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Redlemon · 11-05-2007, 11:47 AM

I was reading on another board, and found a great post regarding the officiating problems. Rather than try to claim it for my own, I'll just quote it:

Quote:

I'm definitely not above whining about some bad calls, but I'm usually pretty quick to point to mistakes the players themselves made that were more influential on the game. And I'm ALWAYS quick to poo-poo any conspiracy talk. In this particular game, Tom Brady made two mistakes (1 horrendous - under thrown ball that should have been 6, ended up leading to Addai's great catch and run for 6 the other way) and another just a fantastic play by the Colts LB on an unwise throw.

That being said, something was not adding up about the officiating in this game. There was heavy action on the Patriots this week from what I've heard (I'm not a gambler). There were a bevy of bad calls and each one went against New England. Here's a list of woeful or at least questionable calls that all come from the top of my head (so I may have the times/names a little messed up).

1. Colts first drive of the game. WR makes a catch on the sideline, with two officials in PERFECT position to make the right call. This play wasn't even close, yet it's called a catch. Both guys totally boned the call, the Patriots burn a challenge early.

2. First drive (I think) Manning throws deep to Wayne in the end zone. Harrison has it played well and may have a beat on a pick. Wayne tackles him from behind. No flag. I might buy that the ball was uncatchable, but I didn't see that signaled.

3. The first deep ball PI against the Patriots. This was not PI, but at the time I could honestly see why an official could make the wrong call and chalked it up as a bad call.

4. The second deep ball PI against the Patriots (Hobbs?). This was the worst call of the game. Hobbs was never once out of position. I was completely dumfounded by this one.

5. Second quarter, 3rd and six. Faulk has a step on the Linebacker cutting over the middle but is forced to attempt to make the catch one handed as the linebacker hooks his left arm. Incomplete. Tom Bray loses his cool, searches out each individual official to complain.

6. On the play before the two minute warning, the Patriots tackle addai a solid 3-4 yards behind the first down marker. Granting forward progress, even a generous spot would have left him 1-2 yards short. This sets up a crucial third down (run out the clock? Pass?). CBS goes to commercial. They come back and the Colts have a first down due to "forward progress." No replay is shown, but Simms seems shocked. The colts go on to score on Addai's fabulous catch and run. We were inside two minutes, so the only challenge can come from the booth. The spot is not challenged.

7. Randy moss is called for offensive pass interference in the end zone. The call is made by the official that is screened by the colt defender. Replay clearly shows there was no push off and if anything a flag could have gone against the Colts. I would have kept the flag in my pocket as it looked like a pretty clean play all around.

That's all I've got off the top of my head. Given that list, I'm frankly STUNNED the officials got the crucial force out call correct (Stallworth's catch on the winning drive) and called a critical holding on the Colts (against Seymour) on the drive prior to that. Is it just my blatant homerism that makes me think this was one of the worst officiated games since AT LEAST the Steelers/Seahawks Superbowl?

No, I don't think the order came from on high (Goodell) to fix the game. But yes, a part of me does think the NFL should look closely at these officials. If they aren't somehow corrupt, then they were just awful.

Outside of the Brady blowup in the first half, I'm proud of the Patriots for keeping their cool.

Also, this is hitting the news now:

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Patriots Saying Colts Cheated?
5th November, 2007 - 1:23 pm
Yahoo! - The NFL is looking into allegations that the Indianapolis Colts piped in noise during the game Sunday between the Colts and the Patriots. The charge comes after Patriots President Jonathan Kraft became the latest NFL team executive to accuse the Colts of the distracting tactic that is against the rules.

"We're aware of it and we're looking into it," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday. "It may just be the TV feed from CBS, but we're checking it out."

Observers at the game said there seemed to be a "skip" in the sound during the game Sunday, which the Patriots won 24-20. That might confirm the long-held suspicion among many people in the NFL that the Colts play loud crowd noise to help distract opponents when the other team is on offense.

"We're aware of the accusations, but there has never been anything to substantiate it," Aiello said.

Kraft approached NFL Vice President of Security Milt Ahlerich after Kraft and his parents, Patriots owners Bob and Myra Kraft, left the Patriots locker room after the game.

So much for that squeeky-clean image, Coach...

Link to the skipping audio sound-clip