It was clearly a controversial call. There are tons of articles discussing that very point. You may think differently but obviously millions upon millions think it was controversial and it absolutely ended a very exciting high scoring game there at that point.
Agreed. Certainly, it was controversial. But, IMHO, within the realm of understanding. It wasn't a missed or bad call, it is just a call that isn't always made. A lot comes down to the notion of a) should refs loosen up and make less calls late in the game or b) should they call the game the same way from kickoff to conclusion. I like consistency and expect to make the refs call the game as they see it all the way through.
To me it boils down to a ticky tack call that often is not made and it absolutely ended an otherwise very exciting shootout of a Super Bowl. It's just much less satisfying seeing a great game like that with so much riding on the outcome and the refs decided the outcome at that point.
On the other hand, you don't want to see a game marred because DBs know they can hold late in the game which results in killing the offense's passing game. At some point, you have to throw a flag. My opinion is that refs should be consistent.
When the Ref sees the jersey stretch away from the body it is almost always called. The problem was Olsen going on and on about the left hand on the waist. The penalty occurred before that happened.
I understand the frustration. We've seen a ton of key games be substantially affected by bad or missed calls, especially at PSU. The problem with football is that the arbitrary nature of sports makes a single-game elimination a problem. In baseball, hockey and basketball, you've got seven-game series. In football, you can't play best of three. So a bad bounce (Hurts fumble), a key injury (Mahomes) or a controversial call changes the game. In fact, this last SB had the two best teams but my Bills friends will argue that a key injury took the guts out of the team and they played like crap in every game after. My Bengals friends still rail at a key non-call for blocking in the back on the punt return that sealed the game for the Chiefs and a bonehead roughing penalty on a really good player who isn't often penalized (although nobody is upset about the call itself).
No the Eagles lost the game by blowing a 10 point half time lead, failing to prevent the Chiefs from scoring on any possession in the second half and giving up 2 TDS on short passes on the same play on each side of the field where no DB was in the same zip code as the receiver. Once was bad enough but twice is inexcusable. Bradberry admitted he held the WR. Your argument is what that the refs wouldn’t be deciding the game if they don’t call the penalty there? Eagles got some favorable calls such as the Sanders non-fumble (which I thought was correct) and the Goddert catch.
Well, they sure played the best team in football tough, for not having played anyone of quality. And had every opportunity to win.
Not sure that is a TD without the slight hold. I liken it to a hand check in bball that is called as the guy is drivng to hoop. Without it, does Ju Ju get wide open? Would there have been any safety help? No one knows how that would have played out. Olsen saw the whole play. He thought it was ticky tack and unnecessary for what that is worth. On your consistency point, I don't think they were. This call came out of the blue. Letter of the law call, yes, but letter of the law calls are not always or probably not even made 50% of the time. Then you add in the situation and you get this huge controversy.
Blame Olsen for all of the controversy. JuJu was actually held twice on the play, the first being the jersey tug that altered the timing of the play and the second being the hand on the hip that Olsen was bitching about.
I don't agree at all. I think the ref should call the game consistently. You hear that all the time from players. They want to know what to expect. If the game is called differently there is no way to know. Is it OK with five minutes to go? two? Last two plays of the game?
Completely disagree. The moment was far bigger than the size of that infraction, which was quite minor.
Apparently it Was just reported on WIP (talk radio ) that this officiating crew had gone 576 consecutive snaps without calling defensive holding….
That can't be true. In the playoffs you do not have regular crews. You have "All-Star" crews assembled based upon their individual evaluations during the season. So again Sports Talk Radio is trying to stir the pot.
Well, that is part of preparation. You've gotta know the refs and their tendencies.
They were not consistent. Never called it all game then out of the blue with the Super Bowl hanging in the balance, super ref whips out the flag on a marginal infraction. Dumb, dumb, dumb judgment.
He was referring to a tweet put out by the Athletic …. Maybe it was just that official who made the call
Another thing I was told is that they have one extra zebra for the Super Bowl. And when you are the fifteen yard line like that play the refs have a much smaller field to cover. Hence they see more stuff and end up calling more.
But they didn’t call anything this game. That’s my issue. Not one holding call all game (offensive or defensive if memory serves me )
Maybe they didn’t see any holding until that play….just a thought. So from now on, all crews need to call one holding per quarter in the first three (even if they don’t see one) just in case there’s one in the fourth and they can be consistent.
Bradberry hit it.
a great official makes the call of a foul when it occurs, irrespective of what part of the game the foul occurs. the problem appears to be, there are not enough great officials.
I don't listen to WIP a lot but they have had some very good post SB analysis.
Ah, to be fair, Toma has been the groundskeeper for nearly every Super bowl.
Agreed, but the post that I was addressing was the accusation of lack of impartiality due to Toma being responsible for the field conditions implying that their was some type of favoritism. I was just pointing out that George Toma has done every Super Bowl and I believe he is actually in the Hall of Fame.
I didn't accuse him of favoritism I said it isn't a good look for the NFL. In a big game like this, you need to avoid even the appearance of potential bias. Once KC made it to the SB, perhaps he should have been replaced. And at 94, he is more than likely a little past his prime. It's unfortunate that he will now be remembered for the abominable field conditions in this game. This was no way to end his career.
