Dunno, but my officials were dreadful.

I had my first holding call since 2005 (dubious too) and on the very next play I got called for "illegal shift", from offensive tackle.

I went ape.

I was in a 2 point stance, checking the OLB who was showing a blitz (this team runs 9 men in the box btw). On "Down", I casually set myself into a 3 point stance, only to hear this dickwad whistling behind me.

I'm in a 2 point stance, I can run around and pull my trousers down, or motion into QB if I want to! I'm not set! I wasn't trying to get them to jump or anything like that.

There are still some college teams, and high school teams who set their line (move them from a 2pt to 3pt stance on a call), so I wonder how he would ref them. And heaven forbid Dallas Cowboys with their hitch-step.


Tom Landry would be turning in his grave.

****in boooooooo

Greetins everyone, from snowy Avoriaz. My effort to go a whole week not knowing the Superbowl score (ala The Likely Lads) only lasted one day when I accidentally noticed it while looking up transfer deadline day moves on the BBC

What a game, heartbreaking for the Cards, but if you're going to lose a Superbowl, at least lose it to one of the greatest catches ever in a final

Awesome stuff

When does next season start? :) ;)

Yes, which is probably why I couldn't remember it. I only learnt about this while watching a Cowboys game earlier in the season. It was a call made twice I think which saved Romo and they went into detail about the rule and why it's not called so often.

Ah, the Tuck Rule. Possibly the greatest rule in Football.

Thats the saddening part about the Superbowl. We now know we wont have any games for seven months (Well, we have the Pro Bowl, but I certainly wont be going out of my way to watch it).

Hopefully they do make the regular season slightly longer (I think they are looking at 18; that was one of the talking points last week in Tampa).

Being in America this is extra depressing as it means Baseball is on the way...

Woo Pro Bowl ;)

NFL as it is:

22 weeks in the season from Week 1 to Pro Bowl.
4 weeks of pre-season.
Before that, 3 weeks of training camp.

So between Pro-Bowl and Training Camp there are 23 weeks (if I've added it right) to go before the sort of interesting stuff starts again.

But, you have the Combine and Draft until the end of April, meaning in reality there is 10 weeks of no football related stuff apart from mini camps and rookie camps.

Now, I know you are a little bit slow on stuff, but you do know the Tuck Rule isn't what Justin uses to measure stuff, right?

(Good one) ;)

Really?

Check the avatar from it :D

Anyway,

This was a letter to Reiss's Pieces. Something I didn't notice at the time, but its another point about the refereeing Sunday.

Before I quote the letter, two other instances are referred to elsewhere in the mailbag.
1. The Roughing the Passer call - harsh call.

2. James Harrison punching the crap out of the Arizona guy on a KR/PR. Possible ejection if seen.

As well as what has already been discussed:

He has a point.

A lot of decisions went against the Cards who along with the 14 point swing on H/T, can count themselves very unlucky IMHO.

It's true that a lot of decisions went for Steelers. It reminded me of the many occasions during New England's 16-0 season where officials seemed so afraid of upsetting the Pats' apple cart they kept appearing to favour them, perhaps subconsciously. Pittsburgh seemed to get the same treatment at times. But then, Big Clubs get Big Decisions all over the world - Yankees in baseball, Chelsea/Manure over here - it happens in all sports.

Having said all that, I thought Big Ben's Little Run was a TD and was amazed they overturned it. And they did call the safety in the end zone, too, which would have been an easy one on which to turn a blind eye. So maybe those calls even things out.

I was almost beating kids about the assisting the runner call though.

Another never called penalty.

Only problem is that had assisting the runner been called it would’ve still been third down for the Steelers, albeit from further out - so in a sense that non-call did the Cards a favour.

Why? A rule that is so hard and questionable to call correctly with the naked eye cannot be the greatest rule.

The greatest rule is penalising a player for celebrating a touch down ... :rolleyes: ;)

Yes, spot on. A great example of that is the Lampard and Bosingwa decisions by the FA in th epast couple of days ... :rolleyes:

As you were ...

Don't agree with all that - to overturn Lampard's was correct. It was never a red. However, Bosingwa should've got a 2 match ban for what he did (it's not as bad as everyone making out but it was deliberate).

So, 1 right and 1 wrong, IMO. :D

Not wanting to hijack this thread, but I meant the fact that the FA announced earlier in the week they would not take any action over Bosingwa. And then yesterday they overturn the Lampard red. It amazes me how they reach decisions at times .... I agree completely that the Lampard challenge was not a straight red card, but other players have been sent of for showing their studs in a challenge that clearly Lampard was, whether it was accidental or not ...

Anyway, when is the Pro Bowl? Is it this weekend or next?

After this season I'm starting to take an interest in other US sports but find that there is very little coverage of Baseball or Basketball in the UK sadly ...

Don't watch baseball. You'd be better off heading up to Regent's Park and watching the corporate rounders league :D

:D Girls league I assume? ;)

Christ I forgot about the early No-TD rule.

I wasn't sure that it was a TD but could see nothing that said it wasn't.

It should be another of those that shouldn't be overturned without 100% proof, a bit like the 2nd challenge Whisenhunt made.

I was being sarcastic ;)

This week. I personally like watching it, but as saxon and Ben can testify. I am a loser ;)

I too can vouch for this if anyone needs me to.