No, it wasn’t, but this is a more plausible explanation than any the officials mustered. If only you’d been there to coach them!

Here’s Scott Green’s explanation.

“”We didn’t kill it on the field. After discussion we decided there was some confusion over which pass we were talking about, and it was decided that it was the second pass that was illegal that did hit the ground, and therefore we killed the play there.’

Reporter: “But the second pass was legal?’

Green: “I know. The rule was misinterpreted.’

Reporter: “So it should have been a touchdown?’

Green: “We should have let the play go through in the end, yes. It was misinterpreted that instead of killing the play, we should have let the play go through.’

Does this seem remotely plausible to anyone?

After the play, an official runs onto the field, to say, correctly, that “there was an illegal forward pass. The Steelers decline the penalty. Touchdown.” (The lateral was probably legal. But it’s a little iffy, and if it wasn’t, this is the right call.)

So now the officials decide to review it.

Green seems to be saying that they mistook the first lateral for the second, and that, since the second bounced, it should have killed the play. I have some courtroom experience, and it seems like just the kind of lie a bad liar tells trying to cover his tracks. At first glance, plausible. At the second, simply a bad lie.

“it was decided that it was the second pass that was illegal that did hit the ground, and therefore we killed the play there.”

THEY WEREN’T TELLING STORIES ABOUT THE PLAY OVER A CAMPFIRE!

You’re telling me they looked at the replay of a correctly called play, and somehow decided that a lateral which travelled five yards backwards was an illegal forward pass? THEY’D JUST BEEN LOOKING AT THIS PLAY, OVER AND OVER AGAIN! ALL THREE GOT THIS CONFUSED???!!! NONE OF THEM COULD STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT!!! NONE HAD THE SENSE TO REVERT TO THE ORIGINAL, CORRECT CALL???!!!

Finally, what about only overturning a call based on clear and convincing evidence? They forgot about this rule, as well? The rule everyone has heard about 28 times per football game?

Seriously, could anybody wrongly overturn the call based on this reasoning in good faith?

Here are some facts.

1. “An estimated 100 million dollars was wagered worldwide on the Pittsburgh/San Diego game, according to RJ Bell of Pregame.com. Approximately 66% of that money was on the Steelers; with only 34% on the Chargers.
”If the touchdown was properly upheld, Steelers bettors would have won about 32 million dollars instead of losing big. This admittedly incorrect call resulted in a 64 million dollar swing in favor of the bookies.” said RJ Bell of Pregame.com.
2. There was a 23-1 penalty yardage disparity in the game (115 Steelers – 5 Chargers) Must be the record, or close to it. It’s certainly the most penalty yardage called on the Steelers in six years.
4. Both of the last two times Steelers touch the ball has officials calling back a Steelers touchdown (one which would have matched the spread, the other which would have beaten it.). Once clearly wrongly (see above). The other’s interesting, too. How many times do the refs call a hold that’s iffy at best on the home team’s winning touchdown with 30 seconds left in the game?
5. Chargers get a touchdown via a pass interference penalty that clearly didn’t happen. (The commentators point this out.) Receiver runs down the field at safety. Receiver pushes safety. Ball sails 10 yards over receiver’s head.

I don’t have to have an opinion. Just pointing out facts. Draw your own conclusions.

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/16/steelers-chargers-chaos-rattles-vegas-strip/

Personally, I find it funny that the first 11-10 game in NFL History has generated this level of controversy. I can’t wait to see what happens when the first 4-3 game goes down.

Or, was the penalty really on Polamalu for deflecting the ball forward, volleyball-style?

The integrity of all professional sports is deteriorating. MLB turning a blind eye to steriods because ratings were good. NBA pushing corrupt referee’s under the rug. And every big NFL game coming down to a judgment pass interference call.

Follow the money. How much do professional ref’s make? How much money is bet on the games? There is way too much financial incentive for these guys to get bought off.

The Steelers game yesterday was such a complete disaster, that I am now convinced that betting on these games is utter stupidity.

I disagree, I think the media and the NFL will largely ignore this.