NFL says ref botched Polamalu call
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:16 pm
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NEW YORK (AFP) - A referee's error in a National Football League playoff game helped the Indianapolis Colts score a late touchdown in an eventual loss to Pittsburgh, a league official announced.
Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president of officiating, said in a statement that referee Pete Morelli was mistaken when he overturned an interception by Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu upon television video replay review.
Pereira said Morelli made an error in judgement by reversing the ruling on the field with 5:26 remaining in the fourth quarter of a game the Steelers would eventually win 21-18, but only after the Colts squandered second chances.
(snip)
"He never had possession with his leg up off the ground doing an act common to the game of football," Morelli said. "He was losing it while his other leg was still on the ground."
But Pereira said Morelli was applying the wrong rule, using one involving possession when the ball comes loose during contact with an opponent, which was not the case since Polamalu was unchallenged.
"The replay showed that Polamalu had rolled over and was rising to his feet when the ball came loose," Pereira said. "He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch. Therefore the replay review should have upheld the call.
"The rule regarding the performing of an act common to the game applies when there is contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did not happen here."
NEW YORK (AFP) - A referee's error in a National Football League playoff game helped the Indianapolis Colts score a late touchdown in an eventual loss to Pittsburgh, a league official announced.
Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president of officiating, said in a statement that referee Pete Morelli was mistaken when he overturned an interception by Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu upon television video replay review.
Pereira said Morelli made an error in judgement by reversing the ruling on the field with 5:26 remaining in the fourth quarter of a game the Steelers would eventually win 21-18, but only after the Colts squandered second chances.
(snip)
"He never had possession with his leg up off the ground doing an act common to the game of football," Morelli said. "He was losing it while his other leg was still on the ground."
But Pereira said Morelli was applying the wrong rule, using one involving possession when the ball comes loose during contact with an opponent, which was not the case since Polamalu was unchallenged.
"The replay showed that Polamalu had rolled over and was rising to his feet when the ball came loose," Pereira said. "He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch. Therefore the replay review should have upheld the call.
"The rule regarding the performing of an act common to the game applies when there is contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did not happen here."