[Lefty Noob]

Well, I'm sure most folks have heard the post-game fallout between the Ravens players and the referees. They not only accused the refs of out-and-out cheating in the Patriots game, but said that the refs were verbally absuing them the entire game. So do you all think anything will come from this?

[simple simon]

these are 2 separate issues

did the refs give the Pats the win ....... NO ....... so nothing will be done about the flags thrown and not thrown

as for the refs bad mouthing players ...... that should be investigated and taken seriously

[Lefty Noob]

Are you 100% convinced that the holding call and the TD catch at the end were the right calls?

[legend]

Nobody could overturn that TD catch based on the visual evidence. If you watch the play, the ref was watching to see if his feet were in bounds and not looking at the ball. But I have no problem with the catch being called good. The holding also looked obvious, and was just a stupid play by the defender.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by legend

Nobody could overturn that TD catch based on the visual evidence. If you watch the play, the ref was watching to see if his feet were in bounds and not looking at the ball. But I have no problem with the catch being called good. The holding also looked obvious, and was just a stupid play by the defender.

Yep, I actually agree. Plus replay showed no evidence that he didn't have possession. Just throwing the question out there to get the counterpoint.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Yep, I actually agree. Plus replay showed no evidence that he didn't have possession. Just throwing the question out there to get the counterpoint.

here is just how i saw that play .. and the countless replays i have seen

he caught the ball with his fingers (which happens all the time, these guys have huge hands) .... where it may look to some like he juggled the ball, to me it looked like he was just moving the ball from his fingers to his right arm tucked away ... like they do 90% of the time after a catch

ok ... call me a homer .. but that's how i saw it

[EmpireWF]

There was no undisputable evidence to overturn that TD catch.

But it did seem kind of odd the refs were calling almost EVERYTHING under the sun against the Ravens in the final series for the Pats.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

But it did seem kind of odd the refs were calling almost EVERYTHING under the sun against the Ravens in the final series for the Pats.

gee ...... reminds me of the Pats - Colts game earlier this season when the Pats were called for EVERYTHING

[vincesanity82]

I agree 100% with Derrick Mason..

Derrick] Mason on officiating: "I'm going to take it back to last game. San Diego. Quinn Sypniewski runs down the field, runs into one of their DBs, we catch the ball and they call offensive pass interference. OK. Great. This game, same things happens. Randy Moss runs right into Samari Rolle. They call defensive pass interference. I don't understand that. One game it's called one way, the next game it's called another way. At the end, you have a phantom call. That's why it's hard to play and win a game when you are playing against more than just the best team in the NFL."

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by simple simon

here is just how i saw that play .. and the countless replays i have seen

he caught the ball with his fingers (which happens all the time, these guys have huge hands) .... where it may look to some like he juggled the ball, to me it looked like he was just moving the ball from his fingers to his right arm tucked away ... like they do 90% of the time after a catch

ok ... call me a homer .. but that's how i saw it

I need to see the replay agian, but I thought it was on the tips of the fingers on one hand, and not touching the other hand as he stepped out of bounds. Maybe the NFL network will show the replay again today, and I can check it out again.


But as far as "looked to some like he juggled the ball?" That would be because he did. Come on!!! Maybe he got control before he went out of bounds, maybe he didn't, I need to see it again, but it sure wasn't a clean, no doubt about it catch. Or we wouldn't even be talking about it.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by simple simon

gee ...... reminds me of the Pats - Colts game earlier this season when the Pats were called for EVERYTHING

Thats my thoughts simon. In a game like this, there are always cries of foul play whether there is or not. Refs are human, sometimes they screw up big time. It can go either way.
The thing about the refs is worrisome. Somehow I have a feeling its getting blown out of proportion. The Ravens D was really wound up and sometimes when emotions get so high, things get taken wrong, but there should be an investigation.
Bottom line-- I dont think the penalty calling was any crappier than usual.

[legend]

This game was lost when Boller threw that awful interception with ten minutes left. Everything after that was a mere formality and inevitable. The Ravens couldn't make a first down after that, and that was the game. Bottom line.

[Quality88]

I thought the holdin call at the end was like one of those stupid handcheck fouls called in the NCAA. The holdin did nothin to the player cause he was haulin a$$. It was just a petty foul as far as I'm concerned.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Are you 100% convinced that the holding call and the TD catch at the end were the right calls?

I really think the Ravens blew it at the end...Refs are human and the calls were within the realm of reason...that said...Go Cowboys.

[thewallgame]

If I had been officiating that game, the final touchdown catch would have been ruled a catch. The review needs to go anyway- real-time human calls for a real-time human sport.

I think the officiating was horrible during last night's game, but my complaints are not most of the ones that I've been hearing about. Holding gets called and doesn't on both sides and I don't think there is any conspiracy amongst officials to keep the "golden boys" undefeated. The (non)calls that bothered me were the ones that ALWAYS get called, i.e. several hands to the face/helmet of Boller- there is usually on over-sensitive ref mothering the quarterback based on the current NFL rules, and notably, the vicious block in the back on the returned Boller interception that set-up the Patriots for the winning score. This was not a play on the periphery, but rather dead center in the field of vision of anyone- ideally at least one of the officials- watching the ball carrier. It was flagrant, potentially dangerous (thus the usually heightened awareness of such foul play), and less than five yards from the action. This would have given the ball to the Patriots inside their 5 yd line instead of well into Ravens territory.

I concur that if the alleged verbal conduct of the officials is confirmed, then someone needs to see the door. A key part of an officials job is to set the tone of fair play on the field and diffuse, not instigate, any situations that might disrupt that.

The Ravens beat the Patriots on Monday night and not even Brady's glib post-game comments could conceal the fact that he knew it too.

The whole team and coaching staff deserves a lot of credit, but without turning this into an Oscar acceptance speech, let me just give a huge nod to Kyle Boller for playing a terrific game. He was composed, delivered lasers to receivers (often while under duress), and unhesitatingly through a bad-ass block on AD to spring McGahee for 16 yards. I hope he can build on this one.