Comments on: After further review, Packers got screwed

By: pooterqb

pooterqb — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:47:08 +0000

Oh, P.S. All you packer fans go re-watch last years Super Bowl. Look at Santana Holmes feet on the so called game winning catch. His right foot is literally resting on the back of his left foot. You want to be pissed about a penalty that wasn’t called. Holmes right foot (unless it was 4 inches longer than his left) never touched the grass. Go back and replay in slow motion. BLACK AND WHITE NO TOUCHDOWN. CArdinals should be a Super Bowl Winner. Keep complaining about a face mask. Lose a SB because the NFL makes more money on merchandising with a Steelers win than a Cardinals win. At least Green Bay has a franchise that gets respect. Cards have to beat the team, the fans AND the refs.

By: pooterqb

pooterqb — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:33:13 +0000

The Packers have NO right to complain any ANY level.
1. The face mask was AFTER the fumble/INT so it would still have been Cards ball.
2. I was at the game and for every ONE face mask (one on Rodgers after the fumble/Int) there were literally 10 offensive holding that were NOT called.
If any team should be upset is the Cardinals. No one picked them, No one gives them ANY respect and they never get calls “for” them. I watched GB receivers get extra yards on ball placement, penalties go uncalled and Rodgers have years in the pocket to throw because the OT had tripped the Lineman coming at him and he fell on him and HELD him down. That is HOLDING!
Don’t bitch GB Fans. You have an awesome team but you lost. Re-watch the tape and see countless holding calls.
p.s. Did I mention I am a Green Bay Fan? I am!

By: ToledoLions

ToledoLions — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:25:51 +0000

What about the 50 holding penalties that weren’t called on the Packers. i was watching the game with my friend and I noticed early on that the Packers were just yanking players around and I bet my friend that I could point out a hold on every Packers play. Needless to say I pointed out a hold on about 20 straight plays that most didn’t get called. And most of those plays there were multiple people holding. The Packers O-line couldn’t block anyone in that game without tugging their jerseys or wrapping their arms around them and pulling them backwards. I’ve never seen a team get so lucky with uncalled penalties. So don’t bitch about 1 or 2 missed calls.

By: Tompadre

Tompadre — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:47:11 +0000

Izard -
Sorry guy, but I’m going with Peter King and a multitude of sources from sports outlets who said the refs job is to follow the ball. While I agree the Jenkins call was botched and the Berry helmet to helmet hit was missed, you are dead wrong on the last play! (well the possession part was correct had a flag been thrown) On the last play Adam’s helmet doesn’t even come close to hitting Rodgers’, so how could there be a helmet to helmet hit? Also, a facemask penalty didn’t occur because it didn’t fit the criteria of being twisted, turned or pulled as stated by the rules. You can grab if you don’t do the others, also stated in the rules. Since the ball was out of Rodgers’ hand he was no longer the passer so the blow to the head rule also didn’t apply.

By: Michael Izard

Michael Izard — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:54:02 +0000

I’d just like to clarify some things, as an experienced official and this controversy.
First of all, the Referee didn’t take care of what is his utmost priority, to protect the quarterback! This is the case whether there is a sack, a fumble or whatever. Just because it was a fumble doesn’t mean that he can take his eyes off a player, (especially the quarterback), see what happens with the ball, determine if the quarterbacks arm was going forward or not, (tuck rule), who recovers, or whatever. All of these can be determined at the proper time after the safety of the player has been accounted for. No he needs to continue to officiate “regardless” of what has occurred on the play and until the play has been blown dead.
Truthfully, the official blew the call. He should have watched the play, threw his bean bag as the fumble occurred during the sack, and continued to officiate keeping his vision on the quarterback. After the play has been completed then, and only then, should he give consideration to other things that have happened and occurred, like the fumble recovery and return by the defense.
This guy is the worst Referee I’ve ever seen in a playoff game and he blew three “easy” calls from his vantage point as the Referee. 1. The play where Jenkins was held and then dragged into Warner where a face mask was called on him. 2. An additionally, the play prior to this one being discussed where he missed Rogers getting drilled in the head with “helmet to helmet” contact. Also, it’s debatable on the last play of the game whether the defender could have been charged with helmet to helment contact.
Don’t mean to be so long-winded but the point is, this was an easy call…..15 yard face mask penalty, and (here’s where a lot of people get it wrong), the penalty should be enforced “15 yards from the previous spot” and an automatic first down for Green Bay since the penalty occurred “prior” to the defender recovering the fumble which mean a change of possession hadn’t occurred yet.
In closing, this call didn’t cost Green Bay the game, but this was an easy call for the official to make and I can assure you this, it will be a long time before the NFL allows this particular refree to oversee and be in the position again.

By: tjstyles

tjstyles — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:44:35 +0000

The NFL needs full-time referees. The botched calls are starting to get ridiculous. Every time a small penalty is miss called I get frustrated because it simply means that a big one like this is more likely. I also think that the booth should be able to review any play if there is a significant reason to believe the wrong call was made.

By: shaggytoodle

shaggytoodle — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:24:13 +0000

If it was “your” team that was on the wrong side of those calls, you would feel cheated, and have every right to be. Maybe Aaron should take a road from the “Ochocinco” book, and become Aaron Manning, or Brady. I hope those officials get assigned the Minn. game so they can get a taste of it.

By: Tompadre

Tompadre — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:02:51 +0000

packrguru -
Good thing you’re not a ref in the NFL, because you don’t understand the facemask penalty. It DOES MATTER if the facemask is yanked or not. The rule clearly states “twisted, turned or pulled”.
Also, a DB cannot impede the route of the WR. The first Fitzgerald TD clearly showed Woodson trying to do just that. He made an attempt to get his arm on/around Fitzgerald and fell when their legs got tangled. The second time was less clear, but in one replay it appeared that Woodson was trying to do the same thing. The bottom line is Woodson plays to contact and has gotten away with his fair share of infractions, and due to his style he just isn’t going to get that call when he may have had someting to do with the contact.

By: willmose

willmose — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:02:32 +0000

First, why should you have to explain to the dumb viewers about the tuck rule and why it does not apply? Only very dumb viewer or Packers fan would think that it even applies. Of course, the Packers fans were yelling tuck rule on every interception. Secondly, the play was a quick kick, as Rodgers clearly kicks the ball. Lastly, the “foul” clear occurs on the run back during the kick return. Sorry, but Packers fans are whiners from the get go. Why is it that losers always complain that this call was missed or that call was missed. Got the freak over it. The Packers are lucky they are still in the league. Wedge those cheeses where your heads are.

By: Grandcanyon92

Grandcanyon92 — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:35:44 +0000

The Packers lost to a better team! I saw the Packers hold on at least three touchdowns. If fact, at least two of the holds were right in front of the offical. There were a number of other calls that went against the Cards to the benefit of the Packers. Both teams had penalties not called and that happens in EVERY game. To the crybaby Packer fans, get over it. YOUR TEAM LOST. If all the penalties had been called, your team still would have lost and without an overtime.

By: Seahawk Ref

Seahawk Ref — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:19:41 +0000

First off, let me say, “stop whining over something after-the-fact. You can’t change anything!!!!
Second, there is/was no way any ref could of seen the face mask grab, as it took most of you video (from more than one angle) and commentor complaints showing it to you in slo-mo to even see it. Once the ball pops loose, the refs eyes focus, if even for an instant, or more on where the ball is, and who has it then, or who has it in the large man-pile on the ground (Isn’t that what you really want refs to know…whose ball is it?).
And 3rd, it’s a question of possesion, fouls, and when EACH happens.
Though the ball was fumbled (call it a loose ball), it’s still in possesion of the team who last had it, until it is controlled by one of the teams.
Foul….did the defense possess the ball before the foul, during the foul, or after the foul.
We ALL know it happened after the ball was possessed by the defense before the foul happened. We all saw Rogers kick the ball, which is a live foul as well.
Most cases, the refs call both fouls a wash, and replay it. But since the defense got the ball clean; meaning they…. didn’t foul before they got it….they have the ball….IF…..they decline the offensive penalty…HENCE….A TOUCH DOWN.
The only other case that could be made is….if Rogers kicking the ball was not called, but the face mask was, then since the face mask occured after the Cardinals possessed it, the touch down would be called back….still Cards ball, but back 15 yards at the spot of the face mask.
Thats all folks, and thats the way it is.
I’m also a football official in Washington state, and I’m still upset about the calls made in Super Bowl 40 (Steelers vs. Seahawks), but hey….can’t do nothing about that except watch your team the following year.
p.s.
refs do miss some calls. Realize that there are 22 players on the filed at once; along with coaches and asst. coaches yelling and screaming from the sidelines….but we do get most of them, so with that….teams need to play hard and score often to keep maybe one or 2 calls from them losing.
Peace Out!!!!!!
Seahawk Ref.

By: PurplePenisEaters

PurplePenisEaters — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:42:26 +0000

Vikings fans:
I seem to remember another season just over a decade ago where you were talking all sorts of ‘stuff’ only to have the Dirty Birds shock you right out of the playoffs.
Here’s to the Humpty Dumpty Dome collapsing and taking out the Vikes, Ragnar, the Boys, Jerry, and 70,000 inbred, horn-wearing losers!

By: PurplePenisEaters

PurplePenisEaters — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:32:54 +0000

Attention Viking Fans: You better pray to Odin that you a**holes win this weekend. The Packers are an up and coming team with a bright future. You, on the otherhand, have mortgaged your future to win NOW. It is Superbowl or BUST!
Lots of pressure for a franchise and QB that have historically pissed all over themselves when on the big stage!
One of my fondest Viking collapes was the NFC title game vs the Falcons back in 98. The next day I drove 5 hours from Green Bay to the Twin Cities just to see the look on your faces. You talked all sorts of shit that year too, only to see it end prematurely.
Hears to hoping history repeats itself…

By: Viker

Viker — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:01:10 +0000

“jc107 says:
Then I see all the idiot posts “well you shouldn’t have given up 51 points then”… what complete BS and you know it. FACT IS, the Cardinals also gave up 45 points, and should have lost that game.”
That logic just simply makes no sense. They gave up 45 points, they should have lost. Doesn’t matter if the other team gives up more and as for as
“Oh, “favre is still in the playoffs”. Yeah, right, he had a first round bye, or are you unable to comprehend that.”
He had a first round bye because he was part of a team that was the number 2 seed. Play good enough in the regular season and you get the first game off. Or are you unable to comprehend that?

By: MIKE B

MIKE B — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:48:26 +0000

Wah effen Wah!!! Get over over it and deal with it. Like the cardinals didn’t get boned on a few calls. Like the one horse collar that wasn’t. Nice season Packers, but just not nice enough eh??

By: scottw

scottw — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:56:54 +0000

I wouldn’t over-generalize here. Of course, some fans are going to complain about the calls/non-calls, but most Packer fans are not making an issue of it. Turnovers and 45/51 points did us in.

By: SilentBob420BMFJ

SilentBob420BMFJ — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:51:22 +0000

Some of these comments I’ve been reading on the various sites are so idiotic. “Can’t call facemask on somebody who doesn’t have the ball”?! “Facemask happened after the fumble, so it doesn’t matter”?! If you don’t know the rules of the NFL, don’t comment.
A facemask can be called on ANYBODY, as it is a safety issue, otherwise it would just be called holding (and would be legal on the person with the ball). And even if a facemask couldn’t be called on somebody without a ball (let’s just say), it would still be holding on the defense.
The only way that uncalled facemask penalty would be “assessed on the kickoff” (game over though, as there would be no kickoff obviously) is if he reached the endzone BEFORE the facemask, which obviously didn’t happen, so it would have been 1st down + 15 yards for the Packers from the previous spot.
NFL.com has their rulebook on there, so go check it out. Can’t believe some people actually boldly disagree with facts and rules based on taking guesses at what the rules are.

By: ochentacinco

ochentacinco — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:32:26 +0000

So you are down 31-10, their fied goal kicker misses a lay-up to take it to overtime, you get the ball first in overtime, your defense gives up 51 and you got screwed on a call????
(except for you straw33, no disrespect)

By: slickmugsy

slickmugsy — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:13:58 +0000

Maybe we should just eliminate “Professional Sports”, then we wouldn’t have to listen to people make excuses why “their team” got screwed each week. If Green Bays defense was half as good as everyone said it was, it wouldn’t come down to a fantom “missed call” by the officials!!!!! OH WAIT!!!! I THINK THE OFFICIALS MISSED 5 HOLDING CALLS ON THE 5 TD PASSES THAT WARNER THREW….

By: Supersuckers

Supersuckers — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:59:29 +0000

Knwo it makes perfect sense because he has a right to match most offers. He spends money. Just not un UFA’s very often. He will spend everythign he can and still be viable to keep their own guys. Why try and guess the market as you would a UFA when you can have the market made for you? To answer your question does he run the risk of someone making an absurd offer? Sure!! If someone makes a dumb offer they let them go. According to Brandt, Thompson has his idea of what type of contract he is willing to offer a player. But why not see if you can “steal” a guy back? Makes total sense.
I mean really. What do we know? We are not behind those closed doors. What could we possibly know? Common sense to me dictates I want to see what the market is. Not try and guess.

By: Kryptoid

Kryptoid — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:25:54 +0000

Just another example of Rodgers not getting the pass off quick enough or just throwing it away.
Shouldn’t have even been in OT if the Cards would learn how not to blow a 21 point lead or have Rackers hit a chip shot. Packers were lucky to even have a shot at winning that game.

By: jeffragnarchicken

jeffragnarchicken — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:22:02 +0000

It’s an uncapped year, Super. Does he run the risk of having someone throw out something he can’t feasibly match?
Of course, we all know how he like his draft picks.
Maybe this is just his way of getting more of them?
Quite a few holes on that defense to fill, and you may as well overhaul that O-line while you’re at it.
Just because I don’t work for an NFL team, doesn’t mean i don’t have a right to an opinion.
Common sense dictates that you don’t have 8-10 starters come up for contracts at the same time.
Thompson is not one to spend money, you of all people should know that.
Uncapped year spells trouble for the Pack with that many guys up.
But “we are know nothings”..uff.
As I said, let’s just agree to disagree, OK?!

By: Supersuckers

Supersuckers — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:42:57 +0000

Yeah I usually do. until you are employed by an NFL team you have access to 2 percent of the information out there. Can people like us form opinions on 2 percent of the information out there? sure. But its dumb opinions because we do not have the other 98 percent of the information. On answer may be the reason the Packers have all this cap room is Thompson was prepared for this. Financially GB will turn quite the hefty profit this year. I only get 2 percent but that could explain it. None of these guys are unrestricted with no CBA. Sounds like sound and careful planning to me while letting someone else make the market for you. Actually sounds pretty damn smart to have them all come up “AT THE SAME TIME” having someone else establishing the market for you is advantageous. Especially when you have first right of refusal. You have to think outside the box a little and look past what may appear obvious. Because it never is behind closed doors.

By: HappyBunny

HappyBunny — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:38:53 +0000

That was my comment as soon as I saw the first replay: “That’s a face mask penalty!!!”
Amazingly, the non-call it happened on a QB, of all players.
Looking at how the place erupted after the score, those refs would have needed to helicopter out through one of those slots in the Big Toaster if they’d actually made the call.

By: jeffragnarchicken

jeffragnarchicken — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:30:56 +0000

What is “laughable?”
The amount of front line players that all are coming up for contract….AT THE SAME TIME!!
We went over this once, Super.
Vikes have 2 key FA”s, The Pack has 10.
I know you trust Ted, that is your perogitive.
It just seems to me that the youngest team is about to get younger.
You and I are NEVER going to agree on this, so let’s just let it go.

By: Adam-Chris Scheftersen

Adam-Chris Scheftersen — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:20:08 +0000

ErinRodgers says:
January 11, 2010 12:43 PM
Favre makes the throw to Jennings in OT, rendering all your whining about penalties irrelevant.
—————————-
Favre doesn’t make it to OT. Favre throws 4 picks in the second quarter and the Cards win a laugher as Brett fades into another offseason of will-he-or-won’t-he.
Go ahead and support your new favorite toy, but don’t go revisionist history on us.

By: Adam-Chris Scheftersen

Adam-Chris Scheftersen — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:16:05 +0000

trekntex says:
January 11, 2010 11:57 AM
The ball was out already but it should have been called. Should have been Cards ball 1st and 10 from Packers 22 yard line after a 5 yard facemask penalty that occurred after possession had changed.
—————————–
Two things:
- Cards had not established possession until AFTER the facemask.
- There’s no such thing as a 5 yard facemask anymore. And if it still did exist, that wasn’t it. That was a 15 yarder.

By: pakrguru

pakrguru — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:01:49 +0000

Alright…I’ve watched this develop over the past few days…so I’ll sum it up. I’m a licensed official in the State of WI, so go ahead and make your typical one-sided rants claiming I’m some sort of Packers homer. Face it…if you’re a Vikings fan…you watched the play(s) in question with purple colored glasses…and would like nothing more than to see the Packers lose. I just so happen to be a game official with a different perspective.
That all being said:
When the NFL changed the facemask rule, they did it with the intention of NOT having the referee decide if there was intent. Any facemask grab by a defending player is a 15 yard penalty. Yank, or no yank.
Cullen Jenkins was basically tackled, right in front of the umpire, holding was an easy call there. Did he contact Warner’s head after that? Yes. At worst…should have been offsetting penalties, no TD, down repeated.
Regarding Fitz’s play(s) with Woodson…..a defender has the right to a position on the field, much like a defender in basketball. Essentially…that’s no foul either way, unless either player pushes off. That may or may not have occurred, no good angle showed on any replay.
Regarding the final series. Rodgers obviously took a helmet to helmet blow. Any contact with the QB’s head, before or after throwing a pass is not only a penalty, it was a point of emphasis for the referees this season. Should have been called.
Regarding the final play in question. Since point A (regarding facemask penalties) has already been answered, the only issue remaining was the facemask post possession by the Cardinals, or was it prepossession. Since all the photo/video evidence shows it was prepossession, its a simple call. 15 yard penalty, Packers retain possession, automatic first down.
NOW…..all that being said, I’m not one to say the officials cost the game for GB. They had plenty of opportunities to stop AZ, and they failed. A non-call, or non-calls, or missed calls occur in every game, on every play in fact.
Vikings fans can run their smack all they want. The truth is, GB will be better next year. They’ve got the youngest team in the league, with a LOT of young talent….Rodgers, Finley, Jennings, Matthews, etc. They’ll be in the playoffs for years to come. The Vikings next championship will be their first championship, and I’m guessing GB wins at least one before they get their first.

By: Supersuckers

Supersuckers — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:47:45 +0000

jeff says,
“You have 10 key free agents to sign, have fun with that, you will never get them all.
But, you’ll be good for years to come.
Laughable

By: ErinRodgers

ErinRodgers — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:43:55 +0000

The only meaningful part of the regular season was watching GB’s golden boy, the player you ran out if town, rip out the collective hearts of all you dirty, uneducated, hicks. 2-0, 7tds 0 picks, now that was meaningful. Favre makes the throw to Jennings in OT, rendering all your whining about penalties irrelevant. Obviously Karen is going to put up some good #’s. GB was down 17 points halfway through the first quarter and he threw 45 times. Greatest thing of all is that is she hadn’t kicked the ball right into Dansbys chest it probably would have been reviewed and overturned into an incomplete pass. Then we could have seen that “#1″ d in the NFC do their thing again. I doubt AZ would have scored.