Green Bay appeared to have intercepted the ball on the final play of the game -- a fourth-and-10 from the Packers' 24 -- but Seattle's Golden Tate was ruled to also have possession and the Seahawks won with a last-second TD, 14-12.
UPDATE: The NFL issued a statement Tuesday afternoon admitting the Packers should have won the game because Tate should have been called for offensive interference on the play. A part of the statement reads: "While the ball is in the air, [Golden} Tate can be seen shoving Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields to the ground. This should have been a penalty for offensive pass interference, which would have ended the game. It was not called and is not reviewable in instant replay.".
Replay Official Howard Slavin stopped the game for an instant replay review. The aspects of the play that were reviewable included if the ball hit the ground and who had possession of the ball. In the end zone, a ruling of a simultaneous catch is reviewable. That is not the case in the field of play, only in the end zone.
Referee Wayne Elliott determined that no indisputable visual evidence existed to overturn the call on the field, and as a result, the on-field ruling of touchdown stood. The NFL Officiating Department reviewed the video today and supports the decision not to overturn the on-field ruling following the instant replay review.
The result of the game is final.
The NFL also noted that the final call should not have been overturned -- that Tate did have simultaneous possession of the ball. However, that should have been moot since she should have been called for offensive pass interference.
Packer fans -- and there may be more of them in America than for any other team -- are justifiably furious. Their team should have won after all -- and the NFL is even admitting it, which is a bit stunning in itself. This could be a good thing, leading to more pressure on the NFL to settle the ongoing labor dispute with the refs.
But look, I don't blame the refs here. I blame the NFL. The NFL has put its replacements into an impossible situation. It's a little like a NASCAR team saying, OK, you look like you can drive a car on I-85 at 70 mph pretty well. Let's enter you in the next Sprint Cup race. Good luck!
Of course, a wreck is going to occur. But who is really at fault? The NFL needs to pony up to pay its real refs, who are well-paid by American standards but on the poverty level compared to NFL players and coaches. It's not like the league doesn't have the money.
In the meantime, the refs are absolutely being abused, getting the full-on substitute teacher treatment. Former Panther coach John Fox has already been fined $30,000 for getting after them too much, and the fine for Bill Belichick should be substantially more than that for putting his hands on one at the end of the New England-Baltimore game Sunday night. Kyle Shanahan, the Washington assistant, ran into the tunnel to rip the crew and should draw a huge fine, too.
Here's what the NFL should do: Use all the fines levied to help pay the real refs. Get the real guys back on the job. And, while you're at it, give the replacement refs a bonus and an apology for putting them in this untenable situation. Then send them on their merry way.
Two more notes:
1) In Tuesday's newspaper and online, my colleague Tom Sorensen and I debate the merits of Cam Newton's "Superman" celebration. Check out my view and Tom's view.
2) The Panthers play Seattle and former N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson, who now has the Seahawks off to a 2-1 start, in their next home game Oct.7th at 4:05 p.m. in Charlotte. The Seahawks' pass rush produced eight sacks of Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers Monday night -- all in the first half. It will be quite a challenge for the Panthers' offensive line.
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27 comments:
Hopefully this is the straw that breaks the logjam. That was U-G-L-Y. They ain't got no alibi.
And I too put the blame on the NFL, not the refs.
We can run the screen pass against the Seahawks rush...all day long. Hey Ron Rivera, DO YOU REMEMBER THE SCREEN PASS??????
Well, the REAL refs just got a lot more negotiation leverage. The integrity of the game is at stake.
The Refs and the NFL new from the review what happened. They just made a business decision... place(seattle) would have went crazy if they(nfl) overturned that game winning/losing play. Possible safty issues for the refs..Plus NFL did not want to look stupid
The striking Refs care nothing about the fans, players or the game or they would be working instead of sitting at home on their bums laughing. They only care about themselves. They deserve to be fired.
I like your idea Scott of directing fines to the "real" refs.
Two things from last night's game:
1. I heard Wilson (QB) speak 3x and Tate (WR) once and NOT ONCE did they use the word "catch"...hmmm. They know it's a horrible call and would hate if it happened to them. Also read on Twitterland that the Seahawks were admitting to themselves in the locker room how bad the call(s) was.
2. Wilson is the only QB in NFL history to throw a game-winning interception! [Unless replacement refs keep it up.]
Since economic terrorism is all the rage these days, why not call for a Twitter boycott of going to any games this week, not watching them on TV and also call for a boycott against any company that sponsors the NFL.
I think that will get the NFL's attention.
Yeah, the replacement refs are bad, regular refs good, we get it. Maybe if the NFL can resolve thier disagreement with the Refs Union, we can get back to calls like this:
http://j.mp/QhUp4y
This call, along with similar calls led to a couple of rule changes - No quick whistles, and review of all Turnovers. So I hope we have the same level of scrutiny when the regular 100K - 240K refs return. Yeah, they are on strike over benefits while making 6 figures for working 80 hours a season, Travel and a summer camp. Total Time 74 days. July - December.
The rules say that simultaneous possession goes to the offense. imo, there was an instant when Tate hit the ground that both players had the ball clutched to their chest. At the point he hits the ground, he is down, so PRESTO! - good call.
Now, there were two calls in that same drive, but then there were three bogus calls that kept Packer drives alive. Sorry officiated game. I wish people would examine the calls of the regular refs just as closely. imo, the PI calls are just as bad.
Why didn't Jennings swat the ball away. Why did he try to catch/intercept it. Bad play by GB and EVERYONE wants to blame the refs. I'm not saying it wasn't a bad call or not... but if Jennings did what he was taught to do we wouldn't be in this mess.
Unfortunatly Dallas fans outnumber the second closest team almost 2 to 1, so no not even close.
Stop using the word controversial.
There was nothing controversial about the call. It was a "Heidi" moment for the NFL that will live in infamy.
Shame on every idiot that blames the NFL for standing up to PART TIME employees who demand 200K a year and pension plans. Yes, games will suck for awhile but it will improve as they get experience. Those stinkin Refs are out of there mind thinking they deserve to be paid that, heck, even if they were full time they wouldnt be worth that!
Where is the picket line to join to protest this mockery because that's what we should be doing instead of watching Thursday night's game on NFL Network! And by the way, Jerry Richardson, the ultimate respecter of the shield, should be first on the line!
"Shame on the NFL"?
Grandma, is that you? I half-expected a "tsk, tsk" or a "golly" somewhere in this column.
Tampa Bay's pass rush was more than our O-line could handle. God help them if they see anything like Seattle brought in the first half of last night's game.
So typical....the NFL issues a statement acknwledging the blown offensive pass interference call on Golden Tate which should have ended the game but ignores that the referee did not consult with the officials with conflicting calls before going to the replay booth and then upholding the replay call for which I have not seen a single analyst, commentator or fan disagree that the result of the play was anything but an interception.
At no point during the player lockout last season would the NFL ever had considered using replacement players but, despite the controversy, safety issues and blow to the NFL's integrity, the League remains firm in its stance against the Referees. Shame when you get higher integrity and better officiating in the WWE
Everyone is focused on the last play, but there were lots of very questionable calls/non-calls (holding, pass interference) that set up the last-second scenario. I think Aaron Rodgers' comment is very appropriate: "we shouldn't have been in that situation". If GB doesn't fumble in the shadow of their own end zone, punt short with 46 seconds to go, then give up a 22-yard completion, the last play never happens.
Lets just hope that I still have a job next week...
What do you expect??? The refs are union employees crying and moaning about their retirement pension. I hop they never bring them back.Labor unions (like NFL) are a big reason we're in this dead butt economy.
For those complaining about the pay and pension plans for the officials, I don't hear any complaints about how much the players and coaches are paid. The refs are professionals who have EARNED the right to work at the highest level in their sport and deserve to be compensated accordingly.
Refs made the right call deal with it!
I think that John Fox (and the other coaches) should agree to pay the fine only after the NFL proves that they abused "referees". The guys calling the game in the stripes certainly don't qualify, and therefore John can't be accused of abuse.
Hey Snuffy, that lint on your head and in your ears is affecting your ability to spell.
Oh gosh people. The regular refs made bad calls too. And sometimes the official up in the box will not overturn the call even though the film clearly shows it was a bad call.
I remember hearing somewhere, "If you don't like what's on, don't watch it." Unfortunately that's what it's going to take to get the Owners to move on this situation....lost revenues. However, the situation has become somewhqat of a trainwreck...just can't look away. Since the Panthers play Atlanta this weekend, my wife will get her first 'pajama day' during the NFL season in 18 years...turning the remote over to her doubtful too many others will, but wish they would. The Owners have tarnished the badge beyond repair.
It appears to me that the replacement refs are using the Instant Replay Review system as their security blanket. They appear to have the mindset that I don't have to get the call right, because the reviews can fix it.
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