Maybe this season is no different than the others, but it sure seems like NFL officials are in the middle of more controversial calls than I can remember. It all started in Week 2 with Ed Hochuli gifting the Broncos a win over the Chargers. In Week 11, Scott Green screwed degenerate gamblers out of millions. And yesterday, it was Walt Coleman's turn.
You certainly know the story by now -- late in the game, trailing 9-6, the Steelers marched 87 yards, and on third-and-goal, Ben Roethlisberger found Santonio Holmes near the end zone (his feet were definitely in; it wasn't initially clear if the ball broke the plane). The call on the field was fourth-and-millimeters. The play was reviewed and a few minutes later, Coleman announced that Holmes had scored a touchdown, 13-9, Steelers, thanks for coming.
Commence whinging.
This morning I mentioned that Coleman, after botching the on-field explanation, elaborated on the call after the game. And in his Monday Morning Quarterback column, Peter King spoke with NFL head of officiating, Mike Pereira for his take on the reversal:
I called NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira, who'd spoken with Coleman and the replay assistant following the game. Now, I have to tell you that in my jobs at NBC and Sports Illustrated I have occasion to speak with Pereira nearly every weekend about a play or two from the games, either to clarify something for the Football Night in America show or for my column. Pereira calls them the way he sees them. My experience is that Pereira does not whitewash a bad call. And last night, I asked him point blank if he thought there was indisputable visual evidence that the ball broke the plane of the goal line. "Yes, I do,'' he said.The league reiterated its stance today, and in a surprising turn, even some members of the national media supported Coleman's decision to overrule the call on the field.
SI.com's Andrew Perloff writes that "Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes' game-winning catch against the Ravens was a touchdown. ... The officials should be lauded for not being too scared to make a decisive ruling just because the clock was winding down."
FOXSports.com's John Czarnecki adds, "Holmes had both feet in the end zone and the ball definitely touched the plane of the goal line. OK, it might not have totally been in the end zone, across the line, but those aren't the rules regarding a touchdown. I also thought it was indisputable, and that's why Coleman overruled the original call on the field."
NFL.com's Pat Kirwan and CBS Sports'Bill Cowher (shocking develop, indeed) agree: "Right after the TD was announced, Bill Cowher and I called Mike Pereira in the league office for clarification. The confusion came from the announcement after the review when the officials suggested it was a touchdown because both feet were down in the end zone. That really was only part of what should have been said. That made it a catch. What was left out was that the ball broke the plane of the goal line. The video -- especially the aerial shot -- showed it broke the plan and thus it was a TD."
ESPN's Merril Hoge and Trent Dilfer also thought it was the right call, although you could make a case that Hoge is a homer and Dilfer is still mad at Brian Billick for unceremoniously dumping him after the Ravens won the Super Bowl.
For the sake of completeness, there were certainly plenty of folks who questioned the call.
So, yeah, a little controversy to end the proceedings. What shouldn't be overlooked, though, is the fact that the Steelers drove 92 yards late in the game while the Ravens' defense -- which had been dominating up to that point -- just stood around watching. Hoge, on NFL Live earlier today, pointed out that Baltimore blitzed just one time on the final drive and the results were predictable. (Well, save the "touchdown.")
The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston also makes this point, and even Ray Lewis was unfazed by Coleman's decision: "That didn't win or lose the game for us." And if it's good enough for Ray-Ray, well, it's good enough for me.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
12-15-2008 @ 7:52PM
dave said...
THAT WAS A HORRIBLE CALL...WHAT DO YOU EXPECT HOGE AND COWHER TO SAY??? IF THAT CALL HAD GONE THE OTHER WAY, ALL THE STEELER HOMERS WOULD BE CRYING!!!
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12-16-2008 @ 10:23AM
go Steelers said...
Not really, they would have scored from the 1 inch line. Plus if you look at the side judge he was out of position and looking at the back end of the goal line rather than the front when he makes the call. It had to go up stairs to make the right call. I think if it was the Ravens scoring we would be on the opposite side of the arguement. I'm not sure Cowher and Hoge would support the Steelers on a controversial call...they are not on the Steeler payroll. I'll believe the NFL head of officiating, Mike Pereira on his call. I'm glad that article mentions other offical blunders throughout the year. They happen every week and every team gets screwed. The only way to avoid bad official calls is to avoid the situation to begin with. PLAY DEFENSE ALL FOUR QUARTERS!!
12-15-2008 @ 8:15PM
Andy said...
BULLSH*T, BULLSH*T, BULLSH*T! What choice do they have but to back the blind incompetent officials. They are having a record year of bad calls and yesterday was no exception! I'll give you the Ravens had their chances to put the game away but the refs are blind this year. Look at the old grey haired crew that called the game. What about the first down challenge? Are Phil Simms and Jim Nantz wrong also? They couldn't believe the spot given on that call. Add vision benefits to the officials as they are blind! Or maybe they have the same bookie as the NBA ref!!!
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12-15-2008 @ 10:20PM
Joshua said...
The Refs have seem to have been this way for many years. The thing is, the ball was caught with full possession when a tip of it was over the white goal line. Many people don't know that the goal line is part of the endzone, it is (Line of scrimmage has NEVER been on the goal line because of this). The furthest part of the ball is always the spot of the it for the call. In this case, you didn't see something or you don't/didn't have the correct knowledge for this situation.
12-15-2008 @ 10:04PM
bje320 said...
Dave... what part of the fact that the play was reveiwed and the NFL has supported the referee's descision don't you understand? Sounds like the "homer" attitude comes from you, sir. That game was one of the best defensive games played all year. There is no reason to bereate the Steelers for that call. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said that paly was NOT the win or loose play. I just hate to see people rag on teams when a REAL fan of footbal should pick up on the great things. The modern NFL games moves at such a fast paces, with mere inches determining succes in key plays. I feel that the referees are in a loose-loose situation... they do the best they can. While a long way from perfect, untill there is another way to gaurantee perfection, I say give em a break. As far as the ravens.... well they did have 92 yds to stop the Steelers... they din't in the 91 yds prior to that play... that'd be my gripe if I were a Ravens fan.
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12-15-2008 @ 10:12PM
Joshua said...
1. The NFL agreed with it and they are usually right.
2. I have replayed this play over many times on HD to see if it was a TD, it was.
--Holmes had full possession of the ball by NFL rule while the ball was over the white goal line; the white goal line is part of the endzone.
--He showed no signs of trouble of handling the ball the second it hit his hands.
--Think about it, the ball has never been placed on the goal line as the line of scrimmage because that white goal line is part of the endzone.
3. To Dave: Of course the Steelers [Homers] would cry about it if it was called no TD because it was. It would probably not last long because they would have absolutely no gain in distance to run it in because the ball was caught in the endzone.
4. Some say that the camera angles did not show enough to reverse the call. What are they watching? The camera on the side line/goal line says it all.
5. Again, the goal line is part of the endzone. Remember Roethlisberger's rushing TD in Super Bowl 40, the ball went over the white line for forward progress and the NFL has stated many times that the goal line is the endzone, therefore is broke the plane of the endzone.
6. Some say that the NFL is helping the Steelers, if anything, they are against the Steelers. If people actually watch and pay attention to the game and actually know the rules, they could tell easily that the Steelers are very often screwed over.
--ONE example of MANY: James Harrison gets held almost every time he blitzes and the holding has only been called once maybe twice this season. He hasn't blitzed much recently but he did get held in week 15.
---The Steelers were called for a couple of holding calls that were good but are nothing compared to some other things teams they play get away with all of the time.
----Remember, that is just one of the many examples and this issue does happen all over the league but it's just one example of many and there is a large variety of things that go against the Steelers when they shouldn't.
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12-15-2008 @ 10:27PM
tom said...
stop your raven ass from crying all you have to do is get in the playoffs come to pittsburgh and we would be more then glad to kick your asses for the third time this season on our way to the superbowl you keep bitchin look at your qbs rating 22.9 great game flaco
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12-15-2008 @ 10:30PM
Thatsabsurd said...
TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!
TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!
TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!
SIX POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SIX POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SIX POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any Questions!!!!!!
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12-15-2008 @ 10:51PM
tom said...
now againts the ravens it most definitly was a touchdown the only people that say it wasnt is the feeling bad for themselfs raven fans and the soon to feeling bad for themselfs titan fans because we are about to wipe the raven shit off our shoes on the over rated titans on our way to tampa for the 6 championship
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12-15-2008 @ 11:16PM
b h wells44 said...
I agree that feet were in end zone, I agree that nose of ball might have broken plane of goal but those things are NOT what should have been relied upon to make the call. What should have been used was that he did not have control of the ball at such time that nose of ball broke plane and feet were in end zone. So, it was the wrong call and official on the ground made the correct call.
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12-18-2008 @ 12:56PM
taratrbo said...
If you base your decision on the amount of time that the ball was in the receivers hands (he was in complete control of the ball for the whole play) then you must discount every TD where the player breaks the plane for a only a split second and then drops the ball because he believes he has a touchdown.
12-15-2008 @ 11:30PM
cheri said...
Stop crying Bit****!! It was a touchdown. Those whining that it wasnt, dont know much about football. Educate yourself before making an a** out of yourself. It touched the plane, both feet were down, he had control, touchdown, what part of this do you people not understand? Really it isnt that difficult.
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12-15-2008 @ 11:39PM
cheri said...
Also-BTW- Ray Lewis agreed with the call, and said that TD did not lose the game. Remember the Ravens D let Pitts O drive over 90 yards without blizting.(well they blitzed twice that drive) They know better. Ravens lack of determination in the 4th quarter is what lost the game. and the Steelers will to win the AFC North is what won them the game. I watched the replay many times. The ball touched the white line (this is the plane for those who dont seem to know) both feet were down, and he did have control. You dont have to tuck the ball to have control. Both hands were on the ball and it was not moving.Then Holmes tucked to SECURE the ball. Not sure what your watching, you must be a Ravens fan. Guess I would make excuses also if I were in your position.
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12-16-2008 @ 12:07AM
mindy said...
my problem is there wasnt enough evidence to change the call on the field...it was nothing more than an educated guess which is not the rule
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12-16-2008 @ 12:34AM
HockeyNut94 said...
I agree Mindy. The rule says you have to have undisputable evidence to change the call and there is no way they had that. By the way I am not a Steeler or Raven fan.
12-16-2008 @ 4:24PM
Joshua said...
As I already said, the two camera views that kept being replayed on CBS was all they really needed. Definitely the camera angle from the end left end of the goal line. He obviously had full possession of the ball when the front tip of the ball was over the goal line (which is the endzone). By rule, all referees have to review the play and agree to reverse the call and they did; therefore it was conclusive. With so many people saying this, they either didn't see the replays very clearly, watching something else, or don't know the rules very well (I already explained a rule for you in which is the reason why they reversed the call).
12-16-2008 @ 1:07AM
dkimes said...
I've been a die hard Steelers fan since before Chuck Noll was coach, but I have to say that the way the Ravens responded to this goal line controversy is admirable. I don't hear a whine out of any of them (I'm talking about the team, not the fans). You gotta respect that. The Ravens defense is as tough as it gets - maybe we just saw the best defensive game of the year. In the end this is going to be remembered as one of those really special games, no matter how it ended. Both these teams showed what a defensive battle is about. The fact that I'm not hearing whining from the players themselves says something about their character.
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12-16-2008 @ 1:09AM
Tim said...
It was a touchdown. I watched it on slo-mo video delay. The nose of the ball was on the white line from what I saw and he had control of the ball with feet down in the endzone, then fell out of the endzone.
Even so, you think they would not have scored from 4th and an inch?
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12-16-2008 @ 1:23AM
t said...
The "breaking the plane" rule only applies to running plays. On pass plays the receiver scores as long as he has control of the ball and both feet in the endzone.
The refs made the WRONG call on the field, and it was corrected from the booth.
Think of all the TDs caught at the back or sides of the endzone: it's a TD even if the receiver caught the ball over the line. As long as his feet are both in and he controls it- SCORE!
The Steelers DO get screwed weekly on calls: it has been 23 (TWENTY THREE!) quarters since a Pittsburgh opponent was called for holding! Six games, and no one the Steelers have played has held a Steeler defender?
Hmmmmm....
Anyway- it was called correctly in Baltimore. Cry all ya want, Ravens fans. You still lost. At least Ray Lewis realizes the truth. Good for him. And i don't even think much of him, usually.
I'm stunned that none of the "expert" analysts know the rules well enough to know that pass-catchers aren't required to "break the plane" with the ball, just the bodies and feet.
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12-16-2008 @ 12:14PM
eric said...
t, you're cluless. You have misread the rule about pass catching in the end zone. What you read is correct, but they are talking about having both feet in at the back of or at the side of the end zone. Either way, the ball has already crossed the plane. As I have said since the play happened, and as Mike Periera has confirmed (much to my delight), three things must happen for a touchdown on a receiving play:
1. The ball must break the plane.
2. Possession must be obtained (defined by two criteria below).
a. Control of the ball
b. Two feet down
3. Numbers 1 and 2 must be occuring at the same time.
Since number 2 can't happen without letter b, that is why we got the explanation at the end of the game saying that both feet were down in the end zone; he just forgot to mention number 1 (I think because it was fairly obvious to him, and he was more concerned about control/possession). It was not so obvious to me, but I didn't have my head under the hood, and the benefit of all of the high-tech equipment that he had. Keep in mind, that there are other possiblities that can warrant a receiving touchdown that I have not referred to here, i.e. the push-out rule, but I have not elaborated on those for obvious reasons.
Having said all of that, I too, am impressed with the way that the Baltimore players have responded to this call; I just wish that their fans had half the class. The NFL has spoken, and now it's time for the crying to stop. Pittsburgh and Baltimore both have games next week, and both of those games carry significant value.