Regarding the catch by Gaffney, one point I don't here people mentioning is that it probably wouldn't have worked in Baltimore's favor had it been reveresed. Unless I'm mistaken, thanks to Scott's mindless penalties, the ball would have been placed inside the Ravens' 5 yard line with a first down for the Pats. TD virtually guaranteed in that case, with even less time for the hail mary at the end. Just a thought.
------------------------------------------
Greg,
Point well taken.
-- Bill O.

One thought regarding the excessive penalties by the Ravens: When Rodney Harrison first became a Patriot he seemed to get called for everything, whether he was guilty or innocent. Our complaint was that the refs had it in for him, but we failed to understand that Harrison came to us with a reputation that gave the refs legitimate cause to specifically watch for him whenever an opposing receiver went down or missed a catch.

With the Ravens rep for let's say extremely aggressive defense as well as fighting with other teams, it's no wonder that the refs are looking at them more closely, and more willing to blow the whistle.

As far as the allegations that one of the refs was disrespecting or trash-talking one of the players, it wasn't visible to the MNF viewers, but should definitely be investigated because that behavior should never be tolerated by an impartial official.

I remember a game where an opposing receiver kept high-fiving the ref after a reception and I was a bit perturbed that was allowed. The refs have to at least give every appearance of being objective during the game.
------------------------------------
Excellent point.
-- Bill O.

"It was so close that the Monday Night Football announcers couldn't decide among themselves with absolute certainty how the review would go. Of course, it should be remembered that the determination to reverse the on-field call is supposed to be based on "indisputable" observable evidence so anything that is so close that there is that much debate among the broadcast crew is arguably not indisputable -- still, we've all seen reversals based on razor-thin differences."

I thought that the MNF trio's reluctance was more due to "the emperor with no clothes" phenomena. I am not anti-media and NOT a Ravens homer. I am often critical of the Ravens. But i think the media is often FRONT-RUNNERS. In the Gaffney catch, i think the MNF crew was reluctant to question a TD that would taint the record of "the greatest team of ETERNITY".
-------------------------------------------
I don't endorse that. I think if it were clearly a mised call, those guys would have said so.
-- Bill O.

the refs were not “picking” on the Ravens. They did pull the face masks, they did hold, and they did have unsportsmanlike conduct. Reveiw the tapes my dear Bill.
--------------------------------------------
I didn't say the refs were picking on the Ravens. The holding call looked legit, albeit guys get away with that one frequently. My beef is with the replay review but I have to admit with the Scott penalties, it wouldn't have mattered ... New England would have still scored. Nope, the fault lies with the Ravens.
-- Bill O.

Bill O: Let's assume for the sake of argument that every flag thrown on the Ravens last night was legit. A replay of the game, even just highlights, will show pushing, shoving, jawboning after every play. Holding could have been called against the Pats during every series. If Brady is sore today, his season may have been over without the holds of his line and the refs looking the other way. On special teams and the interception of Boller, blocks in the back by the Pats were evident and all over the replays.
Take a look. The refs favored the Pats not just in questionable calls, but in the "non-calls."
-----------------------------------------
I'm probably repeating myself but I was surprised that the Patriots were never whistled for roughing the passer.
-- Bill O.

Couple of points:

First I disagree with Greg's statement that a TD was "virtually guaranteed" if the Pats had the ball on the 5. We stopped them earlier in the game on first and goal from the 5 and have done that many times this year.

Secondly, nobody brings up the blatent block in the back against Bart Scott on Maroney's long catch and run that got the Pats down there in the first place.

Another penalty I don't understand is the "illegal contact" penalty on Samari Rolle that tacked on 5 yds to Brady's 13 yd scramble at the end. First of all, Moss steamrolled Rolle and it should've been Offensive Pass Interference. That withstanding, since when is illegal contact a "tack on" penalty? Shouldn't the Patriots had to either take the penalty or the result of the play?
------------------------------------------
Jeff,
When I don't know something, I admit it. I was surrpised by that as well. It must be the rule otherwise they wouldn't have calculated the yardage that way or, I hope, the Ravens would have put up an argument. The non-calls are another issue.
-- Bill O.

Disciplined teams win. Teams like the Ravens and Bengals lose. It starts and ends with the head coach.

Funny no one complained when Ed Reed face guarded Randy Moss on a long pass. He never looked back to the ball and had his hands in Moss's face. I always thought that was interference.

Greg, I guess you missed the Patriots' first drive, where they had the ball 1st and 1 on the Ravens' 3 (and then 1st and goal from the 1) and were forced to kick a field goal? Oh, my apologies. I forgot that we're talking about "destiny's children," the New England Patriots. So even if the refs hadn't (1) let a play run, watched Tom Brady get stuffed on 4th and 1, then signaled there was a timeout BEFORE that snap, giving the Patriots another chance, (2) made sure to call a false start when the Patriots FB is stuffed on the next 4th and 1 try, giving them another chance, and (3) given the Pats a first down on a 4th-down incompletion based on an at-best QUESTIONABLE hold (a call that could really be made against any team, any down, any play of any game, just about), they probably would have just scored anyway.

Thanks for clearing that up!

What is all this crying about? The Patriots were lucky....sure. But not playing smart football in crunch time (ok -- let's actually call it playing "STUPID" football in crunch time) is what lost this game. Keep up with the excuses if that's what makes you feel better, but the bottom line is --New England didn't lose their cool when it counted most -- that's why they're the team they are.

Marisa -
The zebras were impartial on that play. It was Rolle that initiated the encounter by insinuating that a former O-lineman didn't know the game. Even the officials have pride. It's pretty clear that Rolle had no idea after the game why he got the response he did.

Perhaps the zebra could have been a bit more diplomatic in telling the player to shaddup and play, but any time you start barking at an official, you run the risk of them barking back or throwing a flag.

A catch is control of the ball before going out of bounds. If the ball is still moving in the reciever's hands, it is not controlled. It was a terrable call and I am sure the announcers are told to take it easy on the officals. This is why so many are turned off by the NFL.

My condolences to Ravens fans on the outstanding but stupid performance of their beloved team. There had to be more than one Ravens fan who threw their remote into the TV last night; there were also some Patriots fans who did the same. It was a real nail biter, and a game that the Ravens should have won. I don't agree that the officiating was not one-sided; that references reeks of sour grapes after such a poor performance at the end of the game by the Ravens players who blew the game. By the way, great coverage of the game for the most part by your newspaper staff here; very balanced for the most part.
----------------------------------------------
John,
Thanks for the kind words. I think those Boston writers do an excellent job as well. It was one of those games where you could almost here that Rocky-Apollo Creed music where they're knocking each other silly and they use the ring bell as a musical instrument.
-- Bill O.

I watched the entire game, on the edge of my seat the entire time. I'm a huge Raven's fan, and I hated a lot of the calls. The whole time though, I couldn't help but think: If the Raven's had played half this intensely for just half of the games already played this season, we wouldn't have the record that we do.
-------------------------------------------
Shawn,
You are absolutely correct. Now, it was one of the first times that the defense has been mostly together and perhaps Jonathan Ogden is finally getting back to his Pro Bowl self and maybe Kyle Boller is finding himself. Let's see if they can stay this focused for the rest of the season.
-- Bill O.

The fix was in. Just waiting now till one of the refs get busted for gambling like in basketball.

Truly, the Ravens were the better team for 56 minutes, then the unraveling began. However, understand that for years, New England sports fans have lived with Buckner's ball between the legs, too many men on the ice, leaving the "best pitcher in baseball" when he was clearly over the pitch limit...and well, I could go on with countless others. And, all of these meltdowns occurred in much bigger and more important situations. Let's enjoy the pursuit of perfection. I guess, as the current New England sports team have learned, the team that prepares the best, wins.

I thought Neuheisel did a great job calling the offensive plays, he analyzed the weakness of the Patriot defense very well.

The Ravens penalties look worse simply because the Patriots got 3 chances from 4th down... the first two were 100% legit, the 3rd can be subjective in its own nature, but Watson was definetely held. Let's face it, the Ravens were tackling Randy Moss and the rest of the Patriots receivers all game, so ofcourse the refs are going to have their eyes out for it.

That is a very valid point on the Gaffney catch too. Those penalties would have helped the Patriots get into the endzone, and there should be no complaints about those penalties at all because those were pure stupidity.

Just because it didn't turn out beneficial to the Ravens, why is no one talking about Mason's assault on Randall Gay and Asante Samuel on that hailmary play? No flags? That was blatant.

Great game overall.

I believe it was Harrison who was over in front of Billick talking smack or taunting him, and Billick responded by making kisses at him. Billicks response showed what was absolutely lacking in Harrisons actions - class. Being from Pittsburgh I'm no Billick or Ravens fan whatsoever, but I thought that they played an amazing game last night. I agree with some earlier comments relating to the Patriots just being coronated by the NFL this year. I also wouldn't be surprised to see them skate away this week under similar circumstances...all so the NFL can set up THE game: the undefeated Patriots versus the winless Dolphins... the last team to go undefeated. Ratings and money, baby. Welcome to the NFL. At any rate, great job last night Ravens. (Probably will never say that again)

the last touchdown from the pats was lucky they got away with that one the ball was still bouncing in his hands and went out of bounce ravens was the best team last night they had an amazing defence and the last (hail)l mary was awsome he was just to tired to play on the day of the superbow it will be cowboys vs pats and cowboys will take it this time good job ravens keep it up luis was dominating out there

Good afternoon,

You know, I never knew that a man could have complete possession of a football when it is spinning on the fingertips of one hand and hardly touching his other hand, because he is trying to get it tucked into his arm. I don't think he would have needed to do that if he had complete control.

Truly Mr. Ordine(My mother raised me with manners) if I am wrong, please correct me. I did not know that Rex Ryan was allowed to call a timeout. I thought that only the head coach or one of the players on the field could call a timeout. If that were the case, all the referee had to do was look to the person he heard calling the timeout and see that it was Ryan and not Billick. The timeout would never have been granted and it would have been Ravens ball as Brady was stopped.

By the way Mr. Ordine(she might be watching me write this), did you notice all of the blows to the head of Kyle Boller on some of those replays that ESPN was showing during the game. Did you notice how many referees were right on top of the play, but with hands nowhere near their flags?

You don't like to listen to the conspiracy theories, but when things like this happen, it only fuels it.
---------------------------------------
Doug,
My compliments. I'm going to admit that I'm not absolutely sure who is empowered to call the timeout from the sideline. It could be that Rex yells first and makes the decision and Billick follows suit ... I just don't know, I'm stretching there. As far as the shots that Boller took. That same thing occurred to me. Now, I have to say that I think the refs sometimes go overboard in the roughing calls, although I also know that QBs get hurt with alarming frequency. But I thought it was close on some of those shots Boller took. Meanwhile, whenever the Ravens got near Brady, they would hold their hands up as soon as he got rid of the ball.
-- Bill O.

Perhaps the official did use "boy". Although I don't believe for one minute he was using in a derrogatory way if he did. More like after Rolle and Scott concintued to throw their immature little boy temper tamptrums, perhaps the ref said something like "stop acting like little boys" and get on with the game. Considering how the Ravens act like children on a regular basis, I'd say that a comment like that is NOT derrogatory, but more something Billick needs to be saying but can't because he's a kiss blowing immature little boy himself.

I noticed that on the Hail Mary there was no call for offensive pass interference when Asante Samuel was being tackled. What would have happened if the Raven managed to lateral the ball or break a tackle and get to the end zone. It's a non-issue because it didn't change the end of the game, but there were certainly things going both ways.

The Ravens sure took the Pats to task last night...until...The winners found a way to win and the losers found a way to lose.........Blame yourself you didn't run the clock and tossed it back to em for the final drive. Thirty yards in penalties in a few seconds. So Bush...So Ravens

The ravens need to quit complaining, they should never been in that situations if their knucklehead coaches didn't call the timeout? so is that the refs too? and holding, no matter if the ball is being thrown to you a hold is a hold. Ravens lost end of story, it's like the raven don't care about wins or loss or winning the superbowl but just winning the patriots... lol geeez

About the "so-called" catch. Let's just go out on a limb and speculate whenever Commentators speak on any issue with NEW ENGLAND they are looking through PATRIOTS eyes. So to suggest they couldn't even make the close call is hog wash. Let's take a moment to experiment. Everyone that feels that a football can be controlled by the TIPS of Your Fingers, (1) pick up a football with your fingertips. Oh shit that didnt work. (2) Now Hold the football with one hand and try and control the ball with your fingertips, releasing the other hand and then direct it into the free hand, with total control. It's worth the effort my friends but unfortunately total control is comprimised. NEW ENGLAND & the NFL REFS apparantly rules. Peace out.

Let me first say that I'm not a fan of the Patriots or the Ravens. I'm a fan of the NFL.

The Ravens played a great game for four quarters. The refs played a great game for 2 quarters. At a minimum, I saw 5 personal fouls that were blatant that went un-called against the Patriots. 2 tackles after the play at Boller's knees and 3 helmet to helmet hits on Boller after the pass. These are all 15 yard personal fouls and would have been called on the Ravens if they had committed them for sure. Also, the pass to the flat that set up a score by the Patriots was(aided) by a blatant block in the back on the linebacker that was in position to make the tackle. I could go on and on but I won't. I know the Refs are only human but the majority of the calls or "no calls" did go against the Ravens. At half time the Ravens had 6 or 7 penalties and the Patriots had NONE! I don't mind if the Patriots go 16-0 but the integrity of the game needs to be preserved. If not then we are no better than the WWF. The Ravens should have gotten the "W". The NFL lost some of their integrity to increase their ratings and profits. The NFL needs to get it right!

Do you think the penalties that eventually cost us the game were a lack of discipline or did the players actually have a case on some of them. Like the holding call on the last drive...
------------------------------------
Ben,
In my opinion, and that's all it is, the holding call was legit. Granted, guys do that all the time and do not get called but it was a penalty. My problem was the consistency. For a fair amount of the game, the refs were "letting them play." If they were going to call it that close, there are some hits on Boller all through the game that I'd like to scrutinize. Then, on fourth-and-the-game-on-the-line, the refs call that holding penalty.
All that said, the Ravens had a chance to control the game and did not.
-- Bill O.

Beyond the run of borderline calls, that never would have gone against NE if Bal. was on offense, it was the non calls throughout the game that really made the questionable calls at the end, unbearable.
13-4 disparity in penalties, including at least one false start? It should have been more like 11-7 in the penalty column and there would be a 1 in the Pats L column.
I know you saw the push offs by Moss on touchdowns he dropped. There was clearly holding on Barnes on several pass rushes including the one he got to Brady on while the lineman had him by the helmet.
In any football game, there are far too many plays to single out any one as the reason a team won or lost, but I truly got the feeling that they were only looking at one team with malice in the heart. I can see inside their hearts like Mike Carey.

The flag Bart threw was the only one that needed to be thrown in the last 2 minutes. If they had thrown them fairly throughout the game, the bad calls at the end would not have mattered.
The Ravens earned and deserved at least 9 of the penalties called, but the Pats got away with a lot more than the 4 that were called against them.
Bart at least got his point across for all of us. The Ravens did make enough bad mistakes to deserve to lose, but they did not deserve that. The Pats did not deserve to have the win tarnished by bad officiating, but it was. Permanently S stained by another classic screw job by the NFL. Take that Ravens, fans, Baltimore, Modell and Maryland Stadium Authority. Try not to puke, digest it, and let it burn in your stomach until you taste the sweet nectar of revenge, served ice cold of course the next time we meet.
-------------------------------
Jeremiah,
Wow, that's some colorful rant. I am impressed.
-- Bill O.

Bad Calls > YES!
Moronic Coaching > YES+ (calling TO on the Pats 4th down try)

I wish the patriots would lose one,then they will be very tough in the super bowl chase.Four out of six bowls is much better than an undefeated regular season.the press and every team gunning for them creates untold pressure.

It's amazing to see some fans being so clueless. At least you were decent enough not to bring up conspiracy theory directly (though some hint's there).

Case in point: Do any of you remember the Pats - Colts game not so long ago? Pats got penalized for 134 yards or so, a franchise record. Two interference calls were bogus (even TV commentators agreed and some predicted that Hobbs or Harrison would get an apology from NFL the next day). What did the Pats do? OK, sometimes some calls don't go your way, heck, sometime none of the calls go your way, but still they simply took care of the business and won in the hostile environment. NO EXCUSES MADE. No conspiracy theory EVER mentioned about the officials wanting the Colts to win. Against the Eagles, one Moss TD was nullified by a call the TV commentators again called bogus. What did Moss do, being a badboy he is? Nothing. He smiled and jogged back to the line for the next play.

Now, don't you see that compared to the Pats, the multi-millionaire "professionals" from Baltimore really are just a bunch of boys that whine profusely when things don't go their way. None of the calls last night was considered a bad call by experts, commentators. There were at most one or two inconclusive calls. And we all know what Ravens did after these "slight" to their huge ego (despite their 4-8 record).

As to that "boy" thing, the ref is black himself, is much older than the stupid Baltimore cornerback, was in the league for 7 years and a ref for 17 years, and this stupid cornerback told him "have you ever played in the league? do you know what's at stake here" before the ref said to him "shut up boy, and play". Now who's more offensive? The stupid cornerback even said something like "if he puts on a helmet, I don't think he wants to say it to me". That ref was an OT for 7 years in NFL, I'd really like to see him whack that ignorant cornerback ...

It's disgusting (yet disturbingly, expected) to see so many Baltimore fans so clueless about what exactly happened, but eagerly jumped in and blamed everything on ref. You guys behave just like your team.

Stop whining already. You'll get plenty of "boy" coming your way until you stop whining and behave like men!

One thing I noticed, on the fourth down play which Brady ran for twelve yards, was that the clock stopped(at least at the stadium). The clock stayed stopped until the Pats snapped the ball on the next play. This is not what caused the loss, but is another mistake of the officiating.

I used to be a Ravens Season Ticket Owner. Had great seats near great people. Every Sunday me and my oldest son would talk about all the games. I watched a lot of football. 5 years ago this week my oldest son passed away while serving in the Air Force. I still went to football games and watched football the next year, but started really watching the games and the officiating. The next year I sold my tickets and don't watch football anymore. I complained about the officating when I was watching. When the refs went on strike for more money (to work one day a week) I said give it to them, but also instititue penalties for blown calls. If a bad call upon Monday morning review ended up changing the outcome of the game, the ref involved should lose the salary for the game. If the calls were bad, a level of fines based on how bad. I believe we should have professional, full time referees in football. They should train like players, Monday mornings review tapes for their own mistakes. Tuesday review other games. Go over the rules. Give them Thursday and Friday off and they travel on Sat.

Is there a conspiracy by the NFL to determine who will finish on top? Probably not, but possible. Are there refs that may be gambling on games? Its happened before so it would be foolish to believe that it doesn't happen now. Are there dishonest refs? well, are there are dishonest cops, firemen, doctors, lawyers politicians, teachers, business men and women? YES YES YES.

I don't watch football because the refs (stink). Count the number of missed calls and bad calls in games over one weekend and you will see how bad they really (stink). If other professions made the same amount mistakes they would be fired. We keep hearing that the plaeyrs should be professional. Players who for the most part are in their early twenties. But we don't expect adult men over 40 to be professional as well?

---------------------------------------------
Cliff,
Thanks for you contribution and for taking the time to read and write to us.
Best regards,
Bill O.

The Pats lost the game everyone knows. I wonder if the NFL can reverse the call. And let the ravens win.
-------------------------------------
Umm, no, don't think so. It's like those contest disclaimers, the decision of the judges is final ... that is unless its Baltimore playing Cleveland but I won't go there.
-- Bill O.

Ok, I'm confused. As a lifelong Pats fan, I am trying to keep up... the league wants them to go undefeated this week? Because in the Indy game the refs blew no less than 8 calls in favor of the Colts (seriously Raven fans, you should see that tape and tell me YOU got jobbed) and everyone said the league wanted the Pats to lose. So help me out here. Kornheiser goes on and on at the beginning of the game about how Belichick is Satan and the rest of the game they (w/Shula) openly root for the Ravens, yet the Pats are the ones whom everyone wants to win?? Someone posted a message saying that ESPN are frontrunners and wanted the Pats to win?? Are you serious? They were OPENLY ROOTING for the Ravens! Which I am fine with, frankly, but please don't tell me the league wants them to win. They have been villified, many times in very personal ways, from pillar to post all season long. Finally, no one has yet been able to definitively say those calls were actually wrong. They just didn't like them, but they were right. Thanks.
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Tom,
I only offer this shed some light on the league-wants-the-Patriots-to-win rationale. The Pats' last game is against the Giants on NFL Network. The conspiracy advocates argue that in order to help the NFL Network build support in its campaign to get the network broader coverage on cable that the more interesting the games, the better. I don't agree with all that ... but there it is.
-- Bill O.

Posted by: Shawn | December 4, 2007 1:13 PM

The fix was in. Just waiting now till one of the refs get busted for gambling like in basketball.

Umm, the spread was about 20 points. Are you saying they don't bet any better than they referee?

Posted by: Anne | December 4, 2007 2:08 PM

I noticed that on the Hail Mary there was no call for offensive pass interference when Asante Samuel was being tackled. What would have happened if the Raven managed to lateral the ball or break a tackle and get to the end zone.

A late flag would have appeared.

To be honest, and I sure no Baltimore fan wants to hear this, I am not sure that the Watson/Lewis play in the endzone on that first drive wasn't a catch. Once Watson had possession in the endzone it was a TD even if Lewis knocks it away, correct? So, do you want to trade calls and TD's? OK; same outcome.
-------------------------------------------
Not to be argumentative but Watson never put the ball away to establish possession.
-- Bill O.

this game was bad for football in general.

Any consipracy theories just show how weak the fans really are.

If they are false, it makes the fans look like fools. If they are true, well the NFL is a joke.

Either way the NFL is looking pretty silly these days. Worse than the NBA which I didn't think possible!!!!

On one of Tom Brady's last Sacks, while still on the ground, he picked up the football and spiked it in front of a National audience. He didn't get a "delay of game" penalty, just as Randy Moss gets away with shoving defenders and running over them game after game. Maybe Peyton Manning and other "Stars" get some breaks as well. Maybe that's just the NFL. We had bad calls and "No-calls" on both sides of this game and the NFL is tarnished. If you aren't calling the penalties for 58 minutes of the game, don't start whipping out the flags for the last 2. Let the players finish the game. Conspiracy, NO, poor job by officials... absolutely!

I guess I'm more surprised by the after game comments from Rolle and Scott.

Samari Rolle is quoted in your paper as saying he asked McKinley "Man, have you played before? You know what's at stake here?"

Ok, here's the answer. Phil McKinley was born July 8, 1954 in Oakland, went to UCLA, and played seventy-seven games in parts of seven seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Rams and Bears. He also spent time in the USFL. It's reasonably clear to me that he a) had played before, and that he probably b) understood what was at stake when an 11-0 team was playing a 4-7 team.

Rolle also reportedly said "If he put on a helmet, he wouldn't say that to me.", implying that McKinley wouldn't say anything that would displease Rolle if he were able to retaliate with force.

I'm not 100% sure but I think threatening to physically harm an NFL official who said something you didn't like isn't the way to avoid the attention of other officials, and not in a positive way.

I have no idea how well McKinley, at 6'-4", would handle himself in a physical confrontation with Rolle, at 6'-0" because McKinley is 53 years old. Now granted, he's got to be in reasonably good physical condition to run with the NFL as an official, but even though Rolle is shorter, he's also 23 years younger.

However, I have to wonder about the mentality Rolle is expressing here. Is it truly the measure of whether you're right that you can physically beat up another man?

I have to admit, though, that I was very impressed by the Ravens effort last night, even though it was clouded for me by more posturing, posing and strutting that you'd see at a fashion show with supermodels.

Damn shame that stuff has to ruin a really good game.
-----------------------------------------------
Ken,
Thanks for writing and I'm not here to take issue with your point of view. But since you mentioned the head lineman's name several times, I wanted to clatify the spelling, it's Phil McKinnely. I'm not being smarmy, it's an unusual spelling and I just didn't want others to pick it up incorrectly. And if they wanted to look him up and learn about his background as you did, I just wanted to make sure we had that right. Thanks for reading and your contribution.
-- Bill O.

I've read a lot today about the game, and watched the game over today. Here's my two cents;

I think the fans frustration with the calls is intensified by the amount of no calls. Boller took a beating without any calls. Any team, at any time, in any game can be called for holding or illegal contact - it just happens that it wasn't called much throughout the game. Yes, there was no call on the Mason tackle on the hail mary play, but if the completion would have changed the outcome of the game, the flag would have came. I'm noticing (and not just at the ravens games so don't grill me) flags come later and later each season. Any call is a bad call when you're on the losing end of it.

The TD catch to put the pats ahead, if the call on the field would have been incomplete, there wouldn't have been enough to overturn that call. It could have gone either way. conspiracy, I doubt it, but I personally think it was a bad call.

In the end, we lost the game for ourselves, with the reed fumble, the boller interception, and bart's added 30 yards on the play. If we don't get those 30 yards tacked on, Figures was having good returns all night, Boller would have had a better shot to get us in field goal range. If Reed didn't fumble we get at least 3 points (which is the difference in the game), and if boller doesn't toss that INT, who knows.

I'm a huge ravens fan, love them to death. They played their hearts out, with more passion than I've seen all year. Was the officiating poor, yeah but we left opportunities on the field that could have decided the game in spite of all that.
-------------------------------------------
Pete,
I think you echoed what I've been saying all day on the computer and to everyone I've talked to on the phone. One thing about a day like this, it gets the thing out of your system.
-- Bill O.

What a bunch of whining losers.

Excuse me. Review or not, the Browns' kick was good. I realize wins are rare in Charm City, but do you need wins SO badly that you will take them even if wrong? Probably.

Not one of the calls in the Pats game was wrong. Cry into your white towels and wait for the day your resident genius, Mr. Billick gets fired.

Peter King does an excellent job of explaining four of the penalties that were called in the fourth quarter, found at this link:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/12/04/mmqbte/index.html

Specifically regarding the issue of who is allowed to call a time-out according to the NFL rules: "Only the head coach is supposed to be able to call time on the sidelines. But in this case, the league has interpreted the rule on a last-millisecond timeout call that the side official cannot be responsible for seeing whether it's the head coach or another coach who calls time. So it's technically legal for Ryan to have called the timeout, and the league's point is the head coach is responsible for controlling his bench."

Hope this helps a bit.
-------------------------------
Thanks. It does.
-- Bill O.

Bill,

You're correct, of course, the referee's name is McKinnley, with two n's. No offense taken at the correction, because that sort of error on my part really cracks my valve, I try to be more precise.

I have no idea what the NFL is going to do today, or this week or next month, regarding the allegations by Rolle, Scott and a few others. If McKinnley was jawing and carping at the Raven players all night long there's certainly something to talk about here, and it should be discussed, and adressed completely openly by the league.

My problem with the Raven players has and always will be their reaction to positive plays. I lost count last night how often McGahee would rip off some excellent run, and then get up and put on some sort of pose for the crowd. This same sort of thing was echoed by the defense as well, although it was pretty funny to watch Ed Reed fumble the ball away. Have I missed something or aren't those the sorts of things the hot-dogging grandstanders are getting paid for?

I wonder, I really do, if that sort of behavior isn't so ingrained in these players that they don't jump up and do a dance every morning ... ?

Maybe I'm too old to appreciate it. 52 ain't over the hill, is it?
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Ken,
Absoultely not. I think Vinny Testaverde might actually be right behind you. But, yeah, it gets a little tiresome. The league has done a lot to curtail that business and in a way, I think they've gone overboard. I think exhuberance can be an entertaining part of the game. I think T.O. can be a stitch sometimes. But the constant posing is embarrassing I agree.
-- Bill O.

Somone kiss Billick please. Then when you are done kiss the butt of Tom Brady. What a bunch of losers down in Raven land.

Don't any of you conspiracy buffs out there think that the ABSOLUTE LAST team Roger Goodell and the NFL want to win it all is the Patriots? Wouldn't that be the biggest slap in the league's face if the "convicted cheaters" went undefeated and won the Super Bowl? To say that the league is "orchestrating" or "fixing," or whatever you want to call it, the Pats' run through the league, is patently ridiculous. Granted, I'm a Pats fan, but there have been five games this year where we've been the more heavily penalized team in terms of number of penalties, and seven games in which we've been more penalized in terms of yards in penalties. So that's about half our games so far. The commenter who brought up the Indy-Pats game was right- we got called for 10 flags for 146 yards vs. 4 calls and 25 yards for the Colts. If you were inclined to look for conspiracy theories regarding who the NFL "wants" to win (and I'm not so inclined), you could start with the Colts. The league changed an entire rule (illegal contact downfield) for them! Jim Nantz and Phil Simms get a lot of Pats games and they openly root against the Pats, just as Tony and Jaws and Shula were openly rooting against them last night. So to say that everybody is rooting for the Pats is also false. They're the most despised team in the league since the old Raiders. We're everybody's Super Bowl now, and when teams can't beat us, they, and their fans, are understandably upset. But to lay a total lack of focus, composure and execution at the feet of the league and its officials is sour grapes at best and completely irresponsible and immature at worst.

My main problem with the officiating was not the holding call or the penalties on Bart Scott. They both seemed legit.
However, the timeout bothers me. In the NFL rulebook only the Head Coach or a player on the field can call a timeout. Since Rex Ryan is neither, it shouldn't have been honored.
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Jeff,
I've been hunting all over the Internet and probably found the same answer that you did .... any player on the field or the head coach. Billick may have joined in calling the time out with Rex. If the coach had been a little more clear in his post-game comments we wouldn't be wondering about this. But another reader relayed an explanation from Peter King that the side judge is not responsible for figuring out who's calling the time out behind him and that the head coach has responsibility for controlling his bench.

-- Bill O.

First the Ed Reed call was not pass interference.

EVERYONE SAW THE GAME
I'm a Packers fan but RAVEN should of won

Patriot fans thank the refs
Plus patriots should have had to forfeit the game they cheated on.

Pats, thank the refs they saved you in my heart or 11-1

I've read every comment posted where i agree with most of the voices of reason that say that the Ravens self destructed in the last minute of the game. You cant help but notice that the Patriots out coached the Ravens in the last minute with help from the refs. Its really not complaining the Ravens where cheated thats it. If you dont think so, then tell me when this season the Patriots have had a game changing call, called against them. Oh thats right they havent. If you are truly football fans than you should care about the integrity of the game. What exactly are we watching football or professional wrestling. The perfect season for the Dolphins was truly perfect and we wont see another one ever. They dominated teams on both sides of the ball. Be realistic they (refs) look out for the Patriots they did it against the Eagles and the Ravens. But you know whats the worst thing of it all noone really cares. Who cares if the refs cheat as long as the team i bet on or like better wins. Thats whats wrong with all sports the athletes have belittled themselves and except bogus wins. No intergrity

oh and bye the way to the pats fan that says you have been most penalized please in a game where there is a blowout. Penalties carry no relevance. The outcome is inevitable the league i think is in jeporday of losing alot of fans I WONT CONTINUE TO WATCH PREDETERMINED OUTCOMES.Or covering point spreads.Be realistic dont you want to see the best team on that day win not just the best team.Thats what makes the cinderalla teams so intriguing. Lets get back to playing the game the right way and we will see who has the best team and not the best story...

Bill,
As a fan of the game, I find it hard to understand the constant complaining on this blog. I mean, conspiricy? Non calls? The Ravens are a joke, with over-rated and over the hill players. You are a homer who gives life to these losers who blog here. I have to admit, for a football writer who writes for the Sun, you don't know the rules or even make an effort to report the rules? Come on, it's only a matter of time before your editor puts you on the girls JV field hockey beat! At least real newspaper writers in Boston, NY or Chicago check facts before writing.
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You mentioned that you're a fan of football ... and not of a particular team. Do I take it that you come at this from a non-partisan point of view? You didn't make that clear. Just curious. Anyway if you're suggesting I endorse a conspiracy theory, you weren't reading carfully. I do not. And if you haven't noted that I believe the Ravens are resonsible for their loss, again you weren't reading carefully. Do I think there were some call that could have been made? Yep. Probably true in every game. And as far as not knowing a factoid, I subscribe to being honest in saying ... I don't know but I'll try to find out. I applaud reporters anywhere who research diligently. And finally, are you suggesting there's something demeaning about high school athletics?
-- Bill O.

After sitting thru both games decided by refs and the continuing usage of non reviewable plays to decide a game, I have come to the conclusion that while refs are human they are not humane. Putting this team out of it's misery should have been the proper thing to do. End the game before it starts. The plays and players don't matter. Getting the call right is an admirable accomplishment. All plays should be reviewable. Starting with the call in the first game in Cinncinnati at the end of the game. My suggestion for Sunday night is tha t all fans attending the game should rummage thru their sock drawer and find an old pair of yellow socks, tie them in a knot and when they get to the game toss it on the field to signify the non reviewable call of a poorly officiated game. 72000 fans can't be wrong but obviously a standard issue NFL officiating crew can.

Bill,you heard it here first,if the Pats don't lose a regular season game,the Jags beat them at Foxboro in the conference semi-final.Yes.the Jags! anonymous,dec.04@4:06pm is anonymous no longer.Plus,the Ravens must show against Colts or they won't be able to look in the mirror this summer.
cabiho

I don’t believe the NFL conspires to rig games.

However, I do believe there are years certain teams make great stories. As the season progresses, and these teams receive more and more press, the referees scrutinize close games between the “storied” team and their opponents. The results of this intense scrutiny are controversial calls that take away from the game.

In 2005 the Colts were the team making great stories. They went 12 -14 games without a loss and I believe Peyton Manning was setting touchdown records. The Steelers had to overcome horrendous officiating in Indianapolis to beat the Colts in the Championship game. The Steelers became the story and Seattle suffered the worst officiating I can remember in the SuperBowl.

This year it’s the Patriots. Every close game is so scrutinized by the officials athletes aren’t allowed to play the game with the give and take normally afforded. Since the NFL is geared toward offense the defense bears the brunt of debatable calls.

While the Ravens weren’t the victims of a conspiracy they were the victims of a bias towards over officiating this year's “story”. However, they made enough mistakes, to lose the game on their own.

Hopefully, the NFL will take note of the controversy and force officials to let the athletes play.
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Steve,
Thanks for the thoughtful contribution.
-- Bill O.