Super Bowl XL Ref Apologizes to Seahawks (1 Viewer)

[ScottyDog]

I hate to complain about reffing or any officiating in general as we are all human but oh man as a Seahawks fan I couldn't sleep for days after Super Bowl 40. I still get sick to my stomach thinking about it. I thought this was interesting to read today.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seah...ee_bill_le.html

Before meeting with Seattle-area media on the new NFL rule changes, referee Bill Leavy (above, right) unexpectedly apologized to the Seahawks for his mistakes in Super Bowl XL, which Seattle lost 21-10 to Pittsburgh.

"It was a tough thing for me. I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game and as an official you never want to do that. It left me with a lot of sleepless nights and I think about it constantly. I'll go to my grave wishing that wI'd been better. I know that I did my best at that time, but it wasn't good enough. When we make mistakes, you got to step up and own them. It's something that all officials have to deal with, but unfortunately when you have to deal with it in the Super Bowl it's difficult."

The game included several questionable calls:

--- Receiver Darrell Jackson was called for offensive pass interference during a play, in which he caught a Matt Hasselbeck pass in the end zone. Seattle settled for a field goal instead of a 7-0 lead.

--- The Seahawks appeared to have stopped Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the goal-line plane on his 1-yard score late in the first half that gave the Steelers a 7-3 lead. Leavy upheld the call after a replay review.

--- Early in the fourth quarter, tackle Sean Locklear was called for holding on a pass completion that would have put the Seahawks at the Pittsburgh 1, poised for the tying touchdown. After the penalty, Hasselbeck threw an interception.

 

[J-Dawg]

This is music to my ears. As somebody who follows the Seahawks almost as religiously as the Dolphins, that game crushed me and to this day nobody will be able to tell me any differently that Seattle was royally screwed in that Super Bowl. Trying to beat the Steelers was one thing, but trying to beat the refs too was just too much to overcome.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

So he's not apologizing for the Jackson PI or the close call on the Ben rushing TD -- those two are what most Seahawks fans were most upset about.

He's apologizing for a holding call and the Hasselbeck low block, the latter of which was clearly an awful call, even the homerest of Stillers homers seem to admit this.

 

[ratbast]

Pretty cool, but what took so long? Politics I guess.

 

[VaTerp]

Where does he say "changed the outcome of the game." Only quotes I see say "impacted" the game.

Significant difference. You are misquoting him here.

 

[crowe1130]

"mistakes that changed outcome of game" <> "I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game"

No offense, but quotation marks typically imply you're quoting someone.

 

[LTF]

The chop block/illegal tackle that was called on Hasselbeck on the INT return was really the only bad call that truly stood out as definitively being a bad. But then again, that wasn't a game changing penalty, and Ben was clearly blocked in the back on an INT return that he later threw which wasn't called as he was trying to make a tackle down field, but often things like that go forgotten in these situations that are being driven by agenda and biases.

 

[LTF]

Pretty cool, but what took so long? Politics I guess.

Probably because a referee doesn't get interviewed that much, or doesn't go to Seattle that much which is the only place where this would really get brought up again. Doubt politics had anything to do with it at all.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

The chop block/illegal tackle that was called on Hasselbeck on the INT return was really the only bad call that truly stood out as definitively being a bad. But then again, that wasn't a game changing penalty, and Ben was clearly blocked in the back on an INT return that he later threw which wasn't called as he was trying to make a tackle down field, but often things like that go forgotten in these situations that are being driven by agenda and biases.

That's a really interesting point of view when you consider that the referee who called the hold just said it was a bad call, and on that play the Seahawks took the ball to the 1 yard line. You want something notarized by Goodell maybe?

 

[Sabertooth]

Worst call I've seen in an NFL game. Horrible. Robbed Mike Holmgren of the claim of being the only head coach to ever win Super Bowls with two different teams I believe. It sucked. It looked rigged.

 

[bulger2holt]

When are the refs going to apologize to the Rams for the 2001 SB when they allowed the Pats secondary to tackle Faulk, Holt and Bruce while they tried running their routes ?

 

[LTF]

The chop block/illegal tackle that was called on Hasselbeck on the INT return was really the only bad call that truly stood out as definitively being a bad. But then again, that wasn't a game changing penalty, and Ben was clearly blocked in the back on an INT return that he later threw which wasn't called as he was trying to make a tackle down field, but often things like that go forgotten in these situations that are being driven by agenda and biases.

That's a really interesting point of view when you consider that the referee who called the hold just said it was a bad call, and on that play the Seahawks took the ball to the 1 yard line. You want something notarized by Goodell maybe?

You're mistaken. The penalty called on Hasselbeck was during the INT return. Hasselbeck was called for tripping I believe by trying to make a tackle with his legs, but it was clearly a bad call. Relatively speaking though, a meaningless play that didn't take away or put points on the board. And as I pointed out, Roethlisberger was clearly blocked in the back during a return on an INT he threw later, but that never gets brought up because it doesn't fit the agenda being pushed by some.

The holding penalty was called on the Seahawks right tackle against Clark Haggans. Looked like holding to me in real time. Was an awkward looking play to be honest, as Clark was in front of the lineman with both hands free and was still being held back. Don't have any qualms with that call. It's a holding call, naturally it's debatable. And it didn't cause Hasselbeck to throw a crushing, horrible INT right into Ike Taylor's hands with no receiver within five yards of him the very next play.

 

[LTF]

Love to see the pass rusher get pulled backwards, from the front of his neck, by a linemen standing behind him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTm9PPdT3I

. This was on the pass from Hasselbeck that got them within the five, and like I said, that looks like a hold to me. And I certainly thought it was a hold in real time. Obviously, with any holding penalty there is room for debate, but I don't see any problems with this call here.

And again, even if you want to argue this hold was a bad call (which I would argue it was a proper call), it didn't cause Hasselbeck to force a horrible INT right to Ike Taylor with no Seahawk even close to making the catch the very next play.

 

[Steelfan7]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

 

[Black&Gold]

Wow. You do you know you can see someone with your problems. There were bad calls on both sides. I've never heard more complainging about an 11 point loss ever. Those are the breaks. The team has to be able to roll with the punches and their fans need help if them are still complaining after 4 years.

 

[Class Dismissed]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Holgrem was clearly outcoached by Bill Cowher. That's enough to make one quit.

 

[Sabertooth]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Fail. It was robbery pure and simple.

 

[latrops]

When are the refs going to apologize to the Rams for the 2001 SB when they allowed the Pats secondary to tackle Faulk, Holt and Bruce while they tried running their routes ?

I don't know if they really need to apologize. The way the Patriots played back then, both against the Rams and Colts in particular is what led to the current emphasis on illegal contact penalties. It's a shame (for non Patriot fans) that the rules that were in place weren't enforced back then, though other teams should have caught on and used it to their advantage as well.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

now all that's left is to strip the Stealers of that bogus trophy and return it to it's rightful owner.

 

[Steelfan7]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Fail. It was robbery pure and simple.

Your bait is stinky and old.

 

[Pipes]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Did you miss the Eagles/Patriots Superbowl?

 

[Sabertooth]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Fail. It was robbery pure and simple.

Your bait is stinky and old.

You've got blinders on. Looks, nobody is going to take your Super Bowl away, but to not acknowledge that this game looked rigged to the average observer is just silly.

 

[bucsbaby]

I'll always remember watching that game and how, by far, the majority of the promotions/images/cut sequences/whatever you want to call them that were showed going to or coming back from commercials highlighted the Steelers. It was pretty much a 90/10 split. E.g., showing images/short video clips of Steelers players with the Super Bowl Trophy, etc. That combined with the reffing clearly seeming to favour the Steelers all night (again, at least to an average observer) almost made me stop watching the NFL altogether. And I was a big Steelers fan at the time...that game though never sat right with me...

 

[GoFishTN]

:( at the Follows Closely: Steelers icons in this thread.

 

[The Ref]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Did you miss the Eagles/Patriots Superbowl?

Beat me too it. McNabb really screwed the pooch at the end of that game.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Steelers fans still defending it.

 

[jurb26]

 

[Alex P Keaton]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Fail. It was robbery pure and simple.

Your bait is stinky and old.

You've got blinders on. Looks, nobody is going to take your Super Bowl away, but to not acknowledge that this game looked rigged to the average observer is just silly.

I've got no dog in this fight - but the game didn't look "rigged", it just looked like poor officiating. I'm not sure why anyone is shocked by this, we've been seeing it in the NFL at LEAST since the "tuck rule" game that gift-wrapped a playoff run for the Pats.

 

[Polar Dude]

Steelers fans still defending it.

But still, to imply that the outcome would have been any different had the calls been better seems like a stretch.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I've got no dog in this fight - but the game didn't look "rigged", it just looked like poor officiating.

True, but a game can look rigged without it being actually rigged. In this case, the officiating was so lopsided that, even though it wasn't rigged (not buying any conspiracy theory here), it look rigged. It looked like the officials did everything they could to help the Steelers win the game. Not saying it was done on purpose, but that is just what it looked like. Take away the opinions of Steelers and Seahawks fans and a lot of people still thought so. When there is that much smoke, there is usually a little bit of fire.

Steelers fans still defending it.

But still, to imply that the outcome would have been any different had the calls been better seems like a stretch.

How can you say that? Bad calls potentially took anywhere from 7 to 11 points off the board for Seattle, put 7 on the board FOR Pittsburgh, and it is doubtful that the Steelers run the play that gave them their last TD in that situation if they are losing at that point. Another bad call put them in position where they were at midfield pretty quickly, so yeah, it is not a stretch at all to say that Seattle could have won had even some of the calls against them not been so egregious.

 

[Polar Dude]

But still, to imply that the outcome would have been any different had the calls been better seems like a stretch.

How can you say that? Bad calls potentially took anywhere from 7 to 11 points off the board for Seattle, put 7 on the board FOR Pittsburgh, and it is doubtful that the Steelers run the play that gave them their last TD in that situation if they are losing at that point. Another bad call put them in position where they were at midfield pretty quickly, so yeah, it is not a stretch at all to say that Seattle could have won had even some of the calls against them not been so egregious.

I think there's a pretty grave distinction between what I said and what you decided to get excited about.

 

[SteelerMurf]

So he's not apologizing for the Jackson PI or the close call on the Ben rushing TD -- those two are what most Seahawks fans were most upset about. He's apologizing for a holding call and the Hasselbeck low block, the latter of which was clearly an awful call, even the homerest of Stillers homers seem to admit this.

EXACTLY.Apologize for a low block call that had nothing to do with the game...and a holding call.Gaaaaasssssppppp a ref got a holding call wrong? No way dude. Unreal.FYI...last time STeelers defense was in a superbowl and had the other offensive team first and goal at the 1? TD James Harrison.

 

[Ghost Rider]

But still, to imply that the outcome would have been any different had the calls been better seems like a stretch.

How can you say that? Bad calls potentially took anywhere from 7 to 11 points off the board for Seattle, put 7 on the board FOR Pittsburgh, and it is doubtful that the Steelers run the play that gave them their last TD in that situation if they are losing at that point. Another bad call put them in position where they were at midfield pretty quickly, so yeah, it is not a stretch at all to say that Seattle could have won had even some of the calls against them not been so egregious.

I think there's a pretty grave distinction between what I said and what you decided to get excited about.

Who is excited? I simply made a counterpoint there, chief.

 

[Polar Dude]

Who is excited? I simply made a counterpoint there, chief.

How can you say that?

 

[CentralPA]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Did you miss the Eagles/Patriots Superbowl?

Beat me too it. McNabb really screwed the pooch at the end of that game.

Just another performance in a long line of others from Donovan McChoke

 

[Doctor Detroit]

So he's not apologizing for the Jackson PI or the close call on the Ben rushing TD -- those two are what most Seahawks fans were most upset about. He's apologizing for a holding call and the Hasselbeck low block, the latter of which was clearly an awful call, even the homerest of Stillers homers seem to admit this.

EXACTLY.Apologize for a low block call that had nothing to do with the game...and a holding call.Gaaaaasssssppppp a ref got a holding call wrong? No way dude. Unreal.

That holding call came on a play where Seattle had a 40 yard pass down to the 2 yard line trailing 14-10. A few plays later they threw an interception, and then the Steelers had the Hines Ward pass and sealed the game a few plays after that. Pretty sure it had a lot to do with the game and the outcome.

 

[Yenrub]

The Seahawks were the worst coached team in Superbowl history. Worst clock management I have ever seen in a big game. Of course coach Walrus wanted to blame the refs so as to divert attention away from the horrible coaching job he did.

Fail. It was robbery pure and simple.

Not on that 4th quarter holding call they didnt.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcTm9PPdT3I

That can get called all day long. And twice on Sundays.

There were even worse ones not called on Walter Jones upon Joey Porter.

Was this the same play that the refs missed the offsides by the Steelers and then called the hold on the Seahawks?

 

[Stillers Jr.]

FWIW...

Not many Seahawk fans will ever give up on believing there was an elaborate scheme in place to rig the game, no matter how much

you provide. I get it.Alternatively very few Stiller fans are going to sit by and allow fans of other teams to try and diminish what they accomplished. Not sure why some are surprised Steeler fans wouldn't comment in this thread.

Personally, I think it's funny...the selective rules applications some people use...but whatever. If you feel better than I'm ok with it too.

I do feel compelled to call out the genius claiming "Worst call ever" ...I'm guessing you didn't see the AFC Divisional game Steelers @ Colts when Polamalu got jobbed on the interception? Does anyone dare claim there was a more blatantly bad call the entire year that that one? Anyone?

PS - I think the Steelers got 3 apologies from the League for blown calls that year...somehow they overcame them. That's life.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Heck that was three coaches ago for the Seabags and two Super Bowl wins ago for the Steelers. Time to move on...

 

[Jack Burton]

Clarke Haggans was offside on the " Locklear holding penalty"

That ref and all Steelers fans can get f****d.

Someone needs to ask that ref what he spent his payoff money on.

 

[Jack Burton]

Heck that was three coaches ago for the Seabags and two Super Bowl wins ago for the Steelers. Time to move on...

You mean move on like it never happened?

 

[identikit]

Terrible thread title.

The quote needs to be corrected to what the ref really said.

 

[ThaPenguin]

Clarke Haggans was offside on the " Locklear holding penalty"

That ref and all Steelers fans can get f****d.

Someone needs to ask that ref what he spent his payoff money on.

Then it would have been offsetting penalites and replay the down.

 

[Jack Burton]

Clarke Haggans was offside on the " Locklear holding penalty"

That ref and all Steelers fans can get f****d.

Someone needs to ask that ref what he spent his payoff money on.

Then it would have been offsetting penalites and replay the down.

There was no hold on the play. It was a phantom /poor call, the ref admitted as much. Missing the offsides was just salt in the wound.I'm thinking free play for the offense.... first and goal Seattle.

Im guessing you're one of the Steeler fans who can get F****d

 

[Islander]

FWIW...

Not many Seahawk fans will ever give up on believing there was an elaborate scheme in place to rig the game, no matter how much

What you are missing is that there are tons of people who did not care who would win, just wanted to see good football. Came out of the game thinking the refs had a direct impact on the outcome.

 

[ThaPenguin]

Clarke Haggans was offside on the " Locklear holding penalty"

That ref and all Steelers fans can get f****d.

Someone needs to ask that ref what he spent his payoff money on.

Then it would have been offsetting penalites and replay the down.

There was no hold on the play. It was a phantom /poor call, the ref admitted as much. Missing the offsides was just salt in the wound.I'm thinking free play for the offense.... first and goal Seattle.

Im guessing you're one of the Steeler fans who can get F****d

Thanks. Getting "f****d" is good times imo.

 

[DaWidowMaker]

As a casual observer of that Super Bowl...I will tell you that the game DID look very suspect and at the time I felt that NFL referees were beginning to head towards NBA Official status. Thankfully they haven't but I've been watching football for quite a while and I can only remember a couple of

"big" games whose officiating needed to be questioned.

a) Tom Brady "Tuck" rule....this has to be the worst ever. Making up a rule on-site in the AFC Championship game...disgusting.

b) Steelers vs Seahawks.

c) 2005 AFC Championship Steelers vs Colts..Manning clearly threw an Int to Polamalu but the refs wanted us to believe otherwise despite replay.

 

[crowe1130]

That ref and all Steelers fans can get f****d.

Be excellent, dude.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Who is excited? I simply made a counterpoint there, chief.

How can you say that?

Easily. Because it is what I did.

I do feel compelled to call out the genius claiming "Worst call ever" ...I'm guessing you didn't see the AFC Divisional game Steelers @ Colts when Polamalu got jobbed on the interception? Does anyone dare claim there was a more blatantly bad call the entire year that that one? Anyone?

And had the Colts came back to win that game as a result of that call, Steelers fans everywhere would still be #####ing about that bad call, and you know it, so don't even try to deny it. Besides, we all know that it sucks to lose a playoff game, and when you lose one because of some bad calls, it really sucks. Factor in that the Seahawks are a franchise that hasn't had a lot of playoff success historically, and it is understandable why their fans would have been so upset. Their team finally gets to the Super Bowl, only to see them lose in a game where multiple bad calls at pivotal moments hurt them.

 

[Jeremy]

I don't think it was "rigged" as much as it was a team that was heavily favored in the game and had previously won 5 Lombardi trophies getting the superstar treatment on a teamwide scale. It was like how Jordon never traveled, Greg Maddux got 6" off each side of the plate, or Jerry Rice never fumbles . This is a huge problem in all of sports. Refs and Umps have a preconceived notion that X player or team is great, therefore they don't make mistakes.

As far as if it would have affected the outcome, there's simply no way of knowing. It's almost silly to speculate. Everything that follows might have been different had any of those calls gone the other way.

Was there ever a less satisfying superbowl to the neutral observer than SB XL? We've had blowouts, but at least we knew who the best team was. This one just left me feeling cheated, and I didn't even have a dog in the fight.