It's in bold, at the bottom. <I> Upset with the developments at the end of the Giants-49ers game on Sunday, commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Wednesday that the NFL will implement changes as to how playoff games are officiated. The changes will take effect immediately, starting with this weekend's four divisional playoff games, Tagliabue said. Tagliabue discussed the changes Wednesday in an interview with ESPN's Bob Ley. Tagliabue ordered two notable changes: On calls in dispute, all officials on the field will be part of a conference on the field. On Sunday, after the final play of the Giants-49ers game, only those officials directly involved in the play were part of the on-field conference. The NFL is changing what each official is looking for on field-goal attempts. Tagliabue told Ley what happened in the Giants-49ers wild card game was the most disappointing moment involving officiating in his 13 years as commissioner. Tagliabue had said Tuesday that the officiating errors were "totally unacceptable." The league admitted Monday that the officiating crew failed to call a pass interference penalty against San Francisco on the final play of the game. If pass interference had been called, the Giants would have had another shot at a 41-yard field goal. The Niners won 39-38. "What happened at the end in terms of the breakdown of officiating was totally unacceptable to us and it shouldn't have happened with the mechanics already in place," Tagliabue said on Sporting News Radio Tuesday. Mike Pereira, the NFL's director of officiating, said that in order to avoid similar mistakes in officiating, "everything is up for review," The New York Times reported Wednesday. Referees can use instant replays to make on-field decisions about a game's final play, but penalties, or perceived penalties, are not included. Aiello told the newspaper that allowing pass interference penalties to be reviewed using instant replay would be subject to approval by NFL teams. Pereira also said that officials should confer to make sure the correct call has been made. "We should stay on the field to get all the information we need before we get off," Pereira told the newspaper. "When it's volatile and people are running on the field, we always exit the field quickly. But we have to make sure we cover all our bases." A pass interference call against Niners defensive end Chike Okeafor would have created offsetting penalties -- New York was flagged for an illegal man downfield -- and given the Giants another chance to kick the field goal. The Giants botched the first attempt because of a bad snap, which forced holder Matt Allen to throw a pass to guard Rich Seubert, who was eligible on the play. Tagliabue said there were plenty of mistakes in the game by all of the participants. "I'm sure that everybody feels that there were some breakdowns in that game and I'm sure Steve Mariucci feels that his club broke down in the first half and the Giants didn't perform in the second half like they did in the first and that's part of football," Tagliabue said. "On the officiating point, it shouldn't have happened and we are reviewing it thoroughly." Giants spokesman Pat Hanlon said the team really didn't care. "At this point, unless someone tells us to get on a plane and go to San Francisco to replay the final play or replay the game, what difference does it make?" Hanlon said Tuesday. "It's unfortunate the guys (officials) made mistakes at the end of the game, but that's not the reason we lost the game." Hanlon said the only thing the Giants would like to see come out of the error would be for the league to find a way to avoid future officiating mistakes at the end of games. <B>Meanwhile, New Jersey Assemblyman Anthony Impreveduto wants the league to allow the state to host a Super Bowl by 2006 and called on the head of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which runs Giants Stadium, to begin legal action against the NFL. "New Jersey taxpayers may have been cheated of tax revenue the state would have earned from players' income and other Giants-related enterprises had the team advanced in the playoffs," Impreveduto said in his letter to George Zoffinger, the sports authority president.</B> Zoffinger said he could not comment until he speaks with Impreveduto.</I>
I saw this in this mornings paper...pretty humorous actually. What will be even more humorous is if it doesn't get thrown out of court.
On the replay stuff, I think it makes sense to review penalties as well. So long as they follow the incontravertible evidence issue there's no real problem. The same system would work. I mean, why not? One other crazy idea to consider is that all officials get to review the replay and vote. Probably not neccessary, most officials are pretty competent alone, but it's something that might be considered.
Can we say extortion by the Assemblyman? Absolutely ridiculous. No league can allow such a precedent to occur. Besides, could the NFL really have a Super Bowl in a cold weather, outdoor facility? I doubt it.
I will be absolutely shocked if the NFL decided to review penalties/non calls. This would be suicide for the fans. They official made a friggin mistake. The Giants blew the game by letting up 14 first downs and almost 300 yds of offense in just over a quarter...but somehow, they lost because of the incompetence of ONE GUY and one blown call? I think not. The guy was an official in the Super Bowl last year so he obviously is a pretty decent official. He screwed up....its human nature...game over.
Probably not, but the NFL did move playoff games regardless of location into primetime last year. We've already had two snow games.
Drapg...Wellington Mara has been throwing around the idea of putting a retractable roof on Giants Stadium...thus the Super Bowl talk. I think he is trying use the idea as leverage to get the Super Bowl.
I think that has more to do with the matchup. That's the reason the Jets are on Sunday night in primetime, resulting in the Steelers getting screwed with only 6 days between games (rather than 7, and the Jets getting 8). The Steelers vs. Titans matchup is nowhere near as sexy as the Jets vs. Raiders, in the NFL's eyes (and rightfully so). As for the Super Bowl, a lot of it has to do with the week long festivities that occur leading up to the game. Many of the events would be difficult to hold in the snow and cold.
Makes sense. He should work on the turf first. Are they going to the artificial stuff next year? I've heard rumblings of such, but nothing concrete.
Supposedly they are going to switch to the stuff that Dallas has...field turf perhaps? Regardless, they are switching...its a disaster.
Is there a statute of limitations on suing the NFL? The city of Houston definitely deserves a big settlement after the 1980 AFC championship game... Even though the Rockets won the game, we can get some money from the NBA for emotional distress after that dingleberry forgot to start the shot clock in the 1994 WC finals against the Jazz.
Disaster? I've heard nothing but decent reviews about field turf. It supposedly has a superior drainage system, good shock absorbency, and is cheap. I read this on a website months ago, but I don't remember where it was. I don't think its as bad on player's bodies either (like horrid astroturf) Nevertheless, can it be worse than the turf now?
Let's hope the Titan's field is in bettershape this week. 5 weeks ago it was a complete mess. One of the worst ever.
