What was up with the refs not calling unsportsmanlike conduct on Santonio for using the ball as a prop in his TD celebration? They call that every time.
The "salt shaker" non-call was one of about 10 calls that should have been called....what about a linemen helping Ben on the 1st TD that eventually got reviewed and overturned....you can't assist a runner like that and Ben was locked up with two Cards at the 2 yards line until he came in and smashed them forward.....there were lots of non-calls, lots of ridiculous calls(like roughing the passer, then a non-call when Harrison submarined Warner after the ball was long gone on the next series)....roughing on the holder called when holders get hit by rushers every game....I wasnt rooting for either team, just a good game, and the refs made sure they were the show....so old NFL shit.... By the way, the Cardinals started the final drive about the 25....imagine if they had started at the 40 with the prop call....would things have gone differently? Warner isnt sacked winding up on the final throw if its at the 35 instead of the 50....things that make you go "hmmmmm"
Seriously people, Holmes did the LeBron pregame thing. Anyway, the game was not officiated well at all, i even said that during the game with my friends, but Arizona still had to stop Pittsburgh on the last drive, and they didn't. The Steelers played their ass' off, as did Arizona, but Steelers made the plays at the end to win the game. Now they should have reviewed the last play, the Warner fumble. Looked like Woodley may have knocked it loose before, but it needed to reviewed, because it had few replays.
it was a horribly officiated game, but it was still a great game. and the cardinals didn't get screwed or anything. the refs were just bad. lots of calls(and no calls) that just didn't make any sense. some of them impacted the game, some didn't and i felt like more went the steelers way, but it wasn't a huge deal. of course, not reviewing the last play was the most inexcusable call of the game. it wasn't clear whether that was a fumble or not and even if it had been, it's the next to last play of the superbowl. you have to review it to make sure you got the call right. it was a great game, but the nfl has to be embarrassed by their level of officiating. you at least need to get it right in the championship game.
I thought Tomlin should have gone for it at the ~one foot yard line, that could have easily cost the Steelers. I don't like Martyball tactics, I go for it all.
Imagine this scenario: The Refs penalize Holmes for the prop celebration, the Cards start the final drive on the 37....the fumble/pass, which would have started at the 30 is overturned, but the Steelers are penalized for removing the helmets....its 1st and 10 at the 15 yard line with around 10 seconds to go....that is two, and maybe three shots at the end zone from point blank range....damn officials....
People were saying at school today that the last play of the game, where the Steelers recovered the ball, shouldn't have been a fumble. I don't really remember, and not that it would have really mattered, but that would've been awesome if the Cards managed to score a TD to win the game with 5 seconds or less left of the game. Also, if the Cards just screw up at the end of the half and somehow allowed the clock to run out, they would've won. That Harrison TD return was luckiest play I've seen in quite some time. How the hell did he get such an open field, also somehow landing on Fitz's legs saved his ass. Right place at the right time. lol Tough luck to the Cards.
it definitely would have mattered. after the penalty for the steeler removing his helmet, the cardinals would have had the ball at something like the 25 or 30 yard line with 10 or so seconds left. that's enough for at least a jump ball to fitzgerald in the end zone.
The officiating was bad in the previous Steelers Super Bowl as well. I am surprised no one has mentioned that yet.
Honestly, looked like a fumble to me, should have been reviewed but it seemed like Warner didn't have full control when he began his throw, and Woodley had jarred it loose.
And guys let's face it, Steeler fan know the game was reffed poorly, but Arizona did not stop them from scoring the last touchdown. I'll go through a few of the penalties here and you guys can debate it. Chop Block on James = Right Call Roughing the Passer/Missing Intentional Grounding = Bad Call Roughing the Holder = Bad Call... But didn't hurt the Cards, score wise. Ike Taylors roughing 15 yarder = Good call Holding Calls on Gandy, 3 of them right = at least 2 were correct, probably 3 Harrison raping Francisco = Good Call Holmes celebration = Bad Call, flag needed Warner 2nd fumble = Needed to be reviewed, however, it looked to be a fumble. Steeler fans agree that the officiating was bad, but c'mon, Defense just needed to stop us, if i recall we only had like one 3rd down on that whole drive. Also two other things to consider. I'm pretty sure the Super Bowl Referees are the best from each crew, maybe they should take th best crew, not a collection of the best. Also, you think that there were a lot of flags in this game, imagine if Ron Winter was reffing the game (he was the backup).
everyone bitched about the superbowl with the seahawks, but the calls really weren't all that bad in that superbowl. there was way too much whining over nothing that year.
I thought Warner didn't fumble, I don't know it was close. But you can't let the refs bail you out, the Cards simply took too long to wake up.
Warner threw that freaking ball. No doubt in my mind, I mean are they BLIND! With that 15 yard penalty, they had a chance score. The refs blow it again.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=iRHvm52T_WE Ball looks to be coming out, didn't seem to have control when he started to throw.
Full control or not, it was in his hand and he pushed it forward with his throwing motion....I think it was an incomplete pass, and if the other factors had been correct, they Cards should have had 10 seconds and a 1st down from the 15 yards line....thats 2 and maybe 3 shots from point blank for Warner and his recievers that the Steelers couldnt cover....my title says it: Wost officiated game ever....
