hate to say it but all the calls at the end there were right. the timeout was called by the DC, and gaffney got mugged.
Thank you. Baltimore choked. It's as simple as that. The Ravens made the fouls and the refs called them on it. Big time choke on Baltimore's part.
Baltimore played a hell of a game. Billick is a good coach and the Ravens played their hearts out. The Ravens did everything to lose at the end though. I thought we would lose, no denying that here. Got to give Brady props though, that guy has ice in his veins. Nice win! :beer:
It was a good game! As much as I hate Baltimore, I had to root for them to be the spoilers. But like you said, they totally blew it. Here's to hoping the Steelers are studing that tape real close. :beer: Anyway DW, because you are aces in my book, good job! :grin: Ugh, that left a sour taste in my mouth! :rofl2:
Gaffney didn't get mugged, and, by rule, the DC isn't allowed to call a TO.... Gaffney did get touched, but it was NOT call you make in the 4th Q of a close game... This reminded me of the Dallas call vs GB on Thursday. It's a call that's a toss up in the first quarter. In the 4th, it is inexcusable to call a penalty like that, especially given the fact that it was 4th down, and the WR, while touched, wasn't clearly impeded. By rule, only a player or the HC can call a TO. I don't blame the refs as much for that one, because they could have thought they heard Billick say it, but still, the play should have continued.
Spot on....however I didn't know the DC couldn't call TO's. This is madness, NFL wants the Pats to win.
By rule he cannot, but it is very, very, very seldom enforced, as the side judge usually has his back turned to the coaches and grants a TO when he hears it called... That being said, by the 4th Quarter, you'd think the official who's been there all game has a feel for where the HC is and what his voice sounds like....
That kills me...and you know they do! Also did they show a replay on who called the TO? Thats a huge call @ that time of the game, I didn't see a replay. Even if it was just a TO...they replay stupid stuff all the time.
Refs schmefs, the Ravens had that game won on 3 different plays on the Pats' final scoring drive and gave it away every time.
Whether or not Gaffney had possession is moot since the two unsportsmanlike penalties would have given the Pats 1st and goal on the half-yard line (half way to to goal from 5 then enforced again from the 2.5). It's so unlikely that the Ravens would have stopped the Pats 4 times in a row from getting about a foot that brining up the game winning TD catch is a waste of time. Holding in the endzone on Watson? Well the Pats just deserved that even if it wasn't the right call because of all the disrespect they get from the NFL.
As both Peter King and Mike Pereira pointed out, even if you don't think there was holding on WATSON (wasn't Gaffney that got held) he was clearly being contacted more than 5 yards downfield, which is the same penalty as holding, so take your choice there. As for the timeout, Pereira explained that even though the rule is that only the HC can call the timeout, that the ref on the sideline (was the Head Linesman not the Side Judge) will take the call from any coach, they put the onus on the HC to control his sideline. The thinking is you can't put the onus on the HL to see if it's the HC calling the timeout, because if he has to look then he may miss the snap.
Pereira also said that the official reacted the "right way" when he called Rolle 'boy'..... So I'd take anything he says with a grain of salt.... He's going to defend his refs 90% of the time... Everyone knows that TECHNICALLY there was contact on that 4th down play, but that is NOT call you make late in a close game! Was his progress clearly impeded? NO. Was the contact the reason he didn't make the catch? ABSOLUTELY NOT! In a close game, you DO NOT make a call like that! The players should decide the outcome of the games, not the officials...
The defender had his arm draped over Watson's shoulder and across his chest, I would argue that it was a little more than technical contact. It's that official's job to watch that tight end release from the line, and he contacted him from within 3 yards of the LOS all the way into the end zone.
And, like I said, it was TECHNICALLY illegal contact (NOT holding), but he was not impeded at all by the contact, and the contact did not determine the outcome of the play.... Once again, in the 1st quarter, that call is iffy, but understandable... In the 4th quarter of a close game, you just CAN'T make that call, ESPECIALLY not on 4th down... The way I, and most other people who have ever played or watched the game, see it, late in a close game the officials should keep the flags in their pockets unless the penalty is incredibly obvious and/or will directly affect the outcome of the game... That contact didn't change anything, and it REALLY should not have been called
I disagree that the degree of the call changes from quarter to quarter. Players are ALWAYS asking for consistency, and I think you're letting your view as a fan get in the way here. I'm a fan as well, but I also officiate, consistency is what you strive for. It's your opinion that the call was technical, it's your opinion that he was not impeded, someone who is watching the play live, in real speed, can reasonably disagree with your opinion.
My opinion is not affected by the fact that I'm a fan.. It's affected by the fact that I am a PLAYER.... And I know what players are looking for.... As a player, you want the ref to be invisible unless he is CLEARLY needed... You don't want him to be the focus of the game... You don't want the attention on the official.... You want him to let you PLAY THE GAME, especially when the game's on the line... If there is any doubt whether or not a late-call should have been made in a close game, the official should not have made it.... Period.
