NFL Playoffs

[VerbalPuke]

I have never been a huge fan of the NFL's officiating. They always seem to fuck up key plays in big games, or change games when they shouldn't. I can't stand seeing ticky tack holding or pass interference calls, especially when it changes the momentum of a game. It seems the be the same with the NBA, in that they call a lot of dog shit fouls while letting the same shit slide on the next few plays.

Makes me wish I had more interest in the NHL or MLB because those refs seem to be fairly accurate with their calls, for the most part.

Although I am happy with the final four of the NFL right now. I'm absolutely happy that the Bears lost because I loath them (I've said before, it's a Lions fan thing). I'm thinking Steelers will win it all at this point, but the NFC side I can't predict. If I had a gun to my head, I'd probably go with Carolina as it seems to be an underdogs playoff as has been mentioned earlier. '

I think naiwf mentioned earlier that he's looking more forward to the NFL Draft than the Super Bowl, all I can say is welcome to my world. Heh, I've felt that way for the last....as long as I can remember. Welcome to the world of a Lions fan.

Ah yes, one question, this is to Pittsburgh fans, does anybody have an opinion on Russ Grimm, your O-Line coach? Do you Steelers fans think he has what it takes to be a Head Coach? I ask because it looks as if he is the front runner to be the Lions new head coach, and probably would have been hired this week if the Steelers had lost.

[gunnar hendershow]

I have never been a huge fan of the NFL's officiating. They always seem to fuck up key plays in big games, or change games when they shouldn't. I can't stand seeing ticky tack holding or pass interference calls, especially when it changes the momentum of a game. It seems the be the same with the NBA, in that they call a lot of dog shit fouls while letting the same shit slide on the next few plays.

Makes me wish I had more interest in the NHL or MLB because those refs seem to be fairly accurate with their calls, for the most part.

Although I am happy with the final four of the NFL right now. I'm absolutely happy that the Bears lost because I loath them (I've said before, it's a Lions fan thing). I'm thinking Steelers will win it all at this point, but the NFC side I can't predict. If I had a gun to my head, I'd probably go with Carolina as it seems to be an underdogs playoff as has been mentioned earlier. '

I think naiwf mentioned earlier that he's looking more forward to the NFL Draft than the Super Bowl, all I can say is welcome to my world. Heh, I've felt that way for the last....as long as I can remember. Welcome to the world of a Lions fan.

Ah yes, one question, this is to Pittsburgh fans, does anybody have an opinion on Russ Grimm, your O-Line coach? Do you Steelers fans think he has what it takes to be a Head Coach? I ask because it looks as if he is the front runner to be the Lions new head coach, and probably would have been hired this week if the Steelers had lost.

The Steelers have a great O-Line. I can say this because as a Ravens fan he has made our defensive attack look pretty weak. I think he'd make a good Head Coach given the way he handles the O-Line.

As for your refs comment, many people at EWB... myself included... hate many of the NHL's officials and think they are very bad. MLB officials had some calls this past postsason which were game-changing if I recall.

[ACCBiggz]

The difference with MLB, NBA, NHL... they don't have Instant Replay. So with the things like White Sox/Angels, White Sox/Red Sox, and other close plays in various leagues... they get one shot and for the most part they are not obvious, like the ones in the NFL where the refs blew them.

If I am not mistaken, I could be wrong...

The NFL is the only league to not have full-time refs? Which, if correct, is just astounding to have the #1 US Sport and so forth not having its own full time officials.

[Mofoticon]

Russ Grimm will be a very good hire for Detroit, as a Browns fan i agree, the Steelers offensive line has always been good, and man handles people....Grimm is also the assistant head coach of the Steelers.

[Evil Chase K]

Well the Steelers get higher ratings across the nation than any other NFL team.

With the amount of Cowboy "fans" in every major city in America I'd think they draw the highest ratings. I guess I've always been bored with the Steelers style of play which incidentally is the same way the Giants played in their heyday. Even though I got to see them win 2 titles there were MANY times I couldn't sit through a whole game.

If NE had played a half decent game yesterday I'm pretty sure they would have beaten Pittsburgh at home and 3 peated. I guess this postseason was one for the underdogs.

[gunnar hendershow]

The Steelers sell the most merch of any team, they get the highest ratings when they play nationally, and I'm willing to bet their website gets the most hits of all NFL teams. I'm surprised the NFL doesn't try to rig games in their favor instead of against them. I am a Ravens fan and, thus, hate Pittsburgh. But it's really hard to give them anything but praise in just about every aspect. It's sort of like the Yankees are in baseball, except with a Salary Cap and an owner who doesn't fire coaches.

I think the Steelers have somewhat of a bandwagon though nowhere near that of the Cowboys. When the Cowboys are good more Dallas fans just appear out of thin air than any other team in the NFL.

[naiwf]

The Steelers sell the most merch of any team, they get the highest ratings when they play nationally, and I'm willing to bet their website gets the most hits of all NFL teams. I'm surprised the NFL doesn't try to rig games in their favor instead of against them. I am a Ravens fan and, thus, hate Pittsburgh. But it's really hard to give them anything but praise in just about every aspect. It's sort of like the Yankees are in baseball, except with a Salary Cap and an owner who doesn't fire coaches.

I think the Steelers have somewhat of a bandwagon though nowhere near that of the Cowboys. When the Cowboys are good more Dallas fans just appear out of thin air than any other team in the NFL.

[ACCBiggz]

I don't think a Super Bowl means anything in terms of HOF. Marino, Moon, and a host of other great QB's without rings, Moon will get in the hall with time imo.

However, on Ben, out of his class I thought he was the best QB (perhaps seeing him here in Ohio swayed me a bit). He has done well so far, 2 seasons, 2 AFC Championship games. And he is a suitable QB who runs the offense, and wins, which is the important stat.

NFL says ref got Polamalu call wrong; no comment on Porter remark

By DAVE GOLDBERG, AP Football Writer

January 16, 2006

The NFL said the referee made a mistake: Troy Polamalu caught the ball.

The league acknowledged Monday that referee Pete Morelli erred when he overturned on replay Polamalu's interception of a Peyton Manning pass Sunday in the playoff game between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.

Mike Pereira, the league's vice president of officiating, said in a statement that Morelli should have let the call on the field stand.

"He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch," Pereira said. "Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the field that it was a catch and fumble."

After the reversal, made with 5:26 left in Pittsburgh's win over the Colts, Indianapolis went on to score a touchdown and a 2-point conversion, cutting the Steelers' 21-10 lead to 21-18. That led to a wild final few minutes, filled with unbelievable twists and turns, including Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt's missed 46-yard field-goal attempt that clinched it for Pittsburgh.

On the play, Polamalu made a diving catch of Manning's pass, tumbled with it in his hands and got up to run. As he did, he fumbled the ball, then recovered. Colts coach Tony Dungy challenged the call, and Morelli ruled Polamalu had not completed the catch.

Had the call stood, the Steelers would have had the ball at their own 48 with an 11-point lead.

Shortly after the game, Morelli offered the following explanation:

"I had the defender catching the ball. Before he got up, he hit it with his leg with his other leg still on the ground. He never had possession with his leg up off the ground, doing an act common to the game of football. He was losing it while his other leg was still on the ground. Therefore, he did not complete the catch. And then he lost the ball. It came out, and so we made the play an incomplete pass."

Under league officiating procedure, an "act common to the game" is defined as controlling the ball long enough to hand it, pitch it or pass it. But Pereira noted that this definition only applies when there is "contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did not happen here."

The NFL almost never makes public the result of its reviews, although it did three years ago, when Pereira said officials should have called pass interference against San Francisco on the final play of a wild-card game with the New York Giants. The correct call would have given New York a second chance to kick a game-winning field goal in a 39-38 loss.

The call in Indianapolis incensed Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter, who said after the game: "I know they wanted Indy to win this game; the whole world loves Peyton Manning. But come on, man, don't take the game away from us like that."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello had no comment on Porter's statement.

In the past, players who have made such statements have been subject to fines.

Polamalu's overturned interception wasn't the only unusual call. Earlier in the game, when the Steelers were preparing to go for a fourth-and-inches from the Pittsburgh 48, two Colts defensive lineman ran across the line of scrimmage, pointing at the Steelers as if one of the linemen moved.

The officials stopped the game, but called no penalty.

Replays appeared to show Alan Faneca barely flinched. But Steelers coach Bill Cowher argued the Colts made contact with the linemen, which would have forced an offside call and a first down. Instead, Ben Roethlisberger ran a quarterback sneak for a first down, which allowed Pittsburgh to use another 5:02 before punting.

Edited January 17, 2006 by ACCBiggz

[naiwf]

I don't think a Super Bowl means anything in terms of HOF. Marino, Moon, and a host of other great QB's without rings, Moon will get in the hall with time imo.

[ACCBiggz]

I think he is, as of right now, but throw any rookie with that kind of record in the mix. Only a 2nd year player, so judgement should be reserved. On "pace" means if his career continues like this, and if his career continued down the path of winning at a high rate, then yes, a HOF, but the chances of that happening are slim to none. Media should let young players alone and just talk about seasons, but talk about career with veterens.

[SeanDMan]

By the way, the NHL does have instant replay, and a lot of times, they get it wrong.

The World Juniors saw a play not get instant replayed that was a, at the time, crucial goal that would have made the game 1-1 (IIRC). Instead, they only reviewed it after play began again, too late to overturn the call of no goal, and thus had to explain that it was indeed a goal and no, it would in fact not count. The Canadians went on to win by miles anyway but it was still a game changing non-call and in the gold medal game no less.

Still, I've never seen so much refereeing incompetency in such a short span. God damn, basically the whole playoffs has had a shitty goal a game or more, and that's insane.

[gunnar hendershow]

The Steelers sell the most merch of any team, they get the highest ratings when they play nationally, and I'm willing to bet their website gets the most hits of all NFL teams. I'm surprised the NFL doesn't try to rig games in their favor instead of against them. I am a Ravens fan and, thus, hate Pittsburgh. But it's really hard to give them anything but praise in just about every aspect. It's sort of like the Yankees are in baseball, except with a Salary Cap and an owner who doesn't fire coaches.

I think the Steelers have somewhat of a bandwagon though nowhere near that of the Cowboys. When the Cowboys are good more Dallas fans just appear out of thin air than any other team in the NFL.

Maybe it's simply because I live in NYC, and Dallas is in my division (Giants fan), but there are far more Cowboys "fans" locally. Pittsburgh has been a contending team for quite some time and they don't seem to have that many fans that call in local radio and gloat, which is why that stat came across as a bit of a surprise. I guess the '70s Steelers dominance created a lot of fans, but I just never really see anyone talking them up around here, although Big Ben is reaching Peytonesque levels of verbal fellatio from the media. If he wins a Super Bowl it'll be deserved, but until then I don't see the reason that they should already be building him a plaque for Canton.

We get a ton of Steelers fans gloating here in Baltimore. Most of us just say "1980" and get on with our lives when they gloat. It's kind of fun... but 25 years isn't that long of a drought. I seriously don't see many Cowboys fans around here. But a lot of that might be due to the old Colts influence and since the Colts and Cowboys had a big rivalry for years, including the Colts winning their lone Super Bowl over the 'Boys, people here did not root for the Cowboys. I definitely see more Redskins fans here more than any team (Besides the Ravens), but Steelers fans are usually 10-15,000 strong every year when they come to town.

[Guest Chaos Theory]

Conspiracy runs rampant in the NFL. Just ask Tampa Bay.

Every year we get screwed out of two or three wins by bad calls by the refs.

[Clawson]

Conspiracy runs rampant in the NFL. Just ask Tampa Bay.

Every year we get screwed out of two or three wins by bad calls by the refs.

[ACCBiggz]

No reason to get hasty about it Clawson, go back to your Maple Leafs.

[Clawson]

They don't play till 9 and even then they're probably going to lose without McCabe or Tucker.

[Guest Chaos Theory]

By the way. I'm not talking just about the Washington game. I'm talking about other games.

We got screwed in the play offs a few times by bad calls by the refs. One bad call cost us the NFC championship game one year.

[gunnar hendershow]

Conspiracy runs rampant in the NFL. Just ask Tampa Bay.

Every year we get screwed out of two or three wins by bad calls by the refs.

Fans of Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Miami, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, NY Jets, NY Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tennessee, or Washington say the exact same thing at the end of every season. There is no conspiracy, it's just that the officials make mistakes. ... A lot of mistakes.

[syck]

Conspiracy runs rampant in the NFL. Just ask Tampa Bay.

Every year we get screwed out of two or three wins by bad calls by the refs.

Fans of Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Miami, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, NY Jets, NY Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tennessee, or Washington say the exact same thing at the end of every season. There is no conspiracy, it's just that the officials make mistakes. ... A lot of mistakes.

[gunnar hendershow]

I always like to say that the real champions are the teams who can win despite awful calls by the refs that clearly put the advantage in the hands of their opponents. If you can't win, you can't win. There are no excuses.