That being said, thoroughly satisfying Superbowl. Do I think the refs were a little one-sided? Yeah. Some real ticky tack calls, including that horrible roughing the passer call? Did it cost the Cardinals the game? Nope. I loved the fact that so many people stepped up. Warner and Fitz did themselves proud. Boldin contributed. Edge and Hightower showed some nifty moves. And for the most part the D played pretty well. That being said, Ben and Santonio, among others, stepped up big time with the game on the line. Nobody can question Ben as a leader in big games. Sure, Santonio made a great catch on that final TD, but Ben threw a PERFECT pass. Feel bad that one team had to lose. Whisenhunt - I was as impressed with his post game interview as I am with him as a coach. Solid. Good for Tomlin. Good for the Rooney's. Bottom line - the play at the end of the first half was monstrous, and Pitt won in most part because of it. But what a great Superbowl.
I agree with Smails..Hmmmm....Hmmmmm.....Hmmmmmm.As a diehard Cardinal fan, I was just upset to see a poorly officiated game. I don't necessarily think it effected the outcome, but there were a number of very questionable calls. The only three I really think were bad were the "roughing the passer", not reviewing the final play of the game, and the non call on Santonio's celebration. I get that he is excited, but you can't use the ball as a prop in your celebration, which he clearly did.All in all it was a spectacular game, and although I am still crying in my Wheaties this morning, I am proud of the Cards. Welll, except for Fancisco, he is a pathetic excuse for a safety and should have been cut 4 months ago.
........As a Steeler fan, I can agree with this. The roughing the passer was awful but they've been calling garbage like that all year. In the biggest game of the year, you shouldn't throw the flag there. I agree that the final play should have been reviewed even though I think the probability of it being overturned was very slim. If it were overturned (with conclusive evidence), in my mind that would have easily been the worst call of the game. I also agree that Santonio should have been penalized. I can even go one step further and say that Harrison should have been ejected. However, I don't think any set of refs would have the balls to eject a superstar on either team in any situation in the SuperBowl. People question some of the other calls but I just don't see it. They weren't glaring enough to be controversial in my mind. The roughing the holder has to be called. He can tap the guy with his pinky and it still has to be called. Although perhaps it should have been "running into the holder" rather than "roughing the holder". The block in the back was questionable but it's unclear whether he was blocked in the shoulder or back. It's a judgment call. I'm really not sure what other controversial calls there were in that game.
. The one of Santonio clearly facemasking DRC upsets me. I saw it when it happened on T.V. yet the ref standing 10 feet away only saw the DRC facemask that followed. I'm not one to ##### about officials and bad calls, but that pic just vidicated my thoughts of that play.
. The one of Santonio clearly facemasking DRC upsets me. I saw it when it happened on T.V. yet the ref standing 10 feet away only saw the DRC facemask that followed. I'm not one to ##### about officials and bad calls, but that pic just vidicated my thoughts of that play.
.........I actually thought it was a facemask on Holmes until I saw this picture. This doesn't confirm that it wasn't but it certainly doesn't confirm that it was.
. The one of Santonio clearly facemasking DRC upsets me. I saw it when it happened on T.V. yet the ref standing 10 feet away only saw the DRC facemask that followed. I'm not one to ##### about officials and bad calls, but that pic just vidicated my thoughts of that play.
. The one of Santonio clearly facemasking DRC upsets me. I saw it when it happened on T.V. yet the ref standing 10 feet away only saw the DRC facemask that followed. I'm not one to ##### about officials and bad calls, but that pic just vidicated my thoughts of that play.
