So you find an act of unnecessary physical violence that results in someone being seriously injured more palatable than an act of simply "rubbbing your noses in it"? Sheesh. Not sure if this has been posted elsehere, but the NFL sent an official apology to the Vikes for blowing 9 calls, 8 of which were in the last quarter, one of which was a drive killing INT that was erroneously called defensive pass interference. http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2002/1211/1475659.html Refs reportedly made at least nine mistakes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS -- The NFL acknowledged Wednesday its officiating crew made at least nine mistakes during Sunday's Green Bay-Minnesota game, including a pass interference call that negated a Vikings' interception on the Packers' game-winning drive. The mistakes were documented in a confidential memorandum, according to several league sources. The Vikings (3-10) lost the game 26-22 in Green Bay. Eight of the affected plays occurred in the fourth quarter, when the Packers (10-3) made up a nine-point deficit with two unanswered touchdowns. Both the Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press newspapers reported the league's correspondence with the Vikings late Wednesday night. On Monday, the Vikings sent in 12 officials' calls the team disagreed with. In a response, league supervisors wrote that Vikings safety Corey Chavous should not have been called for pass interference against Packers receiver Donald Driver on a third-down pass that safety Jack Brewer intercepted. "It doesn't matter what they say after the fact,'' Chavous said. "We lost the game.'' Under the NFL's instant replay policy, pass interference penalties are not subject to review. Tony Fisher scored the go-ahead touchdown for Green Bay four plays later. NFL teams routinely fill out such forms on the day after games, seeking clarification or explanations for calls, and it is not unusual for mistakes to be acknowledged affecting both teams. "Conversations between the NFL officiating department and teams are confidential,'' said NFL spokesman Michael Signora. "We do not comment on them.'' Among other mistakes detailed in the document, league supervisors wrote that Packers receiver Robert Ferguson should have been ruled out of bounds at the 1-yard line rather than given a 40-yard touchdown reception with 10:48 left in the fourth quarter. The Vikings did not challenge the call via instant replay. The NFL also wrote that Packers safety Antuan Edwards should have received an unnecessary roughness penalty for hitting Vikings receiver Chris Walsh, who had taken a knee to stop the next-to-last play of the game, and that Packers linebacker Nate Wayne also should have been penalized for blocking receiver Randy Moss in the back on the final play of the game. Vikings coach Mike Tice declined comment. Team officials are prohibited from discussing confidential communication with the league. The referee at Sunday's game was Walt Coleman, who has more than a dozen years of NFL experience. Coleman made the "tuck'' call in last season's playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots, and he made a ruling that cost the Pittsburgh Steelers a victory during the 2000 season.
Damn it. I'm actually stuck defending Sapp now. Here we go, rehashing this crap again, but now I'm taking the opposite stance If Cllifton wasn't hurt and got up from the play just fine, would it still be an issue? The injury wasn't committed purposefully. It was an unfortunate side effect of a legal hit. The Vikings blow was legal, but only on a technacality, b/c the ref forgot to blow the whistle. Ref's fault. What I'm upset about is that Sherman says his man's hit was okay because the ball was still in play, but the Sapp hit wasn't... EVEN THOUGH THE BALL WAS ALSO IN PLAY!!!
He countered the ball was in play with the fact that the hit occured on the guy who HAD THE BALL, not someone 15 yards from the play not even running towards the action. Huge difference.
Yeah but the guy kneeled to the ground and all the player had to do was touch him to call him down... but instead he planted a hit on the guy... just as cheap.
The main problem with the hit on Walsh, is that the Packer should have just stood there and not touched him and let the clock run out.
Damn but really the Vikes actually played well (and maybe a moral victory) and still improved their draft position
does anybody honestly think that ruling fergusen down at the one would have made a diffrence? why do the refs need to apologize for that, if the vikes could have challenged and reversed it? also, remember this is a rivalry, and this is how a rivalry is supposed to be. sapps hit was horse**** because it had nothing to do with the play. dont tell me he was not intending to hurt. he was just "Blocking" a player that wasnt gonna get anywhere huh?
jello - i realise the ferguson one the Vikes cocked it up the rivalry is great between Vikes and GB,epsecially now Favrar apologises the big softy. also on the Sapp hit, defensive players always go nuts and try to hit people when the get a interception.
