Officials fouled up 4th quarter call

This comes well after the fact, but wanted you to know that the NFL owned up today, admitting the Bucs should have retained possession on the disputed fourth quarter play against the Falcons that involved two separate penalties, a fumble and lots of confusion.

An NFL spokesman, after consulting with the officiating staff, told us the officiating crew made an incorrect ruling after S Sabby Piscitelli recovered a Roddy White fumble and attempted a forward lateral. The ball was awarded to the Falcons after a personal foul committed against Atlanta QB Matt Ryan was assessed to Bucs CB Elbert Mack. But according to league spokesman Randall Liu, the penalty actually occurred after the initial change of possession, meaning it should not have resulted in the Falcons being awarded possession.

The Bucs should have retained possession, even though they would have been subject to the 15-yard penalty for the personal foul. On the field, the officials ruled that Mack's personal foul was committed while the ball was loose, which wasn't the case.

As for Piscitelli's forward lateral, it was illegal, which means -- if I understand this correctly -- the ball would have been whistled dead and Atlanta would not have had a chance to recover it. The decision to give possession back to Atlanta had nothing to do with Piscitelli's pitch. It stemmed only from the incorrect ruling on the personal foul.

Even a day later, the whole episode seemed confusing for coach Jon Gruden.

"After that 15-minute delay, I just said, 'Whatever. Let's just go to the next play,' " Gruden said. "To make a long story short, it was exhausting down there."

Comments

[shane]

i guess the bucs are just cursed with the worst refs in the game. Last week it was a blown holding penalty that resulted in a touchdown run by reggie bush and this week it was a screwed up penalty call that cost the bucs a chance at putting the game away earlier but thats football and like they say _____(fill in the blank) happens

[Jay]

So an illegal forward pass is considered a dead ball penalty? That means they should have retained possession, right?

[Al Gore]

Even after reading that I still don't understand what happened, except Mack's stupid shot to the head on Ryan. I hope someone snatched his buns up for that penalty. dum, dum, dum, dum, DUMB!. Save the world, use one square of TP after a dookie drop.

[Drew]

This is hilarious... They should penalize NFL officials financially for every bad call they make. I think $10,000.00 for each bad call makes perfect sense. I'll guarantee you there won't be any bad calls made.

[Drew]

This is hilarious... They should penalize NFL officials financially for every bad call they make. I think $10,000.00 for each bad call makes perfect sense. I'll guarantee you there won't be any bad calls made.

[john galt]

It became an incomplete, illegal forward pass when the ball hit the ground - and therefore a dead ball. Which is what I said the moment it happened. Amazing that the neither the reporter, nor the officials, nor the announcers, nor the coach understood this.

[Stephen]

It doesnt matter anymore as we still won the game. The real question is when are we going to see this high powered offense. We played the worst team in the nfc if not the nfl and we failed to put up the points with the change at QB. Looked liked Garcia numbers and Griese left alot of open receivers on the field. A "w" is a "w" but remember we played a weak team.

[Valrico Rick]

Not to toot my own horn too much, but I was on that in a blog right here yesterday. As far as the Bucs cursed, I am thinking San Diego is probably looking for the ju ju man about now, 'cause they are what ya' call snake bit. Last play of the game against the Panthers, then that probably game changing bad call at the end of the game Sunday against the Broncoes. Then, what are the chances of Denver converting that 2 point conversion? I would say that is probably a 1 in 50 chance that a pass rifled between 3 defenders is caught on a do or die play. Always remember nothing is so bad that it can't get worse, just ask Norv Turner!

[michael]

Bad week for the refs. At least we didnt get scammed like san diego.

[George Bush]

Yeah! It would definitely suck to be San Diego right now. Shy Town here we come. Who the hell is Kyle Orton anyway? This game will be boring and close. I LOVE IT! Now we are back to BUC BALL. It's all about defense and running the ball. I don't know about you guys but I get psyched when the defense is on the field. These close games really build charachter for the team and it shows who wants it more. Our defense is ready. A couple of more weeks and we have Davin back. We will be solid.

[DV]

MACK DID NOTHING WRONG!!! Matt Ryan was playing defense, so how is it roughing the passer? Ay that point, Piscitelli was the passer and the ATL offense was playing defense. Mack did what he is coached to do, after a turnover, you find a man to hit so that your team has an opportunity to score. I don't remember him hitting Ryan head to head either.

[Carmine]

thank you DV.

The nfl may soon have to start making QB's wear pink jerseys, if they keep calliing b.s. plays like that illegal.

I've seen much worse huts on QB's then macks

Nice play rook, i'm sure the vets will help out with the fine, IF there is a fine. Which there should be if it were trully illegal.

[derek]

these reffs are making it really hard for a die hard nfl fan to watch these games. one wissle after another on plays that dont effect the play of the game. let them play. ex, deshawn jackson's td. he threw the ball down before the endzone. dumb play but he should get rewarded for scolling the cowboys D and the reffs shouldnt take that from them. if the eagles got that ball i would turn the tv off!!!

[DR]

Dv, I agree with it not being wrong, what Mack did according to man law, but NFL rules state otherwise. He should know better and why not go lay a hit on a bigger player? Is Mack scared to hit other guys who are more of a threat to make a play?

[Kurt]

Duh!!! Everyone in the room I was in knew that! These officials are nimwits and very bad at best! They were so confused it was funny. I need to get into that profession!

[DR]

I thought the ruling on the field was the fumble was recovered by the Falcons?
The Denver call didn't probably change the outcome, it DID! That call cost the Chargers the game.
Reward Desean Jackson for what? Being an idiot? Did you see that pass interference call? That was ridiculous!

[DR]

Mack's intent on that play was bad as well. You guys sit here and criticize the refs for making that call and I can guarantee you that if that happened to Griese, you all would be crying about how maliscious the other player was. Griese would probably be out for the season if he took that hit.
Piscatelli is at fault because he made a terrible play that allowed the officials to mess it up. If Piscatelli holds on to the ball like he's supposed to, than the refs can't screw things up.

[Matt]

Did the ref's also admit that Matt Ryan was 1.5 yards past the line of scrimmage on that passing play?

[IMISS_No47]

Remember when Sapp laid out Clifton Smith of the Packers. It was the same situation. After a turnover, you can lay a block (as long as it's legal) on anyone.

[CVal]

Sabby, a defensive player, lost the ball, intentionally or not. Why is it not a fumble instead of illegal forward pass? If you say it was a pass, where is his line of scrimmage? Lunacy.

[Larry]

It's really very simple......

....At least it didn't cost us the game like it did the Chargers. I'm also not too sure about the personal foul call. If a running back or wide receiver was de-cleated like that it wouldn't have been a big deal -- remember the clock cleaning Warren Sapp gave Chad Clifton of the Packers a few years ago?

If you're a QB on the field after a fumble or interception you're a potential defender and you'd better be paying attention. That being said the 'blockers' can't take cheap shots. It isn't practice, you can hit the guy.

[IMISS_No47]

Whoops, I meant Chad Clifton not Clifton Smith. Do'oh!

[Feesh]

I was screaming my head off about this call. It was an illegal forward pass, which means the ball is dead. How can this be missed?? These refs get paid to call games and miss a clear and obvious call. It's ridiculous!

[DR]

What is there not to understand that the NFL does the most in protecting the QB's? Warren Sapp's "block" was a cheap shot, but it was legal according to NFL rules.
You can barely hit the QB when he has the ball so why do you think the QB is elgible to be hit when he doesn't have the ball?
Mack made a senseless block on a player who was away from the ball. Watch the replay, it was obvious he was looking for the QB. Just stupid.

[bobbyd]

DR,
Once possession changes (interception or fumble), the QB is no longer a QB. They are a defender and are subject to being blocked just like any other defender. That's why any veteran QB on a turnover ducks and runs. Additionally, watch every other defense do the exact same thing on a turnover. It was legal, and it's a common practice.

[DR]

The forward pass was reviewed and stood. They were saying the rule is the QB's entire body has to be across the line of scrimmage for an illegal forward pass. The two announcers were pretty bad so i don't know if they are correct. I never heard that interpretation before.

[DR]

bobbyd, I'm not disagreeing that the QB should be hit, especially if he is going towards the play, but the NFL does anything and everything to protect the QB, even after a turnover.
I'm sure the referee made a judgement call by determining if Mack's block was necessary, and it wasn't. Mack picked Ryan out and he made a bone headed play.

[Lisa]

Well, DR, since the refs didn't even know the rules and completely screwed up the call, I would have to say that I don't trust their judgement in this case. Since he is now on defense and is no longer the quarterback, the question becomes if it was a wide receiver or a running back, would they have called that a penalty? If the answer is no, then it looks like it should have been called a clean hit. But beyond that, the fact that they gave the ball to Atlanta when it was, by rules, still a Buc ball, shows that the officials are completely incompetent. And it took then 15 minutes to make the wrong call.

Dr i agree with you i saw the play and mack did go to the head. Those were both bone head plays made by rookies who will know better next time. I think we all agree if Griese had taken that shot people would be complaining the other way.

[BILL H]

NOW ONLY IF THE NFL WOULD TURN OVER A GAME FOR NONE CALLS WE WOULD BE 2-0.....ONLY IF!

[BigBucFan]

Both refs from the San Diego & Tampa Bay games have been placed on Double Secret Probation until the end of the regular season. They may be inelligible for the playoffs, which means we have have even less experienced refs & more bad calls in the Post Season. Maybe it's time to Throw the Challenge Flags on Penalties. The sad thing was the Review of Matt Ryan crossing the line of scrimmage on his pass, and the Ref still got it wrong. Maybe Goodell needs to focus less on Player conduct & more on Officiating. Are the Refs are betting on the games? or is there outside influence on their decisions?

[Elliot]

NFL refs and weather forecasters. Must be great to always be wrong and never get canned

[Feesh]

The sad thing is that both of the referees for the SD and our game are high profile refs.

On the screwed up Sabby play, wasn't Matt Ryan also passed the line of scrimmage on that play? He clearly looked a yard (if not more) passed the line.

Then, he does it again on the play that was reviewed and they still don't get it right? I've never heard an interpretation that the entire body must be passed the line. I always though it was the ball.

I was thinking they were going to let Matt Ryan just throw the ball forward whenever he wanted to.

[john galt]

CVal

The defensive player deliberately threw the ball - he was trying to lateral. That is why it is not a fumble. The next question becomes 'Was this lateral legal?' It was not. He threw the ball forward.

[Al Gore]

I don't care whether Mack blocks Ryan, but when he hits him in the head, and draws a 15 yard penalty, it becomes stupid. This is not the first time he committed a stupid penalty.

[Matt]

I'm still bitter about that Colts game where the ref's gave them the on-side kick then when they missed the extra point called a D-Line lifting penaty.

The fix was in for that one.

[Sabby]

God, I'm an idiot...

[Duane]

I won't even mention the holding call on Ernest Graham's 7 yard TD run. When did blocking a guy who you fall down on when he goes down become holding.

[Steve]

I think this proves that Tony Boselli is a moron and should never call another football game again. He clearly had no idea about the rule ... but, really, he was just secretly pulling for the Falcons to win anyway because he wanted to see (former Jaguars d-coordinator) Mike Smith get a win.

But, that all said, at the end of the day ... Bucs win ... get it right next time and let's move on.

Thanks to the Times for digging up the truth on that call there.

[Al Gore]

Gruden needs to walk the plank teaching players his old Raider cheap shot game. Little mo will never be nothing but a little Adolf, heil Jonny!

[cbuc]

FYI - From the 2006 rule book (waiting on the new one, but don't think this has changed)

Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12(7):

"A passer who is standing still or fading backwards after the ball has left his hand is obviously out of the play and must not be unnecessarily contacted by the defense through the end of the play or until the passer becomes a blocker, or until he becomes a runner upon taking a lateral from a teammate or picking up a loose ball, or, in the event of a change of possession on the play, until the passer assumes a distinctly defensive position. An opponent may not unnecessarily initiate helmet-to-helmet contact to the quarterback at any time after the possession changes."

[soundoff]

I knew that when it occurred and I haven't played football in many years. I think the officiating this year is the among the WORST ever; and I've been watching the NFL for many years. The San Diego Chargers should file a lawsuit against the league. Somebody needs to get after the dictatorial league rule and get some competent, full-time officials.