The Official We got bent over by the officials thread

[hoosier]

I think Charles Woodson, when asked about the questionable non-call on Fitzgerald, said it best: "It is what it is. I don't cry about those things. Could they have called it? Probably. But I just give those guys credit. They made the plays they needed to make. And that's the bottom line."

[ThunderDan]

Well... I did the research and if a facemask was called it should have been the Packers ball plus 15 yards.

Here it is:
Article 3 A Loose Ball is a live ball that is not in player possession, i.e., any kick, pass,
or fumble. A loose ball that has not yet struck the ground is In Flight. A loose ball (either
during or after flight) is considered in possession of team (offense) whose player
kicked, passed, or fumbled. It ends when a player secures possession or when

Article 13 When a defensive foul occurs during a running play (3-27-2) and the run
in which the foul occurs is followed by a change of possession, the spot of enforcement
is the spot of the foul and ball reverts to offensive team. See 14-1-12- Exc. 5.
Exceptions:
1) When the spot of a foul is in advance of the spot where the offensive player lost
possession, the spot of enforcement is the spot where player possession was lost
and the ball reverts to offensive team.
2) When the spot of a foul by the defense is at, behind, or beyond the line of scrimmage,
and such foul incurs a penalty that results in the offensive team being short
of the line, the ball will be advanced to the previous spot.
Note: When there are multiple fouls by the defense, enforcement should benefit the offense
the most.
A.R. 14.19 Second-and-10 on A30. Runner A1 goes to the A40 where he fumbles and B1 recovers.
During A1’s run, B2 held on the line of scrimmage (A30).
R uling : Penalize from the spot of the foul on change of possession. A’s ball firstand-
10 on A35.
A.R. 14.20 Second-and-10 on A30. Runner A1 goes to the A40 where he fumbles and B1 recovers.
During A1’s run, B2 held on the A45.
Ruling: Enforce from the spot where the offensive player A1 lost possession as the foul
was in advance of where player A1 lost possession. If Team A had been the only one to
foul, Team B would refuse the penalty and keep the ball. A’s ball first-and-10 on A45.
A.R. 14.21 Second-and-10 on A30. Quarterback A1 scrambles to A20, fumbles and B1 recovers.
During A1’s scramble, B2 holds at A22.
Ruling: A’s ball first-and-10 on A30. See 14-1-13-Exc. 2.

So change of possesion doesn't occur until the ARI player has control of the ball. Therefore the ball reverts back to the Packers.

See what the internet and 15 minutes will find ya!

[MichiganPackerFan]

3. I don't care if it's sour grapes, but we straight up got screwed. Twice in OT Rodgers gets hit in the helmet, NO F'n call!?!

It's been well established during the regular season that helmet to helmet hits on Rodgers aren't penalties. There's precedent for this.

Good point. He needs to whine to the officials more evidently.

OH! You're talking about the "Warner Whine" it DOES work for him....

[MichiganPackerFan]

That might have been legit. Was Finley down by contact or not? Usually if there is a question, officials will allow additional contact. The replay didn't show how he went down and there was no sound to indicate a whistle.

Thanks for the reminder of that one bobble, I'd forgotten, but noticed it at the time. The one on Finley was bs.

The way I saw it, the play was well over, and it should have been an unsportmanlike or taunting call - similar to the one Chillar got a while back.

IIRC, this is how it went.

Finley was sitting on his butt, didn't even have the ball anymore; it was lying on the ground beside him. Cardinal player comes over, I thought he was going to give Finley a hand and help him up, instead he shoves his shoulder pad. Not hard, but gives him a shove.

If the player thought the play was still live, he would've picked up the ball, not made contact.

Finley looks over at the ref who was pretty much standing right there and shrugs. Ref does nothing.

I have no problem with that non-call. Finley initiated that one. He was tackled and didn't even give the defender a chance to stand up before he started pushing him off his legs and trying to yank away. I'm sure words were spoken. I think the refs did a good job of letting a minor retaliation get by.

But the same thing happened early in the game when the Cards player initiated and we were flagged for the the shove and 15 yards. THe refs established precedent on how they were going to call the game. They called identical infractions for AZ, but not for GB on numerous occasions.

[MichiganPackerFan]

From rule book:

...

I'm not overly concerned with the technicalities of the rule book. THe officials determine how they are going to call the game. If they set precedent by calling something one way, the must follow that precedent in identical situations the other way. This can't be a home team gets the calls league, its not the NBA. If the calls are missed consistently or called strictly on both sides of the ball, its still mostly a fair competition (provided it doesn't clearly benefit or hinder one team's style of play). If they are enforced against one team only, it's clearly not fair competition.

[Pugger]

Check this out.

http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/audiovault/homer.php

Listen to the interview with Bill Carollo. He talks about several of the calls in Sunday's game.

But my main beef is the amount of abuse Rodgers had endured this year. The facemask is just one. That helmet to helmet non-call on Sunday was ridiculous and it isn't the first time defenders got away with this crap. It happened last month in Pittsburgh too. I was under the impression the league was into protecting QBs but I guess if you aren't a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady those rules just don't apply.

[Pugger]

oops!

[MadtownPacker]

I would say the Packers got screwed, but gently, with ample lubrication.

Well well, look what we have here. Thought this bitch was dead. Nothing good ever happens for me.

[Joemailman]

Check this out.

http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/audiovault/homer.php

Listen to the interview with Bill Carollo. He talks about several of the calls in Sunday's game.

But my main beef is the amount of abuse Rodgers had endured this year. The facemask is just one. That helmet to helmet non-call on Sunday was ridiculous and it isn't the first time defenders got away with this crap. It happened last month in Pittsburgh too. I was under the impression the league was into protecting QBs but I guess if you aren't a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady those rules just don't apply.

The marquee guys always get protected more. I can remember early in Favre's career feeling he didn't get protected like Montana and Marino. That changed over time. Arod isn't quite there yet, although this game may have gotten him closer.

[VegasPackFan]

I am far more pissed about the non call on the helmet to helmet hit on second down than anything else that happened that night. There is just no technicality or anything else to excuse not making that call. If that correct call is made the down and distance is completely different and the game goes down a different path.

BUT! If Rodgers makes the first down throw connection none of this matters and we are talking about one of the greatest performances ever. He would have finished with 5 TD passes and 500 yds in the game.

The fact that he missed that last throw actually brings me some level of comfort. I was at the game that night, and we didnt get to see the replays and such at the time. I kept saying, "well, if Rodgers hits Jennings on that first play it would have been over".

Re-watched the game on tv last night and Aikman clearly stated that he felt the refs missed the helmet to helmet call on that play. So dont say they glossed over it because they didnt.