NFL says Super Bowl 'properly officiated'

[TahoeSkin]

In denial, and taking a defensive posture, the league says everything was Copacetic:

"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.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/news/story?id=2322687


I was hoping they would revamp the officiating system, so teams wouldn't be screwed as we have a time or two!

[HeHateMe]

In denial, and taking a defensive posture, the league says everything was Copacetic:

"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.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/news/story?id=2322687


I was hoping they would revamp the officiating system, so teams wouldn't be screwed as we have a time or two!

I think he pretty much has to say that.

I dont think any of us really thought that they would come out and say that thier "All-Star" officiating crew blew the biggest game of the season.

[Phixius]

Yeah I agree. What do you expect them to say. But someone has got to get it to the officials attention of how horrible they been this season.

[bubba9497]

he is correct

[Jumbo]

See? Just like all the other times, nothing is wrong. We're all fine here. Everything is good. Thanks for asking. :)

[JerseyGator]

Vegas had $4 billion dollars riding on that statement being issued. :cheers:

[sableholic]

he is correct

Don't usually do this, but I'd have to disagree.

[Leonard Washington]

maybe a espn or some other network should form a ref audit team to check the calls of a game. asking the nfl what it thinks about its officiating is getting us (fans and players) no satisfaction.

[TahoeSkin]

Yeah I agree. What do you expect them to say. But someone has got to get it to the officials attention of how horrible they been this season.

Well, I was hoping that they'd own up to their mistakes, like the ACC did yesterday, and take some positive action. Hire more officials. Make them full-timers. Bring Hi-Tech into the equation. I can't be asking too much? It's a multi-billion dollar industry, with multi-million dollar repercussions. And millions of pissed off fans. It happens to every team in the league. Except the daily game favorite.

[Jumbo]

Yeah I agree. What do you expect them to say. But someone has got to get it to the officials attention of how horrible they been this season.


Imagine if it were truly undisputed (this is as close as I've seen in my memory as far as nationwide coverage/repsonse goes). I mean, imagine if it was really agreed upon by everyone that there were a handful of questionable calls that dramatically slanted the outcome of a Superbowl.

Do you really think they would say something like: "Yes, as unfortunate and unwanted as it is, we deeply regret but acknowledge that problematic calls created an unfair and definite game-changing effect at certain points during the game."

They couldn't do that even if they believed it. Really. The best they could do would be a behind-the-scenes housecleaning as subtle as possible. If it were a regular season game they could possibly admit to an error (or maybe even, gasp, two) but no way could they acknowledge a let-down in officiating quality in their premium showcase product.

One way I'm tempted to couch this whole deal, is just as PIT & SEA brought generally inferior efforts to the Big Dance than to their play-off wins, so too did the officials.

[TheSchwartz]

In denial, and taking a defensive posture, the league says everything was Copacetic:

"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.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/news/story?id=2322687


I was hoping they would revamp the officiating system, so teams wouldn't be screwed as we have a time or two!

I agree that they couldn't say anything else.

But I also agree with the statement that the game was pretty well officiated. If everyone in this country actually knew and understood the rules of the NFL there was probably only 2 plays that were truly controversial (and each team benefitted from one). Otherwise everything went the way it could have...

[Barney B]

he is correct

Thank you. I was starting to feel like Copernicus. :)

[kevinklein]

The NFL would never come out an openly admit they screwed a game as hyped up as the Super Bowl.

[Jumbo]

I agree that they couldn't say anything else.

But I also agree with the statement that the game was pretty well officiated. If everyone in this country actually knew and understood the rules of the NFL there was probably only 2 plays that were truly controversial (and each team benefitted from one). Otherwise everything went the way it could have...

Correction, and with respect, forget the "everyone in the country" stuff.

In actual fact, even among many people who know the rules there is substanial, if not dominat to the eye to date, sentiment that the game was called poorly. Though not soley referring to outright errors, but also in terms of judgement in what kind of calls were made at what times and what calls of the same type were not made.

[ItaliaMuscle]

ugh. i've seen the plays. i've seen the calls. Ben was in, the non fumbles were correct to the rules, only thing that i disagreed on was the holding call that was later followed by a intereception. There will always be mistakes, it's football. This subject is getting overworked. Just like when the skins lost to Tampa with that crappy Alscott call, it happens... but calls cant be perfect 100% of the time.

[altair4]

Thats the pr line...who knows what they are saying in private...

[Fergasun]

Watch the 3rd and 28 play again. #78 goes past the line of scrimmage by 2+ yards. That is "Ineligible Man Downfield". It is clear as day on the live shot.

[SittingBull]

You think they would've apologized for the Palomalu call in Indianapolis if the Colts won?

[TheSchwartz]

You think they would've apologized for the Palomalu call in Indianapolis if the Colts won?

Yes. They've done it before, several times involving the Steelers getting the short end of the stick...

[HapHaszard]

I had 200 bucks on Pittsburgh, and I thought the officiating was very good, LOL

[36HAMMER]

Ben was not in, and he even said so on david letterman. this year as a whole was the worst officated season that i have ever seen. the superbowl included.seattle still could have won but they choked . but those crucial calls were bad.the nfl's luster is beginning to fade.i hope they at least quietly deal with this issue.

[rdskns56fan]

Ben was in (even if he wasn't they would have gone and made it on forth down)
The push off had to be called (he did it right in front of the ref)
The holding had to be called (Madden is an idiot)

The only 2 I think weren't legit were the Hasselbeck penalty and the delay of game that they didn't call against Pittsburgh that would have made it 3rd and 11 instead of 3rd and 6.

[NOVA2Tampa]

Ben was not in, and he even said so on david letterman. this year as a whole was the worst officated season that i have ever seen. the superbowl included.seattle still could have won but they choked . but those crucial calls were bad.the nfl's luster is beginning to fade.i hope they at least quietly deal with this issue.

Why would Ben say he was not in? He obviously didn't watch the video of that play. The replay clearly shows the nose of the ball over the white of the goal line. Remember, the goal line is actually in the end zone, so it was a touchdown.

[Butz65]

Why not move to a 3-man replay system? Two guys in the booth, ref on the field reviewing challenged plays. Let the three vote (can't discuss with each other - they would have to vote independently), majority wins. Keep the 1.5 minute time limit in place. That would greatly reduce the amount of criticism against calls like the one on the Rothlesberger touchdown. It would also insulate the officials on the field making them less hesitant to call plays as they see them. Besides the larger the number of eyes on a play the better.

Next step would be to greatly simplify the rules - let these guys play. The refs should be encouraged to ignore infractions that don't have an impact on a play. Just a thought.

[Bang]

the play that still leaves me scratching my head is the interception return in which Hasselbeck was flagged for an illegal block below the waist,, when he made the tackle.

See, I am willing to concede that the refs had a bad day and made a few ticky tacks or missed a few calls, but this one play throws all of the NFL's explanation out the window.
That was COMPLETELY the improper call, and was as obvious as the day is long to anyone who knows the rule. Hasselback made the tackle, in no way can he be penalized for an illegal block upon taking down the ballcarrier, especially since he didn't even really touch the guy he supposedly cut.
I am also willing to say that yes, in the bang-bang of live play, they may throw that flag in thinking hasselbeck was attempting to cut the blocker, which is illegal, but when it became apparent that he, and ONLY he, made the tackle, they have GOT to pick that flag up.
To tack on fifteen yards at that point is an utter JOKE, and shows either a deep disregard or a deep ignorance of the rule.
there is no way ever that they can adequately explain away that bit of total BS as a correct call. Not a snowball's chance in hell.
I'm not one who thinks there was a fix, but if I did, that would be the call I'd point to above all others. It had absolutely no logical explanation to it at all. At the very BEST, that play indicated to me that they just plain didn't know what the rule was and how to apply it.
And this in a Super Bowl.
For shame,, it's time to change how the officiating is run, and it can start by hiring them full time.

~Bang

[bubba9497]

the play that still leaves me scratching my head is the interception return in which Hasselbeck was flagged for an illegal block below the waist,, when he made the tackle.


Watching in live action I thought he hit the blocker, remembering a simular play during the season, said out loud..... "that's another 15 yards". Not until the replay did I see Hasselbeck whiffed...

[waterwagen]

Watching in live action I thought he hit the blocker, remembering a simular play during the season, said out loud..... "that's another 15 yards". Not until the replay did I see Hasselbeck whiffed...I agree. Also, this was the one play that seemed completely wrong after looking at the replay, and while I can see how the refs got it wrong, how in the world can the NFL, after looking at replays, come out and say that that was a perfect call?

[Martini]

That is a BS cop out. There is no doubt the NFL chose to CYOA approach. Pardon the football metaphor but the NFL was on their own 46 and it was 4th and 1 and they punted.


I say they should grow some sack and own up to that crap and fix it.

[Bang]

Watching in live action I thought he hit the blocker, remembering a simular play during the season, said out loud..... "that's another 15 yards". Not until the replay did I see Hasselbeck whiffed...

Well, even if he had hit the blocker, the fact he made the tackle wipes out any "cut block" infraction. the fact he is the ONLY guy to make the tackle makes it even harder to understand why they wouldn't pick up the flag.

~Bang

[GoSkinsGo]

Their not going to come out and say the bigggest game of the year was done in by bad officiating. The reppercusions would be ridiculous.

I like to put it as both teams brought their C+ game to the big game. It was a bad Super Bowl, nothing more nothing less.

[boobiemiles]

ugh. i've seen the plays. i've seen the calls. Ben was in, the non fumbles were correct to the rules, only thing that i disagreed on was the holding call that was later followed by a intereception. There will always be mistakes, it's football. This subject is getting overworked. Just like when the skins lost to Tampa with that crappy Alscott call, it happens... but calls cant be perfect 100% of the time.
That is looser talk. We pay crazy amounts of money to see a game, and invest an incredible amount of time following teams and supporting the,. The league should have close to perfect officiating. If not, then the refs should not be able to influence a game. Holding is when the arms are on the outside of the pads, or the o-linemen blantanly pulled the defender down. The pass interference call should have went against the defender because you can't touch a player before the ball get there after the five year cushion. Refs get paid a nice sum of money for one game a week. Holding hem up to hight standards doesn't seem that far fetched.

[boobiemiles]

It was properly officiated in the minds of those like me who was rooting for pittsburgh to win

:D

Hopefully this topic is done after the weekend, cause I'm not shedding any tears for Seattle on them losing when they had the easiest schedule and weakest path to the superbowl
Those facts are great, and I understand you not feeling sorry for Seattle. But the officiating was terrible all year. And it cost us a division championship. Seattle had an easy schedule, but they deserve to win the superbowl. I would hate for that to happen to us next year.

[skinsmania123]

That is total bull, and denial to boot. The no TD of Ben ( HE WAS NOT IN ) the TD take away due to a bogus holding call, and the bad spots by the zebra's all in favor of the Steelers.


That was a very poorly officiated game. Glad it was not the Skins in the Seahawks cleats so to speak.

[BlackOps]

The ball hit the line on Ben's run. Oh, Jackson pushed off after 5 yards while the ball was in the air. That equals pass interference.

[Fergasun]

Someone answer me about the ineligible man downfield on the Roethelisberger 3rd and 28 pass!

You guys take 5 seconds to answer questions on the marginally subjective but correct calls, but no one has responsed about #78 being illegally downfield....

[TheNewU]

the game was properly officiated, thats exactly what the NFL wanted the refs to do, NFL gets what it wants, always

[Dracula]

the only bad calls in the game were the hasselbeck blocking call, he already threw the pick so that wasnt a big deal.

Also, the Stevens fumble that was ruled incomplete, PIT would have recovered that but no one talks about that call.

Also, as noted above, the ineligible downfield call.

Someone posted a pic on this board that clearly showed Ben getting in.

Also, it doesnt matter how hard you push someone off of you, its against the rules.

The seattle holding call was a little questionable, but their o-line holds so freaking much every game and it never gets called, so screw them.

in the skins game (and panthers), they were holding like a mofo on every other play but didnt get called because they were at home.

Also, Holmgren is a little girl for whining about the refs. Its his fault he manages the clock like a 6 yr old girl, or that his defense gave up a 76 yd run, or that when everyone knows that PIT runs trick plays near midfield that the safety bites on it hard. I hated both teams, but I at least respect the Steelers. I no longer have any respect for the Seahawks.

:logo:

[Fergasun]

I think the Stevens fumble/incompletion is consistent with how they've ruled it this year.

We had like 3 or 4 times where one of our DBs hit a receiver causing a fumble only to have it ruled incomplete. It's only a matter of time before a coach challenges the ruling on the field and gets a cheap completion out of it.

[Martini]

That is looser talk. We pay crazy amounts of money to see a game, and invest an incredible amount of time following teams and supporting the,. The league should have close to perfect officiating. If not, then the refs should not be able to influence a game. Holding is when the arms are on the outside of the pads, or the o-linemen blantanly pulled the defender down. The pass interference call should have went against the defender because you can't touch a player before the ball get there after the five year cushion. Refs get paid a nice sum of money for one game a week. Holding hem up to hight standards doesn't seem that far fetched.

This is 100% correct. Football is a billions of dollar a year industry and no corner should be cut for officiating. There needs to be repricussions and some serious thought put into fixing the glaring problem.

:point2sky

[Ignatius J.]

I actually agreed with many of the calls.

To me I've always seen officials call push offs as:

If an offensive player pushes a defensive player with his arm fully extended it is a penalty. Push offs where the arm does not extend are not penalties.

Is it a good rule? not neccesarily, but that's how I've always seen it called and by that defenition jackson deserved the penalty.

I also think the rothlesberger touchdown was good.

And I was rooting for seattle.

[dahurt002]

Honestly i can careless about the bad calls in the Superbowl, I KNOW REDSKINS FANS, have seen their share BAD CALLS, and did the league apologize for those bad calls NO, Officiating has been bad all year long-
For Example that Offensive PI. call for pushing off, was the same exact call on David Patten against the Broncos- so I wasn't surprised, if you call it on us, then call it on them, The so called touchdown that ben ran in for- is the same way Alstot won a game against us with a two-point conversion-again I wasn't surprised (a phantom touchdown without enough evidence to over-turn)

Sorry Seattle, IT HAPPENS- LOTS of teams didn't make the playoffs because of bad calls, at least those bad calls didn't cost us or them SuperBowl

[fight_on_til_you_have_won]

They're right -- it was properly officiated... in that there were indeed officials on the field.

[slik]

ok i have done all that i could to not say anything about this subject but alas i am forced. football is a game of momentum and we all know that. now, first off i was at work trying to watch the game but from what i saw, how is it offensive pass interference when AFTER the defenseive player just pushed off on the rec beyond 5 yards? therefore would that not have been off setting penalties resulting in a TD? that would have put the game 10 - 0 and seattle would have had a major momentum swing and forced the steelers into a an alternate game plan.
ben was in? what were yall drinkin? do you think brunell would have ever been called in on that play? but then again i guess when you could be the youngest to ever win a SB ...............
all in all i thought the SB sucked and i could have cared less who won but the officiating this season was awful!!!

[Ignatius J.]

ok i have done all that i could to not say anything about this subject but alas i am forced. football is a game of momentum and we all know that. now, first off i was at work trying to watch the game but from what i saw, how is it offensive pass interference when AFTER the defenseive player just pushed off on the rec beyond 5 yards? therefore would that not have been off setting penalties resulting in a TD? that would have put the game 10 - 0 and seattle would have had a major momentum swing and forced the steelers into a an alternate game plan.
ben was in? what were yall drinkin? do you think brunell would have ever been called in on that play? but then again i guess when you could be the youngest to ever win a SB ...............
all in all i thought the SB sucked and i could have cared less who won but the officiating this season was awful!!!

offsetting penalties result in replay of the down not a touchdown.

[PCRoughrider]

Apparently, they didn't watch the game at the NFL headquarters. :rolleyes:

[MattGeorge85]

Even if their were a few questionable calls in favor of the Steelers (here's looking at you Roethlisberger) Seattle was just plain sloppy. Pittsburg would have won regardless. What killed me the most was that the Skins at the end of the season (not the playoff version....or maybe) could have beat either team that day.
:logo:

[AzSkinsFan63]

The way I see it seattle had no problem getting away with huge holds in both playoff games..

Now the shoe is on the other foot...

that's still no excuse for the piss poor officiating in the second half..I thought the first half was pretty accurate although the PI was ticky tack..

People need to let the NFL know we are sick of this crap..

One sided officiating where one team gets nit picked while the other can hold all day long.

The friggin refs are there for one purpose "To make the game even in case one team is trying to cheat by doing illegal stuff and the other isn't."

Make the game a fair fight..Period!!!!!! That's their only job and they fail week in and week out.

Throwing wierd late flags after big plays looks like what it is "RIGGED".

Bad Spots all season long..this is rediculious..they act Like I haven't been watching the game for 36 years.

[GrimReefa]

The NFL would also like to announce that Big Ben played marvelously, the Rolling Stones rocked, and the commercials were the best ever.

You all just had a really bad dream. At the same time.

[CrossWalker]

It was properly officiated.

[Bangee7]

That was THEE worst officiated big game I have ever witnessed.
The ref's were too much a part of that game.

Pitt got every close call except 1.
And when reviewed, Seattle deserved it.

I don't like blaming refs, but.......

the outcome of that game was pre-determined.

All that was missing was Vince McMahon to come out and grab the microphone!

[SkinsFanMania]

This is the reason why the referring keeps getting worse every year. Because the NFL can't own up to their mistakes. Maybe if they finally started to admit that the referring was atrocious over the last few years and gets worse every year, we would get something accomplished.

Until they admit their is a problem the problem will only get worse.

[JerseyGator]

Seattle Penalties (including gains nullified on penalized plays) = 161 yards
Pittsburgh Penalties (including the same) = 25 yards

Oh yeah, it was fairly officiated. They always call holding and offensive pass interference in big games.

Over 70% of America and beyond thinks the refs affected the outcome of the game. 48 of 50 states feel that way according to the ESPN poll of 100,000+. Only West VA and PA begged to differ (big surprise).

[spm]

I'm from WV and I was a Pittsburgh supporter going into the game (second only to the Redskins). However, after that game, my feeling is that Karma has paid the Steelers over tenfold. I won't be rooting for Pittsburgh for a while, although I will be pulling for the Seahawks when they are not playing the Skins.

[Jumbo]

It was properly officiated.


Well, I think you convinced all dissenters ;) :D

[Jumbo]

Seattle Penalties (including gains nullified on penalized plays) = 161 yards
Pittsburgh Penalties (including the same) = 25 yards

Oh yeah, it was fairly officiated. They always call holding and offensive pass interference in big games.

Over 70% of America and beyond thinks the refs affected the outcome of the game. 48 of 50 states feel that way according to the ESPN poll of 100,000+. Only West VA and PA begged to differ (big surprise).

Next year the Redskins will take the field once again, and this remarkable display of "just fine" SB officiating that so many unbiased people here saw will vanish into the mists of history and be replaced by their regular visions of horribly incompetent and conspiratorial officiating that is our eternal and unjust burden.

[CrossWalker]

Well, I think you convinced all dissenters ;) :D

Why argue it, the game's over.

[CaliforniaSkin]

Someone answer me about the ineligible man downfield on the Roethelisberger 3rd and 28 pass!

You guys take 5 seconds to answer questions on the marginally subjective but correct calls, but no one has responsed about #78 being illegally downfield....


You're right about illegal man downfield, the refs missed it.

[BlueTalon]

Yes, the game is over, but what should be done moving forward? The NFL really needs to hire its officials full time, and then devote some resources into training them year-round. That will go a long way toward eliminating many of these questionable calls and non-calls that have directly impacted many teams' records and playoff chances.

But before they can do that, the NFL has to drop its see-no-evil approach to its officials' performances.

[fansince62]

"Next year the Redskins will take the field once again, and this remarkable display of "just fine" SB officiating that so many unbiased people here saw will vanish into the mists of history and be replaced by their regular visions of horribly incompetent and conspiratorial officiating that is our eternal and unjust burden."

ding. ding. ding.

[the burgundy and gold]

IT was terrible

[ChiefPowhatan17]

I think that they are just covering their own as#. It was a horrible game to watch and it could've been one of the best in history, if the zebras had stayed out of the way. Let em play.