The Robfather 0 Report post Posted December 12, 2002 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The NFL has acknowledged its officiating crew made at least nine mistakes during Sunday's Green Bay-Minnesota game, including a key pass interference call, two newspapers reported Wednesday. The mistakes were documented in a confidential memorandum, the Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press said, citing unidentified sources. The Vikings (3-10) lost the game 26-22 in Green Bay. Eight of the affected plays occurred in the fourth quarter, when the Packers (10-3) made up a nine-point deficit with two touchdowns. An interference call negated a Vikings' interception on the Packers' game-winning drive. Both papers reported the league's correspondence with the Vikings. "Conversations between the NFL officiating department and teams are confidential," NFL spokesman Michael Signora said. "We do not comment on them." Vikings coach Mike Tice declined comment. Team officials are prohibited from discussing confidential communication with the league. On Monday, the Vikings sent in 12 officials' calls the team disagreed with. In a response, league supervisors wrote that Vikings safety Corey Chavous (news) should not have been called for pass interference against Donald Driver (news) on a third-down pass that safety Jack Brewer intercepted. "It doesn't matter what they say after the fact," Chavous said. "We lost the game." Under the NFL's instant replay policy, pass interference penalties are not subject to review. Tony Fisher scored the go-ahead touchdown for Green Bay four plays later. NFL teams routinely fill out such forms on the day after games, seeking clarification or explanations for calls, and it is not unusual for mistakes to be acknowledged affecting both teams. Among other mistakes detailed in the document, league supervisors wrote that Packers receiver Robert Ferguson should have been ruled out of bounds at the 1-yard line rather than given a 40-yard touchdown reception with 10:48 left in the fourth quarter. The Vikings did not challenge the call via instant replay. The NFL also wrote that Packers safety Antuan Edwards (news) should have received an unnecessary roughness penalty for hitting Vikings receiver Chris Walsh (news), who had taken a knee to stop the next-to-last play of the game, and that Packers linebacker Nate Wayne (news) also should have been penalized for blocking receiver Randy Moss (news) in the back on the final play of the game. Link Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kingpk Report post Posted December 12, 2002 Looks like this crew won't be doing any playoff games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted December 12, 2002 I heard about this. It was a classified document in the NFL that somehow ended up finding its way to Minnesota's papers. 9 blown calls in the 4th quarter, most of which benefited the PAckers as they made they overcame a 9 point deficit to win the game. NFL is fixed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChris Report post Posted December 12, 2002 In other news... Sun rises in east, sets in west. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest redbaron51 Report post Posted December 13, 2002 Kotz will be pissed when he reads this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron Report post Posted December 13, 2002 :: Puts on Packers shirt:: Eh- no biggie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted December 13, 2002 Who the fuck cares. The Vikings would of found away to blow the game like they always do and their better off losing and getting a higher draft pick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kotzenjunge Report post Posted December 13, 2002 Kotz will be pissed when he reads this Not so much pissed as shocked that there was so little faith in our ability to come back that they're blaming the referees. I've yet to blame a referee for any loss that any of my teams have ever suffered. Vikings = Nowhere team that has no shot this year. Packers = Fighting for home field advantage. Just nitpicking folks, just nitpicking on the part of the Vikings. Oh, and it should be noted that I hate the Vikings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted December 13, 2002 The Viking rubes have been bitching about this all week. More so than the players who have probably moved on to this week's loss. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest phoenixrising Report post Posted December 13, 2002 In other news... Sun rises in east, sets in west. This is what I was thinking when I saw the thread title. Also, the sky is blue, Shawn Kemp fathered another kid, and Randy Moss still isn't trying. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CED Ordonez Report post Posted December 13, 2002 You know who you need in this situation? Phil Luckett. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Robfather 0 Report post Posted December 13, 2002 What is the rational for not allowing instant replay review of pass interference calls? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChris Report post Posted December 13, 2002 What is the rational for not allowing instant replay review of pass interference calls? It's a judgment call by the official. They can only review calls that aren't subjective (catch vs. no catch, in bounds vs. out-of-bounds, etc.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted December 13, 2002 That was an internal NFL document that said the officials blew all the calls at the end of the game allowing the Packers to come back. It wasn't the Vikings bitching about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Man in Blak Report post Posted December 13, 2002 Just out of curiosity... Why release a document saying that the refereeing crew blew such-and-such calls in a game immediately after said game? I don't really understand the motivation at all. And here's a point to ponder - if this document was "intercepted" by Minnesota papers...what if there are more documents like this released to the referee crews of all games? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted December 13, 2002 That's what I don't get too. ESPN said it was an NFL document that was meant for internal use... then it somehow found it's way to Minnesota. Someone must have leaked it I guess. It makes me wonder if the NFL secretly houses proof that the homerun throwback was a forward pass... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted December 14, 2002 I don't think the Chavous Pass Interference was a bad call. It could of been a no call, but I can see why they called . If anything I didn't think it belonged on the list of missed or blown calls. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites