul. Not sure I'd flag this after thinking a while.

#2 - Last fumble by Warner... I really thought, and still do think, this should have been ruled an incomplete forward pass. I cannot believe it was not reviewed at least. This brings up the right of challenge by coaches inside 2:00. Why not allow those challenges? Arizona already correctly challenged two during the game after all.

[RMR]

[QUOTE=Rick KY;576143]#1 - The Holmes imitation of LeBron James... How is what Holmes did any different than tossing the ball or spiking the ball, or doing the weave through the legs with the ball? Seriously. I thought at first it should have been flagged, but then thought it about it for while. If the ball is a prop then every TD would end with a foul. Not sure I'd flag this after thinking a while.
[QUOTE]

While I agree that it's not terribly different, the NFL has specifically targeted acts like that, as opposed to spikes and tosses.

I'm a Steeler fan and first thing I thought when he did that was Oh ****, cuz I knew it was fixing to cost them 15.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by fljet

My agenda was to point out that there were an abnormal amount of questionable calls and actions in this game, 90% of them helping PITTS.

The majority of questions about the calls on the field are from those who do not understand the rules and their interpretations. That includes the righteous media.

I also knew coming in to the game that Mcually's crew called the most penalties in the NFL this year and absolutely predicted prior to the game that this game would come down to a call.

Fact - this was not McAulay's crew. The crew consisted of officials who graded out the highest at their position during the season. This also points to the fact that this is the way the league wants the game to be called.

Again I am a neutral fan who was disappointed because I like millions of other neutral fans dont think the Cards got a fair shot, just like the Seahawks in 2005.

Again, your opinion of the calls is of little consequence to the NFL. This is how they want the game called. btw - the offensive pass interference against Seattle was a terrific call!

If you think this game was officiated well and you dont agree, then you are just drinking the Mike P. kool aid, wake up and smell the coffee.

The comment above seems to contradict the following statement.

and Im not saying anyone on this that comments is right or wrong

The fans are the ones that pay the bills and as being a season ticket holder for 12 years I am entitled to my opinion.

Everyone has an opinion. But having an opinion doesn't make you correct.

[fljet]

Fact - this was not McAulay's crew. The crew consisted of officials who graded out the highest at their position during the season. This also points to the fact that this is the way the league wants the game to be called.


So your telling me that Mcually didnt probably have hours of pregame preparation with his crew to discuss how the game would be officiated, doesnt really matter who is crew was it was who was in charge on the field during the game. Mcually was the one who kept screwing up and was inconsistent on his responsibilities anyways, so keep sticking up for him.











Everyone has an opinion. But having an opinion doesn't make you correct.[/QUOTE]

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by fljet

So your telling me that Mcually didnt probably have hours of pregame preparation with his crew to discuss how the game would be officiated, doesnt really matter who is crew was it was who was in charge on the field during the game. Mcually was the one who kept screwing up and was inconsistent on his responsibilities anyways, so keep sticking up for him.

This is another example of your ignorance and ability to stay ignorant.

Crews do not talk about what they are going to call during the game. You review responsibilities of the crew, like who has what type of coverage and how that will be handled in certain plays that you might be aware of, but the NFL has already reviewed with those officials what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. And the Referee (Mcully) is not watching the entire field and in no way controls what everyone calls. When officials call a penalty, he just administrates the penalty. He does not necessarily have personal knowledge of the penalty or why it was called. It is abundantly clear you do not even know that by your comments and just more reason you are getting criticized. Honestly, it is not about defending anyone on the crew. If you are going to have a criticism, at the very least criticize the right person for the right reasons. But that would take knowledge and common sense to come to that conclusion. Things you seem to be lacking big time.

A person that officiates Pee-Wee Ball would have known these things.

Peace

[jaybird]

Originally Posted by fljet

Fact - this was not McAulay's crew. The crew consisted of officials who graded out the highest at their position during the season. This also points to the fact that this is the way the league wants the game to be called.

On Sunday, February 1, 2009 it was McAullay's crew!

So your telling me that Mcually didnt probably have hours of pregame preparation with his crew to discuss how the game would be officiated, doesnt really matter who is crew was it was who was in charge on the field during the game. Mcually was the one who kept screwing up and was inconsistent on his responsibilities anyways, so keep sticking up for him.

They did have hours of pre-game preparations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They all officiate by the same philosophy. I sure don't know where you get off thinking that he screwed up or was inconsistent! You apparently were watching a different game or simply didn't know what you were watching to begin with.

[pedr]

Official Review is up: http://www.nfl.com/videos

On the celebration no-call, it's confirmed that it was missed because it was far longer after the score than is normal. Pereira says that the covering official did everything he was supposed to - in other words, the mechanics make that a penalty that's unlikely to be called as no-one's looking for it.

There was a penalty on the fumble at the end of the game, which gave the replay official time to look at various angles. He did his job; he confirmed that the call was correct (which Pereira and the referee also believe it was, having now seen the replays). In future, though, close but almost certainly correct calls which could be game-changing that late on may be referred down to the referee more readily than is current practice. The replay official phoned the tv crews, to say he'd confirmed the call, apparently, which is why the commentators were saying that it had been reviewed.

At the end of the first half, the personal foul by Arizona prior to the interception would have been tacked onto the end of the run, so if the interception hadn't been run back for a touchdown, Pittsburgh would have got an extra play. (I didn't realise this, and it seems counter-intuitive, as the foul played no part in the events following the interception. But I'm just a fan, not an official! How is it in other rule-sets?)

Finally, roughing the holder is a foul, though note that running into the holder isn't (unlike running into the kicker) so there needed to be an element of unnecessary roughness. Pereira said, "he's not coming off a block"... I suppose running unstopped in the direction and running over the holder was enough to count as 'roughing'. He said he's not seen the foul called before!

[johnSandlin]

I just watched the link that was posted and I also watched most of the game last Sunday and I am not sure why everyone is throwing this crew under the bus.

Yes, there were a lot of penalties for a Super Bowl, but they got them right and that is what you want is calls being right.

The roughing the holder was easy to call. Normally in any football, the holder is a back up QB, punter, or kicker, and plus this player was defense less and in a defense less position, so it was a no brainer call for McAulay to make.

[kdf5]

Originally Posted by johnSandlin

I just watched the link that was posted and I also watched most of the game last Sunday and I am not sure why everyone is throwing this crew under the bus.

"Everyone" isn't throwing the crew under the bus, just uninformed beer chugging goofs who don't know a thing about officiating are doing that.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by pedr

Finally, roughing the holder is a foul, though note that running into the holder isn't (unlike running into the kicker) so there needed to be an element of unnecessary roughness. Pereira said, "he's not coming off a block"... I suppose running unstopped in the direction and running over the holder was enough to count as 'roughing'. He said he's not seen the foul called before!

Slight mis-understanding here on your part. He didn't say there had to be an element of roughing. He just said there isn't a running-into variety (5 yards) regarding the holder. Almost any contact with the holder would be considered roughing. They just don't get touched that often.

Great summary of the video otherwise.

[Forksref]

Great game. Officiated very well. No game is ever perfectly officiated. The calls and no-calls had no effect on the outcome.

Biggest play of the game was the last one of the first half. Warner would like to have that one back. Big swing and that was the difference in the game.