Giants quarterback Eli Manning's pass to David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII is already a legendary play, but referee Mike Carey tells the New York Daily News that he was ready to blow the now-famous Manning to Tyree play dead before Manning's pass happened.
"I knew a sack, or at least grasp and control, was imminent," Carey said.
Carey's explanation of his actions on the play are a textbook description of how a referee needs to call a close play, especially a close play when a quarterback is about to get sacked: He has to be ready to stop the play to protect the quarterback, but he also has to be willing to let the quarterback make the kind of athletic play that Manning ended up making. Carey explains:
Carey has, in the past, been accused of being overly protective of quarterbacks. But on this play he wasn't, and if Carey had a quicker trigger finger, we would have been robbed of one of the great plays in football history."I anticipated a sack. I didn't assume that was going to happen, but rarely do you see a quarterback escape when he's got that much weight on his back and being dragged by two or three guys who had a hold of him. I could see his head was just straight ahead. He was trying to break free with desperation. Then all of a sudden he spun out and then he started to come right back at me."
Previously on FanHouse:
Eli Manning to David Tyree: Ref Mike Carey in Perfect Position
Super Bowl Hero: Referee Mike Carey
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-07-2008 @ 8:43AM
Rusty Price@therustygourmet.com said...
This is a great example of officiating at its best.
But, all the talk has been about Eli Manning's escape. Yes, it was worthy of Houdini. However, let's remember that the escape and ensuing pass would have meant nothing unless it was caught. Kudos must also go to David Tyree.
Hmmm, I wonder if it is against protocol to send Referee Mike Carey a gift basket?
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2-07-2008 @ 9:28AM
KritonD said...
"all the talk has been about Eli Manning's escape" Really?
All I see on ESPN/NY papers is talk about Tyree and the catch part. I think both ends of the play were equally impressive.
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2-07-2008 @ 2:42PM
nickstoli said...
42 had great refereeing. I like it when the officials make themselves as unobtrusive as possible.
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2-07-2008 @ 5:31PM
jsharpe0047 said...
He was expecting a sack? NO SH%T!!!! SO WAS I!!!!
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2-07-2008 @ 6:36PM
tobrien28 said...
The Immaculate Imperfection was incredible.
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2-07-2008 @ 7:56PM
Dan Bingham said...
Eli Manning could be the second coming of Charlie Connerly,both from Ole Miss. Maybe that's what Wellington Mara had in mind when Giants drafted him.
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2-08-2008 @ 1:57AM
Phil said...
JSharpe ... My Thoughts Exactly!!!
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2-08-2008 @ 5:37AM
Brian said...
He SHOULD have blown the whistle. In any other game it would have been "in the grasp" and they shouldn't change their ways of thinking just because it is the Super Bowl. Manning could have been seriously hurt and laid up for the 2008 season. Manning got a lucky break and Tyree made a lucky catch. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. Let's see them do it again in 08.
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2-20-2008 @ 7:42AM
brianc said...
Michael, has anyone asked whether the NFL will look to ease the rules on in the grasp (always a popular topic), seeing as one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history might have been negated by a good many referees working today?
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