The Super Bowl

[BFMF]

bear with my, cuz I really don't know what i'm talking about.....


But anway, with the touch down you're talking about with the steelers player on the ground and moving the ball accrossed the white line, it didn't make sense because later in the game, something happened with a seattle player and someone said over the TV that a play was over when their elbow touched the ground

Are they contradicting themselves, or is there something I don't know? It doesn't make sense to me....

[RichieB16]

Well, I think that is what a lot of people are thinking.

What I saw, was the Steelers QB (Ben Roethlisberger) get the ball in.  When he was first hit (I think he was partially jumping) I thought he got the football just far enough to where it touched the very edge of the goal line (in the air of course, the goal line extends upward as an imagionary barrier).  He was then pushed back and landed on the ground.  At that point, he pushed the ball across the goal line.  

The touchdown was scored when he was airborne, not when he pushed the ball across once on the ground.  The confusion was due to the late signal by the ref.  Originally, he signaled the runner was down at the goal line-then he ran up and signaled TD.

I wish I could find a photo, but I can't.  

[Craig.]

Hi Webb, that sucks. Whats really annoyed me about NFL Europe is the act they have moved the teams to mainland europe, no more scottish claymores.
As for the Big Ben touchdown, It is now apparent that the ref didn't change the call because there wasn't enough evidence too. Which is fair enough. But he could have said that while explaining it to the fans like most do. Which then puts the focus entirely on the line judge who did in fact signal down by contact at the 1 yard line. He ran with his right arm up for a good 3 yards then he raised both after he sw the ball was across the line, which was only because ben had put it there after the play. Doesn't this kind of ring bells of the St. Louis Tennessee game? last  play by the Titans being just short. Then the ball crossing the line.

[Ijineda]

I think this is the scene:



But I really prefer it when a TD looks like that:





And sorry for this guy...





PS: The second one still not showing, think theres a problem with the upload-system.

[Craig.]

The first should be .JPG
the rest need to be uploaded again I think.

[bbstackerf]

I'm a die hard Seattle fan, and I have to say Big Ben's TD was valid. From the replay the ball clearly broke the plane on the white line. And in any case, if they had called it a no-td, next play would have definitely been a touch down. The ball would have been spotted right on the line, and Bettis would have got in for the score.

As for Darrel Jackson's TD being callled back, that was total bs. The supposed "push off" was incidental contact.

Someone also mentioned that it seemed like Seattle had lost it's wind in the latter second half. I think it's more accurate to say they had given up by then realizing the game was pretty much unwinable under the afficiators calling as they were.

Think about it, Mike Holmgren is a professional. He's dealt with losing. For him to be so upset with how the game was handled as to refuse to shake the hand of the opposing coach must say something. Why were even the announcers compelled to say the call against Jackson was wrong? Furthermore, during the half they admitted Seattle was out playing Pitt all over the field.

Bottom line is though, when the game ended, the Steelers had more points on the board - regardless of how they got them - and they were the winners. Period.

It's just the nature of the game. As long as humans are involved in making calls on questionable plays there's going to be people second guessing them.

Congratulations the Steelers, you got away with this one.

[Craig.]

BB, in my opinion the issue is no longer if the TD was valid but how the sideline judge called it down at the half yard line, then called it a TD. Now the only thing that changed in the 2 seconds between him signaling down by contact and signaling the TD was Big Ben putting the ball over the line, which means the ref changed his call based on that and that is wrong. Had the call remained as first called then it wouldn't have been overturned lacking video evidence, as was the case with it being a TD. To say they would have gotten it on 4th down is subjective. A bad handoff, a fumble, dont forget it was Bettis' fumble which almost cost them the Indy game. Again it doesn't matter now but those are all what if's.
I know Holmgren shook Cowhers hand on the field, he just stormed off at first understandably angry. But he did go back and congratulate the Steelers according to the chin.
The Jackson TD I agree, and I think if thats going to be called, then you can wipe out half the TD's scored in the NFL this season. but again thats a 50/50 judgement call. I didn't like how the ref took his time to throw the flag. The call that was made on Hasselbeck, another bad call. Blocking below the waist? what was he supposed to do? ask him nicely to step out of bounds? The phantom holding calls costing the Seahawks a huge chunk of yardage. and ultimatly the calls costing them 14 points that would have given Seattle the win.
The interesting stat I have heard. Never before in the Super Bowl has a team dominated the stat sheet in all departments. Yards/ time of possesion/ turnovers/ penalties. And have gone on to lose. Some food for thought there.

[bbstackerf]

I guess my bottom line is nothing we say can change the fact the the Steelers were the winners. No one more so than I would like to argue the bad calls and say we were robbed, but the headlines already been printed, and all we Hawks fans are left with is the hope for next year. Anyway, we're all (Hawk fans) used to "next year".

There's no doubt these refs sucked. But has there ever been a fan of a losing team who didn't think they did?

Keni

[Craig.]

If they keep Alexander, then I am pretty sure they will be the favourates to head back there next season. In my opinion the only other team in the NFC that will be a real challenge will be Carolina again. The NFC overall is horribly weak. I would love to see Seattle and Oakland switch places. That would make the NFC west far more balanced, and the AFC west would without a doubt be the toughest division in football. Just the thought of that is kind of exciting, too bad it wouldn't happen. 3 of the toughest stadiums to play in, Denver, KC and Seattle all of which are sold out every home game. San Diego, not such the threatening stadium, but a powerful team.