NFL apologies - why is Pittsburgh miscall worse than TAmpa?

What annoys me is that they now have the "justification time" with the head of league officiating on NFL Total Access. I mean, seriously... this guy just comes on and backs the refs no matter what (of course unless it was completely blatant like the int..).

Also, what was up with the no-call on the offside/false start penalty where they stop an entire play and discuss for 5 minutes and throw no flag. Has that ever happened before?

This season has been tainted by the worst officiating I've seen in my life. Not just for my team, but in the league in general. I don't understand why steve smith gets thrown from a game for putting his hand on a ref, and Ronde Barber gets a kiss on the cheek after decking one.

We need full time well-paid well trained officials.

The NFL does not agree on the Tampa call. They consider the visual evidence inconclusive on Alstots non score. They reviewed the play on NFL Network with the head of officials and he agreed with the ref for not reversing the call.

I think that's nonsense, but that's where they stand on the call.

And normally there is no public statement, just a letter to the team. I guess playoffs prompted the public statement.

We need full time well-paid well trained officials.
I agree 100% - given the amount of money at stake (billions), it's silly not to spend $20 million or so to have full time crews.

They reviewed the play on NFL Network with the head of officials and he agreed with the ref for not reversing the call.
I wasn't aware they had made any statement regarding the play. If this is true, then I am a little satisfied. As you said, I think it's ridiculous to say Alstott was in, but there's another thread (or six ;)) on that subject...

Also, what was up with the no-call on the offside/false start penalty where they stop an entire play and discuss for 5 minutes and throw no flag. Has that ever happened before?

That was one of the strangest things I've ever seen. It's obvious somebody moved, they basically did the old playground move and called a do over. I really didn't understand that either.

While I prefer your "conspiracy theory" angle, I think your comments about the level of proof make sense. I don't want to completely rehash the TB game, but, of course, even Gruden wouldn't say "Alstott was obviously in". Oh well, onwards and upwards!


Honestly, for the first time in the history of watching sports, the idea of a "fix" came into my mind when I was watching the Colts/Steelers game. I have never seen so many bad calls go one teams way, and just a poor job by the officials. In the winter meetings, making penalties reviewable HAS GOT to be a priority. They would get reviewed by other officals upstairs and sent down to the on feild ref.

Honestly, for the first time in the history of watching sports, the idea of a "fix" came into my mind when I was watching the Colts/Steelers game. I have never seen so many bad calls go one teams way, and just a poor job by the officials. In the winter meetings, making penalties reviewable HAS GOT to be a priority. They would get reviewed by other officals upstairs and sent down to the on feild ref.


I have been saying the fix word for 2 years now, it's obvious the NFL want's to promote it's stars and it's hard to do if their not winning, it was also obvious they had it in for D. Snyder, I am pretty objective and I have to say the calls that have went against us the past year and a half were much worse than just a bad call, they were a wink, wink, nod, nod, by the NFL to the officials to make sure they do their best to see we get the short end of the stick when ever the opportunity presents itself, that's what the down by contact rule was instituted for.

Most of the NFL officials are basically WWF rejects!

Yup theres more than just bad officiating going on in the NFL, no one can be that bad on a regular basis.

So, why do the Steelers get an apology for a call that had no actual impact on the outcome of the game, yet we didn't get one for a call that did unquestionably impact the outcome of the game?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060117/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_steelers_colts_wrong_call

I appreciate it's a playoff game and much higher visibility, but is that it?

I know, "we made the playoffs so the game at Tampa didn't hurt us, so let it go". It's the offseason - what else are we going to talk about?

The reasom they got the apoligy and not us is beacuse their call did not eventually decide the game, ours did. Skins fans would be even more pissed off if they didn't overturn the end game result, so they let it be.

The call in our Tampa game wasn't the end of the world. Game on the line, Gruden going for 2, Alstott getting the ball in front of the home crowd...I didn't really expect to get that call.

On the other hand, that overturned interception in the Steelers game was one of the worst calls I've ever seen. To do that in a playoff game, after reviewing the play...disgusting. Not to mention a bunch of others.

We all know the NFL wants the Manning/Manning super bowl (see NYG 2005 - 9 home games - favorable H/V splits), but do they have to make it that obvious? :madani:

So, why do the Steelers get an apology for a call that had no actual impact on the outcome of the game, yet we didn't get one for a call that did unquestionably impact the outcome of the game?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060117/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_steelers_colts_wrong_call

I appreciate it's a playoff game and much higher visibility, but is that it?

I know, "we made the playoffs so the game at Tampa didn't hurt us, so let it go". It's the offseason - what else are we going to talk about? :censored: and if we are gonna get :censored: about a :censored: call what about the:censored: denver game the :censored: safety that didn't happen because of a :censored: ''tuck rule'' that i dont under-stand to this day that was a:censored: safety......21----19

We need full time well-paid well trained officials.

Well I do think the officials are well paid (I think some make $10,000 a game and I am pretty sure they start out at around $80,000...FOR A PART-TIME JOB) and they are probably well trained, but I do agree that they should be full time. You can't have School Principles (that is the profession of the guy that screwed up the Steeler INT) and Insurance Adjusters out there making calls. They should be in the league offices training all season . . . I think that is how all the other Major League sports operate. Why not the NFL?