Let's be clear: "the call" didn't cost Miami the game

[Dolarltexas]

There are a number of things that infuriated me even before we got screwed by Mr. Pittsburgh.  The playcalling was so gutless and stupid that I was looking for Dave Wannstedt.  How many times did the Dolphins throw a 2 yard pass on 3rd and long?  Why didn't they try a two point conversion after the touchdown?  Why did they not go for it on 4th and a  foot?  Their two minute "offense", and I use that term generously, reminded me of Marty Schottenheimer.   If this is all that Henne and the offense can do, then let's start the hell over!

I agree the call didn't cost us the game, but I'm pissed that I can't remember a single time that a blown call gave the Dolphins a win, but I can think of three or four very questionable calls that Pittsburgh got that gave them wins.  Ask Cardinal fans about two in one Superbowl or Seahawk fans about another one, or Raider fans about a famous one.  Then to see the damn Steelers fans gloating about this in the Miami newspapers' forums just rubs salt in the wound--which is exactly what they want.  The bottom line is that the Almighty Steelers barely beat a pathetic, useless,  Dolphins team with the help from their homey ref, and now they act like this is some major accomplishment.   

[Dave Gray]

Why didn't they try a two point conversion after the touchdown? 

You're not supposed to go for 2 until the 4th quarter.  It's conventional coaching wisdom.  There are too many variables in play to try to predict more than a quarter ahead, so it's better to just take the points.

[Phishfan]

Did you follow the link I posted?

The OFFICIAL announced that it was an interception by Pittsburgh.  There was no review of the play prior to the Steelers' next snap.  Yet the INT magically disappeared from the box score.

They scrubbed it, plain and simple.

I've seen the play, but think about your theory for a minute. Have you ever heard of the NFL taking a play away after the fact? As a matter of fact I believe they are on record saying there is nothing that can be done after the fact. It is far more likely that my theory is the right one, that we just didn't get the benefit of seeing one of the other officials wave the call off (I didn't need to see your video link because I watched the game and know the play).

[Spider-Dan]

If you saw the play, then why are you talking about the TV announcers?  They have nothing to do with it.

If an official announces one result of a play on the PA system, then later changes that result without making another announcement on the PA system or initiating a review, how is that in any way different from surreptitiously scrubbing the result?

[Phishfan]

I'm talking about announcers because who else would say after the commercial break that the call had been overturned?

It is different because it is still part of the game. The NFL does not change calls after a game is over as you are theorizing.

[Spider-Dan]

I'm talking about announcers because who else would say after the commercial break that the call had been overturned?

It is different because it is still part of the game. The NFL does not change calls after a game is over as you are theorizing.

Oh really?

I know you "don't need to see the link because you watched the game and know the play" but I strongly suggest you check the video.  (Play-by-play recap from NFL.com.)

MIA has the ball on their own 33, 4th and 6.
4-6-MIA 33 (1:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-C.Henne pass incomplete short right to 23-R.Brown (97-J.Worilds).

Harrison "intercepts" the ball and is downed at the 32.
1-10-MIA 32 (1:26) 7-B.Roethlisberger kneels to MIA 33 for -1 yards.

If the pass was actually incomplete, why was the ball at the MIA 32 instead of the 33?

[Phishfan]

Fine. I'm tired of this. The NFL has a practice of changing game stats after the fact now. Fantasy gamers beware.

[Pappy13]

If the pass was actually incomplete, why was the ball at the MIA 32 instead of the 33?

Not that I care, but that's not really evidence.  Often the ball will change yard markers on a change of possession because of the way the box score is recorded.  It happened in the Minnesota game as well.  The Vikings went for it on 4th and 6 from the 27 and threw an incomplete pass.  Miami was then 1st and 10 from the 28.  The box score even mentions there was a change in yard line due to a change in possession.

4-6-MIA 27 (:38) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass incomplete short middle to 81-V.Shiancoe. WATCH HIGHLIGHT

1-10-MIA 28 (:33) Change in yard line due to change of possession. 7-C.Henne kneels to MIA 27 for -1 yards.

It happened again in the Packers game:

4-1-GB 27 (1:34) 23-R.Brown up the middle to GB 27 for no gain (26-C.Peprah). Yard marker changed due to change of possession. Miami challenged the first down ruling, and the play was Upheld. (Timeout #1 at 01:26.) WATCH HIGHLIGHT

1-10-GB 26 (1:26) 32-B.Jackson left end to GB 25 for -1 yards (70-K.Langford).

[Spider-Dan]

It's possible that it's pure coincidence that Harrison was downed at the 32 after an announced interception, but I'm skeptical.

[Tenshot13]

"The call" did cost us the game.  Not scoring a TD with those early turnovers cost us the game.  Having a 2 minute offense that couldn't do Jack at the end of the game cost us the game.  All of that stuff cost us the game.

[Spider-Dan]

So apparently this revisionism is nothing unusual.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/20717/fitzpatricks-legend-growing-in-buffalo

"Fitzpatrick, a career backup who has surfaced as a starter here or there in his six NFL seasons, posted a career afternoon in an overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens. His numbers actually got a tad better Wednesday.

An NFL statistical correction gave Fitzpatrick 8 more passing yards, nudging him that much closer to Peyton Manning for the league's best passer rating.

The play in question originally had been ruled a 17-yard loss on a completion to Roscoe Parrish. It was changed to a 9-yard loss because a review showed the ball had been batted."

[Phishfan]

I'm not sure what a batted ball does to add yardage. That has me for a loop. What also has me for a loop is I went to look at the play by play to see how they account for this, but I don't see any plays ruled as either a 17 yard loss or a 9 yard loss.

[Pappy13]

Oh man it just keeps on getting better and better.  Has everyone seen this?

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2010/10/ask-mike-can-you-guess-who-was-the-line-judge-on-sundays-crew.html

I'll just quote the part that is the most interesting to me.

"Now, here’s another officiating tidbit that should send you off the deep edge. Sunday’s line judge was Ron Marinucci, who is from New Jersey and, according to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, “immediately ran up to talk” to Steratore as he was in the replay booth. It was Tomlin who alerted Marinucci the lack of a clear fumble recovery “would potentially be an issue.” He mentioned this to Marinucci, who reminded Steratore of the rule that wound up costing the Dolphins dearly.

If Marinucci’s name sounds familiar, it should. He was in the same line judge capacity on Oct. 25, 2009 (nearly a year to the day earlier) working on referee John Parry’s crew, when Darren Sharper’s goal-line fumble on an interception return was ruled a Saints touchdown instead of a Dolphins touchback. The famous Sports Illustrated photo below clearly showed the ball dropping from Sharper’s grasp at least a full yard short of the goal line – Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Fasano combined to knock it out – but Marinucci (No. 107) was standing 3 yards beyond the goal line and well out of bounds as he made the improper call that went against the Dolphins.

That time, you’ll remember, video review didn’t even wipe out the Saints touchdown. The officials, lacking a conclusive angle that SI’s photographer somehow was able to get, let the TD stand, and the Saints went on to a 46-34 win en route to their first Super Bowl title."

Man, who pissed in Ron Marinucci's wheaties anyway?  Whomever it was needs to go apologize. LOL

[Pappy13]

WAIT it gets better!!!!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/504370-miami-dolphins-chad-hennes-final-pass-vs-steelers-ruled-interception?source=rss_teams_Miami_Dolphins

Even though video replay has showed that Harrison did not intercept Henne on that 4th down play, since on the field they ruled it an interception and it was never reviewed (even though it happened within 2 minutes of the end of the game, it doesn't have to be challenged to be reviewed), it goes as an INT.  So Harrison gets credit for an INT that never happened and Henne gets charged with an INT that never happened.

The NFL is now in the business of making shit up as they go.

[mecadonzilla]

Looks like that crew was having a banner day.