NFL's head of officiating admits blown call

[The Lung]

From: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08093/869712-66.stm

Playoff flag that wasn't thrown

Mike Pereira, the NFL's head of officiating, admitted yesterday that his crew working the Steelers-Jaguars playoff game erred in not calling a holding penalty against Jacksonville on a crucial play that allowed the Jaguars to kick the winning field goal.

Quarterback David Garrard scrambled on fourth-and-2 from the Steelers 43 and made the first down. Three plays later, Josh Scobee kicked a field goal, giving the Jaguars a 31-29 victory. Several Steelers players complained there was blatant holding on Garrard's run. Nearly three months later, Pereira agreed with them.

Tomlin declined to comment on Pereira's admission.

Doesn't matter in the long run, as even if the Steelers had edged Jacksonville they would've been beaten the following week in New England, but it's nice to see the NFL admit they were wrong for once.

[JasonSeahorn]

It won't matter until they take away the Steelers' last ring and give it to the Seahawks

[Timbathia]

Until we get to a stage where the players stop making mistakes during a game, I am not worried about officials blowing calls. People will always make mistakes, so as long as the officials are not intentionally cheating (like the Patriots), everyone should cut them some slack.

[Cowboys 4 life]

Mistakes are part of the game and will always be. Nothing you can do about it now. If it is a penalty and you know it call it. Don't come out 6 months later and say you should have.

[A Fleshner Fantasy]

That kind of stuff happens. There are blown calls all the time, even on the largest of stages. It's just curious that they chose this one to admit, even though there were clearly other instances throughout the year in which calls were blown.

[Munboy]

That kind of stuff happens. There are blown calls all the time, even on the largest of stages. It's just curious that they chose this one to admit, even though there were clearly other instances throughout the year in which calls were blown.

Probably because it was such a crutial play. It basically stole a playoff game from one team and handed it to another.

[portisfan24]

Well they can't see everything. The only blown calls I would get mad about are misinterpretations of the rules or if a play is challenged and the refs still get it wrong. There is probably a penalty every second play that isn't called because it goes undetected.