I’ve been reading ESPN and Sports Illustrated online today to try and find some more information about the call that ended the Saints’ chances for a win yesterday afternoon.
This is what it gets on ESPN:
Mike Furrey’s 67-yard interception return with 1:55 to go wrapped it up for the Rams (3-4), who are 1-1 in the last two games, both without Martz.
The Saints wanted to challenge the interception return but couldn’t because they were out of timeouts; although the play ended with 1:55 left, it began with 2:10 to go and the NFL only takes over after the two-minute warning. Tight end Ernie Conwell claimed he had been down before losing the ball.
“I would bet — well, I’m not a betting man — but I feel 99.9 percent confident that I had possession of the ball and that I was down by contact,” Conwell said. “I went over to the official and told him I had possession, that you guys have got to review that.”
Referee Mike Carey said the crew saw a “bobbling pass reception with no control. While the ball was still loose, it was taken away by the Rams for a touchdown.”
Sports Illustrated ran the exact same AP story.
Where’s the opinions here? Why is there not more criticism of the NFL for an obviously botched call that cost one of the teams the game? Oh that’s right. The Saints’ tenure as “America’s Team” is over. Remember Be a Saint? But not after they lose that “home game” to the Giants.
Chris Behrman did mildy criticize the NFL on the call on SportsCenter, but that was about it. The Saints, much like the Bengals, are expected to lose. It’s not worth making a big deal over. They would have lost anyway. Right?
Welcome to another week of Saints fans asking themselves if a Patriots, Steelers, Falcons, or Eagles tight end would have been down by contact.
What would the refs call if this guy had thrown that pass?
Far be it from me to criticize the refs… (hehe)
I totally agree. As you know, being a former NFC West fan, the Niners were the darling team of the league and didn’t get called for holding for 7 years. *exageration detected*
I’m seeing more and more where the players can just stay home and let the officials decide the game.
Can’t disagree with you there. Seemed pretty easy to me. Almost seems to me that the booth should be able to challenge anytime. I hate to disrupt the flow of the game, but I also hate the idea of a screwed up call deciding the outcome.
But you know they won’t question it a lot in the stories and such. Just like players and coaches are not allowed to question the refs. The refs all all knowing and could never get anything wrong.