Super Bowl XL?

[CATLAX MAN]

The balls definitely crossed while he was in the air, but he has to be on the ground for the TD to count.

Not true. The ball has to break the plane of the goal line, whether you're on the ground or not. Once it is done, it is a TD and the play is over.

[Danny Hogan]

the officiating sucked. the holding calls were bad. big ben did get into the endzone. the offensive interference was a terrible call. the illegal block/tackle was inexplicable.

both teams for the most part looked like crap. hard to pick an mvp.

[James Foote]

the officiating sucked. the holding calls were bad. big ben did get into the endzone. the offensive interference was a terrible call. the illegal block/tackle was inexplicable.

both teams for the most part looked like crap. hard to pick an mvp.

Totally agree. Ben crossed the goaline (hard to overturn because the camera angle was past the goal line, not even with it) and the offensive pass interference was ridiculous. I guess these refs never officiated for a Giants game with Burress. The illegal block was ridiculous. It kinda seemed like they wanted Pittsburgh to win. Overall, not a great game.

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

i dont think the offensive pass interference was not that bad of a call. you could see the steeler hop backwards a little after being pushed. his feet left the ground and went backwards. otherwise he might have had a chance to get to the play as well. but i completely agree with the block. that was bogus.

[Sonny]

Very uninspiring game (& commercials) last night. I don't see how anyone (including the line judge) could determine if Ben crossed the goal line with the ball on that play. The SuperBowl MVP trophy shouldn't have been given out.

[laxfan25]

Interesting bit of trivia - one of the officials on the Super Bowl also officiated the NCAA Div 1 Lacrosse Championship game two years ago.
I'm not completely sure, but I believe he was the one who called the offensive pass interference call...

[James Foote]

Very uninspiring game (& commercials) last night. I don't see how anyone (including the line judge) could determine if Ben crossed the goal line with the ball on that play. The SuperBowl MVP trophy shouldn't have been given out.

This morning on Cold Pizza's 1st and 10, Woody Paige said it best. Hines Ward wins the MVP by default. Big Ben had the lowest passer rating by a winning QB in the Super Bowl w/ no TDs and 2 picks, Willie Parker had 1 play worth mentioning, Bettis had 43 yards and was more of a presence on the sideline. Thinking back, I can't think of anyone else aside from Ward that caught a pass (I'm sure someone did).

The more interesting question is... What happend to Montana and Bradshaw? Rumor is Montana wanted $100,000 for the appearance (other MVPs received $1,000, free airfare and lodging). I've also heard that he didn't want to miss 'his kid's basketball game.' Bradshaw said money was an issue and he wanted to watch the game with his family. That's the more shocking 'response' considering Pittsburgh was playing in the game.

My thoughts on the game... Michael Irvin won't get into the Hall of Fame with a tie knot bigger than all 5 of Dallas' and Pittsburgh's rings put together.

[Sonny]

Interesting bit of trivia - one of the officials on the Super Bowl also officiated the NCAA Div 1 Lacrosse Championship game two years ago.
I'm not completely sure, but I believe he was the one who called the offensive pass interference call...

Bob Waggoner?

Officials
Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
Line Judge: Mark Perlman (9)
Field Judge: Steve Zimmer (33)
Umpire: Garth DeFelice (53)
Side Judge: Tom Hill (97)
Head Linesman: Mark Hittner (28)
Back Judge: Bob Waggoner (25)
Replay Official: Bob Boylston ()
Video Operator: David Coleman ()

http://www.superbowl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20060205_SEA@PIT

[CATLAX MAN]

The more interesting question is... What happend to Montana and Bradshaw? Rumor is Montana wanted $100,000 for the appearance (other MVPs received $1,000, free airfare and lodging). I've also heard that he didn't want to miss 'his kid's basketball game.' Bradshaw said money was an issue and he wanted to watch the game with his family. That's the more shocking 'response' considering Pittsburgh was playing in the game.

Wouldn't you want to be compensated handsomely for having to spend the weekend in Detroit? Montana has better things to do.

Bradshaw has had a strained relationship with the Pittsburgh organization for a number of years since his retirement, but I don't remember the reason for this. It has only recently become less strained.

[James Foote]

The more interesting question is... What happend to Montana and Bradshaw? Rumor is Montana wanted $100,000 for the appearance (other MVPs received $1,000, free airfare and lodging). I've also heard that he didn't want to miss 'his kid's basketball game.' Bradshaw said money was an issue and he wanted to watch the game with his family. That's the more shocking 'response' considering Pittsburgh was playing in the game.

Wouldn't you want to be compensated handsomely for having to spend the weekend in Detroit? Montana has better things to do.

Bradshaw has had a strained relationship with the Pittsburgh organization for a number of years since his retirement, but I don't remember the reason for this. It has only recently become less strained.

It'd be nice to be 'compensated handsomely', but I think you owe it to the fans and the league that made your name a household one to appear. Jerry Rice made time after all. Plus they got 2 tickets to the game. It's just another example of how $$ has 'tarnished' pro sports. You know guys like Gary Gait would come to the NLL Championship (if not involved with the game like now) for a couple free tickets to be recognized as one of the greatest players of all time. I mean, $100,000 just to be at the Super Bowl? Come on Joe.

I know Bradshaw and Pittsburgh don't get along too well, but come on. These are two guys that are heavilly respected for their accomplishments on the field. This isn't helping their reputation or Fox's pregame show.

[CATLAX MAN]

It'd be nice to be 'compensated handsomely', but I think you owe it to the fans and the league that made your name a household one to appear. Jerry Rice made time after all. Plus they got 2 tickets to the game. It's just another example of how $$ has 'tarnished' pro sports. You know guys like Gary Gait would come to the NLL Championship (if not involved with the game like now) for a couple free tickets to be recognized as one of the greatest players of all time. I mean, $100,000 just to be at the Super Bowl? Come on Joe.

I know Bradshaw and Pittsburgh don't get along too well, but come on. These are two guys that are heavilly respected for their accomplishments on the field. This isn't helping their reputation or Fox's pregame show.

Montana doesn't "owe anything to the fans or the league" at all and if he chooses to stay at home to attend his kid's games, then I don't understand why he should be criticized for putting his family first. He doesn't have a need to have his ego stroked by going to Detroit so he can wave at the fans for 5 seconds. I suspect that he asked for considerable compensation, knowing that he was going to be turned down, as a way of not attending. It's a personal choice, not a requirement.

[laxfan25]

Interesting bit of trivia - one of the officials on the Super Bowl also officiated the NCAA Div 1 Lacrosse Championship game two years ago.
I'm not completely sure, but I believe he was the one who called the offensive pass interference call...

Bob Waggoner?

Officials
Referee: Bill Leavy (127)
Line Judge: Mark Perlman (9)
Field Judge: Steve Zimmer (33)
Umpire: Garth DeFelice (53)
Side Judge: Tom Hill (97)
Head Linesman: Mark Hittner (28)
Back Judge: Bob Waggoner (25)
Replay Official: Bob Boylston ()
Video Operator: David Coleman ()

http://www.superbowl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20060205_SEA@PIT

That would be the man, my DAA. Sounds like the ref crew is taking a bit of heat for yesterday's game.

[Sonny]

That would be the man, my DAA. Sounds like the ref crew is taking a bit of heat for yesterday's game.

So, as back judge, he would have been the one to call the offensive pass interference on the Seahawks that deleted a Seattle TD, correct?

[Kyle Berggren]

I can't buy that. Officiating was not the reason why Seattle lost. There were some bad calls, but none that affected the outcome of the game. The called back touchdown was not a bad call. He clearly pushed off to gain separation. Unfortunately it happened right in front of an official. Receivers get away with that a lot, but not this time.

The reason they lost was because of crucial mistakes and clock mismangement, not the officiating.

I wasn't going to say anything but lets recap... Phantom hold negates 1st and goal from the 1... Interception next, then add 15 yards for an illegal block by #8.... Trick play, TD. Well, lets see... Pretty big swing as far as I see. Could have been 17-14 or 13-14... Bottom line is without that holding call, Pit doesn't get the ball at midfield, and they don't run that play with their backs to the goal line... or if they're losing 17-14 after the kick off.

...and yes I'm assuming the best redzone offense scores with 1st and goal from the 1. Stevens could drop 2 balls and they'd still get it in the endzone.

...but I guess the officiating didn't affect the outcome of the game... Wait, that was only 2 minutes of game time!

[tamu33]

Yes it was Wagonner with the pass interference call that negated a Seattle TD.

As for the MVP, I believe that Cowher was trying to let Bettis earn the MVP by playing him so much in the second half. Heck they even tried running Bettis to the outside. In my opinion, Bettis shouldn't run outside the guards (just up the middle). Willie Parker could have "earned" the MVP if they would have used him a bit more. Ward certainly had the best stats, but at the end of the game... I don't think anyone convincingly stood out. Ward had just as many drops as receptions (only Stevens dropped more).

Bettis - 14 att. 43 yds
Parker - 10 att. 93 yds, 1 rec. 1 yd, TD
Ward - 1 att. 18 yds, 5 rec. 123, TD
Ben - 7 att. 25 yds, 9/21 123 yds, 2 int, TD


Interesting note... Darrell Jackson tied a SB record with 5 rec in the first quarter but he did not catch another ball the rest of the game.