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Community => Non-audio hobbies and interests => Spectator Sports => Topic started by: geowak on 21 Jan 2013, 05:23 pm
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With the refs calling of the games skeptical. The high stakes money and gambling mixed into pro football and other unusual things going on, is it naive to think pro football games are played fair and square?
Your thoughts?
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I've never even heard of anyone suggesting such a thing.
I would have to say no.
The half time shows, well, that's another matter...
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Run by, reffed by, managed by, coached by, and played by humans. Fixed? No. Flawed? Yes.
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Not sure if anyone recalls but the Ravens got two calls which I clearly thought were WRONG! Both on third downs at Denver. Boldin caught a ball and it clearly showed on replay his hand was on top of ball and bottom of ball was on ground which equals no catch. Even on replay they called it a catch. I was SHOCKED :o
Next third down play Baltimore gets bailed out on a phantom pass interference call on Denvers DB Champ Bailey. THis is not as shocking as Boldin catch since no referee replay. But for fans watching replay on TV it was a awful call.
If not for two blown calls, Ravens punt and prob do not win. So although I do not think the games are fixed , I sure as hell scratch my head when I see blown calls that can actually decide the outcome of a close game.
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Berto,I lost 25 cents,thats right,a quarter on that call you described where part of the ball touched the ground.You called it right,the refs called it wrong.I'm a life long Pats fan,living in Portland,Me.,but the Pats defense sucked,I don't recall a sack on the QB,but when Brady had the ball with 4th and 4 late in the game,had 2 yards to run for a first down and new life,he threw the ball away and the game.Even a nice looking gal sitting next to me said (the pretty boy sucks,and called him a wuss).One other thing was the helmet hit on Ridley that left him almost in a coma,and he fumbled away cause the lights were out?,where was the flag?Berto you should be sitting there with Ditka,Bradshaw,Howie,and Jimmy J.,I like your perspective....Mark Korda
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Berto,I lost 25 cents,thats right,a quarter on that call you described where part of the ball touched the ground.You called it right,the refs called it wrong.I'm a life long Pats fan,living in Portland,Me.,but the Pats defense sucked,I don't recall a sack on the QB,but when Brady had the ball with 4th and 4 late in the game,had 2 yards to run for a first down and new life,he threw the ball away and the game.Even a nice looking gal sitting next to me said (the pretty boy sucks,and called him a wuss).One other thing was the helmet hit on Ridley that left him almost in a coma,and he fumbled away cause the lights were out?,where was the flag?Berto you should be sitting there with Ditka,Bradshaw,Howie,and Jimmy J.,I like your perspective....Mark Korda
No penalty call on the Ridley hit because he ducked his head down into the tackler's helmet. It was on his initiative that there was a helmet to helmet hit. Unfortunately, these running backs are trained to drop their heads and ram tacklers with their helmets. Somebody soon will get a broken neck by doing that. On the other hand, I didn't think it should have been called a fumble since it sure looked like he was sitting on his rear when the ball came loose.
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One interesting point is HiDef TV..
Used to be with regular TV no one could actually see many of the fouls as they happened.
Now, we can all see them!!
Plus others which do not get called. Especially holding..
Maybe they need to have some ref watching the game on TV?? and connected via link to a Ref on the field to toss the flag?
And no. the idea the Superbowl is rigged is laughable..
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The only thing fixed is the vacant stares of 100+ million people glued to their TV sets. :icon_lol:
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No, Superbowl is not rigged but NBA is...
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no, it's still broken...
doug s.
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As part of my job, I was once deposed by a prominent attorney based in Phoenix, AZ. During lunch, he told me that he was also a NFL Referee when the League was in play. We had a fascinating discussion.
When asked, he explained that many Refs are attorneys (because they are good at remembering rules). The most fascinating part was when I asked him about the Playoffs and the SB. He explained that the NFL reviews every single play. He explained that Refs receive points, or deductions, based on their calls, or the lack thereof. Very much like the Teams themselves, only the highest rated Refs are invited to the Playoffs. Only the highest rated Refs after that are invited to the Super Bowl. He explained that there is good additional money involved, along with prestige, bragging rights, and future employ, very much like that received by the players themselves.
Ever since then I have watched the "Team" of Refs involved in the game. I can definitely see a difference in the amount of respect they receive on the field from the players and coaches as the post season progresses.
In my my book, the SB is not rigged. There is simply not enough attention paid to the *Third Team* that's occupying the field. :thumb:
Have fun,
Jerry
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No, Superbowl is not rigged but NBA is...
Certainly the draft is......
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Hey Randy,the only play I missed was the Ridley helmet hit,I was out having a smoke in a smoking ok club,if you know what I mean.I only saw the aftermath and someone told me the same thing you said,Ridley lowered his helmet.I stand corrected.Here are a couple things to ponder;If you look at Muhammad Ali today,and you look at the hits Wes Welker has taken this year,and yesterday,whats he going to be looking like in the soon future?Also did you see Ray Lewis's face during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner?Kind of eerie to me,he must have been thanking someone for the ability to be in that game and not a jail cell for his involvement in the stabbing deaths some years ago.How soon the NFL forgot.......Mark Korda
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Maybe all of us who are football fans want to believe that pro football cannot be fixed? I also believed in Lance Armstrong's
long held insistence that he was never a doper. In fact the entire Tour de France is in danger of falling apart since so many cyclists have been dopers. Is the US and pro sports beyond cheating, or fixing of sporting events?
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Was it broken?
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No, I don't think it's fixed. There have always been blown calls, and that continues even with instant replay, since you sometimes wind up with calls where you don't get the camera angle you need to render a decision indisputable. That's why the distinction between "the ruling on the field stands" and "the ruling on the play is confirmed."
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It's not fixed. If it were the big-market teams would nearly always find their way into the SB. That's where the money is. Frankly there are WAY too many people involved in the NFL business for someone not to have made such a claim. Blown calls happen, and with the gazzilions of TV cameras people can always find something to "validate" their best hopes.
Speaking of blown calls, waaaaaay back in the early 60s I seem to remember photographic evidence of a BALTIMORE Colts field goal ruled bad, but the next day when the developed the film, it was proven good. I think it was the next year that the uprights were made much higher. Of course that could be a conspiracy I cooked up. :nono: :lol:
Lance Armstrong? A niche business, he was a world-class bully and had enough money to sue his critics into silence. :rules: :cuss:
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He explained that the NFL reviews every single play. He explained that Refs receive points, or deductions, based on their calls, or the lack thereof. Very much like the Teams themselves, only the highest rated Refs are invited to the Playoffs. Only the highest rated Refs after that are invited to the Super Bowl. He explained that there is good additional money involved, along with prestige, bragging rights, and future employ, very much like that received by the players themselves.
Great story Jerry, and the reason why we see so many blown calls in the playoffs. I agree with rewarding the best refs in that way, but they need to be kept together as a team for the playoffs. A well oiled, experienced football team like the two we have in the SB would crush a team of slapped together all stars because the all stars aren't used to each other's style and timing, they're trying to think what they should do, while the real team just does it without thinking. In just the same way the all star team of refs look out of sorts, not crisp, like they're thinking of what to do next. Any average team of refs looks way better in the regular season, penalties are called with a quick word or sign, the ball is placed quickly, refs are not in the way of players, it's all so much better when they work as a team. They should be rewarded with playoff gigs as a team.
Harbaugh was dead right about the Harry Douglas non-reception that was called a catch even after replay. Worst call I have ever seen, bar none. The ball was so clearly out of his hands, on the ground, and moving independent of the player, that I can only surmise the ref didn't look at the telling replay, or the game was attempting to be fixed. So I wonder about the ref's being paid off too. Not saying they are, because I have no direct or indirect evidence of it. Only noting that the possibility exists. I would be interested in hearing what measures the NFL takes to mitigate any likelyhood of fixing a game, or predisposing a spread outcome. Not what they put out in press releases, what they actual do in damage control and prevention. There is a lot, I mean more than a lot, of money not controlled by the NFL in play here. If you think there hasn't been numerous attempts by highly funded entities to fix pro football games, you are very naive.
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The one infamous SB that certainly looked to be fixed by the refs was Pittsburgh over Seattle. The outrage from fans of the game caused several forums to be temporarily closed. A new commissioner the next year.
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I'm a big Steeler fan and have to say there was some questionable calls and non-calls in that game. Does that mean anything? You couldn't prove it in court, but it can have guys like you and I asking questions.
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I don't know that anything in the NFL is "fixed" in the traditional sense but I'd say some narratives are...shall we say, strongly encouraged.
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My coworkers are saying it's fixed for BR to win. Think so??
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Your coworkers should consider that SF may have pulled the plug to slow down the Ravens and get out of NO with a smidgen of pride. Makes as much sense at a "fix" on the game. :thumbdown:
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My coworkers are saying it's fixed for BR to win. Think so??
Why would that benefit the league, Ravens over the 49ers? In order for it to be fixed there must be a reason. The league isn't better off if the Ravens win. :scratch:
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This thread has to be the most ridiculous one of all time.
Jim
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http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-vegas-super-bowl-20130203,0,3265425.story
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pretty sure there was an x-files episode saying that all professional sports are fixed. i bet there is some truth to that
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Baltimore is a small market and a relatively young team by NFL standards,they would prefer the 49ers win from a financial standpoint.my brother in law swore that Vegas had someone cut off the power to give the 49ers time to regroup :icon_lol:
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This thread has to be the most ridiculous one of all time.
Jim
+1! :duh: :nono:
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Why would that benefit the league, Ravens over the 49ers? In order for it to be fixed there must be a reason. The league isn't better off if the Ravens win. :scratch:
It's not the league that is the beneficiary, it's the bookmakers, and the billions of dollars backing them up. Not saying anything's fixed, just that's where you'd look for motivation.
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There will always be refs or individuals who accept bribes to influence their decisions but it's unrealistic and inaccurate to think the league is fixed. That implies a systematic type of corruption, which I do not think is possible in the era of instant replay and media exposure.
Of all US team sports, I would say basketball is the most likely to be corrupt. It only takes one or two calls to change the outcome of a game and I've seen too many questionable ones over the years.
None of these sports come close to boxing, the most corrupt professional sport on the planet. How many bad decisions will it take before these alphabet soup commissions are investigated? Why are there no uniform rules of judging fights? I think I know the reason and it's pretty sad and inexcusable.
The NFL does a good job officiating games and generally tries to get it right. Every play is under the microscope and there is so much money involved, I like to think a corrupt official would be identified. The accuracy of the gambling "line" on the games (point spread and over/under) is pretty amazing. It's enough to make me consider the possibility of a fix, but I would be shocked if the outcome was not legit.
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So, JM, what in life ISN'T fixed? :scratch:
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This thread has to be the most ridiculous one of all time.
Jim
Btw did you see the poll? There are a least a third here that voted yes!
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Ref selection was fixed, that's for sure.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/25/some-officials-cry-foul-over-jerome-boger-refereeing-the-super-bowl/ (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/25/some-officials-cry-foul-over-jerome-boger-refereeing-the-super-bowl/)
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Btw did you see the poll? There are a least a third here that voted yes!
I think you need a remedial course in basic math! The NFL isn't Pro Westling...
Jim
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That uncalled interference call in the endzone that cost the 49ers the victory was outrageous. The back was hanging allover the receiver. :evil: I'm certain that it wasn't fixed though. It's just a #ucked up shame to have the game decided on a non-call. :shake:
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That uncalled interference call in the endzone that cost the 49ers the victory was outrageous. The back was hanging allover the receiver. :evil: I'm certain that it wasn't fixed though. It's just a #ucked up shame to have the game decided on a non-call. :shake:
Was the pass even catchable? The refs let the game be played and established that early on.
Jim
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I think you need a remedial course in basic math! The NFL isn't Pro Westling...
Jim
I stand corrected ....1/4 or as I intended to say nearly a third. Also we would not want to believe the NFL is corrupt if we place a high value on sports or football. Why should we believe it cannot be corrupted? Often one sees what is behind his eyes , not what is front of them.
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Let's expound on your eye's theory, there are just too many eyes looking on it for something like the Super Bowl to be fixed no matter how many espouse the same idea that the take is on.
Jim
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There was blatent holding on the touchback play that ate up 9 seconds. It was after the blatent holding on the 49 er receiver in the end zone. The refs were paid off.
Everyone saw both "No Calls" Its fixed. Its fixed.
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Was the pass even catchable? The refs let the game be played and established that early on.
Jim
I thought it was catchable. If you grab the receiver just as he is about to make his burst, it sets the timing off and he can't reach his spot. Just let the "game be played"? What if the back just outright tackled Crabtree. Would've that been called or would've that been just letting the "game be played"? Can defensive backs get away with virtually anything in the endzone.
I'll agree the game was called loosely. What's loose? A grey area that screws up the game. This was an obvious bad call...not grey. They didn't call some of the head shots that would've been called in a regular game and there were other bad calls. What we want is consistency don't we? The ref blew the call and it cost the 9'ers the game.
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Disagree. They both had hands all over each other.
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Baltimore is a small market and a relatively young team by NFL standards,they would prefer the 49ers win from a financial standpoint.my brother in law swore that Vegas had someone cut off the power to give the 49ers time to regroup :icon_lol:
I like Bunky. He funny.
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IMO that catch was not catchable. yeah he could have grabbed it and been out of bounds anyway.
I think the Cathars and the Illuminati wanted to give San Fransisco a big break with that 'power surge' lights thing. If there was a 'fix' it was the mysterious power going out just as SF was on the ropes.
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The Halftime Show needs to be fixed. Seriously.
edit: Also, nobody should be allowed to sing the Anthem except Jim Cornelison. That should be fixed, too.
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It is logical to think that too many people are involved for the NFL to be fixed. All these eyes cannot be fooled, correct?
But let's not forget Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France. Admittedly, the Superbowl is not the Tour de France. But many, many people see it and many are involved in the organization. Well we have found out how corrupt the Tour has become since say 2003. Many dopers and cheating.
Our American hero has fooled everyone. After all he won 7 tours, more than any other person. I was for him and loved the fact he did so much for cancer, with his Livestrong foundation. How did so many people get fooled??
To me, there is far too much money involved in Pro football..... for it NOT to be fixed. Although I certainly respect all that think it is not. In fact I want to believe they are correct.
Also I know more than a few people that believe Pro wrestling is real...
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Like I said, this is the most ridiculous thread of all-time...
Jim
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Also I know more than a few people that believe Pro wrestling is real...
Try this exercise in the comfort of your home..........wait until the pro wrestling cameras pan across the audience, and let this revolting concept fester in your brain for awhile, and see if it adds credibility to polls:
These people actually VOTE???? :duh: :nono: :cuss: :banghead: :bawl: :stupid: :wtf:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Was the pass even catchable? The refs let the game be played and established that early on.
Jim
It doesn't matter because the call would be defensive holding, which doesn't take ball position into account. In other words the pass could have been to the other side of the endzone and it would still be holding.
I have sympathy for both positions. On one hand, I like that the refs let the players play and didn't call any close plays a penalty. Something they should do more of in the regular season. And that they don't want to determine the outcome of the game. Calling holding there puts the ball 1st and goal on the 2 1/2 yd line that almost, I say almost, guarantees a TD for the Niners and probably the win. However the holding, or contact past the 5 yard zone, was so blatant I can't really see how you don't call it. The contact, let it go, they both made contact, but Crabtree was clearly grabbed and held by a player thinking he was beat on the play, this is what has to be called. All that being said, I repeat that the 49ers made a mess of the play calling on that series, so they deserved the outcome that occurred.
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It doesn't matter because the call would be defensive holding, which doesn't take ball position into account. In other words the pass could have been to the other side of the endzone and it would still be holding.
I have sympathy for both positions. On one hand, I like that the refs let the players play and didn't call any close plays a penalty. Something they should do more of in the regular season. And that they don't want to determine the outcome of the game. Calling holding there puts the ball 1st and goal on the 2 1/2 yd line that almost, I say almost, guarantees a TD for the Niners and probably the win. However the holding, or contact past the 5 yard zone, was so blatant I can't really see how you don't call it. The contact, let it go, they both made contact, but Crabtree was clearly grabbed and held by a player thinking he was beat on the play, this is what has to be called. All that being said, I repeat that the 49ers made a mess of the play calling on that series, so they deserved the outcome that occurred.
Hate to disagree, the ball was already in the air, e.g., cannot be holding at that point, could only be pass interference. To be pass interference, the pass has to be catchable in the field of play.
Digest of Rules Main
Pass Interference
There shall be no interference with a forward pass thrown from behind the line. The restriction for the passing team starts with the snap. The restriction on the defensive team starts when the ball leaves the passer’s hand. Both restrictions end when the ball is touched by anyone.
The penalty for defensive pass interference is an automatic first down at the spot of the foul. If interference is in the end zone, it is first down for the offense on the defense’s 1-yard line. If previous spot was inside the defense’s 1-yard line, penalty is half the distance to the goal line.
The penalty for offensive pass interference is 10 yards from the previous spot.
It is pass interference by either team when any player movement beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders the progress of an eligible player of such player’s opportunity to catch the ball. Offensive pass interference rules apply from the time the ball is snapped until the ball is touched. Defensive pass interference rules apply from the time the ball is thrown until the ball is touched.
Actions that constitute defensive pass interference include but are not limited to:
(a) Contact by a defender who is not playing the ball and such contact restricts the receiver’s opportunity to make the catch.
(b) Playing through the back of a receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.
(c) Grabbing a receiver’s arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass.
(d) Extending an arm across the body of a receiver thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, regardless of whether the defender is playing the ball.
(e) Cutting off the path of a receiver by making contact with him without playing the ball.
(f) Hooking a receiver in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that it causes the receiver’s body to turn prior to the ball arriving.
Actions that do not constitute pass interference include but are not limited to:
(a) Incidental contact by a defender’s hands, arms, or body when both players are competing for the ball, or neither player is looking for the ball. If there is any question whether contact is incidental, the ruling shall be no interference.
(b) Inadvertent tangling of feet when both players are playing the ball or neither player is playing the ball.
(c) Contact that would normally be considered pass interference, but the pass is clearly uncatchable by the involved players.
(d) Laying a hand on a receiver that does not restrict the receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.
(e) Contact by a defender who has gained position on a receiver in an attempt to catch the ball.
Actions that constitute offensive pass interference include but are not limited to:
(a) Blocking downfield by an offensive player prior to the ball being touched.
(b) Initiating contact with a defender by shoving or pushing off thus creating a separation in an attempt to catch a pass.
(c) Driving through a defender who has established a position on the field.
Actions that do not constitute offensive pass interference include but are not limited to:
(a) Incidental contact by a receiver’s hands, arms, or body when both players are competing for the ball or neither player is looking for the ball.
(b) Inadvertent touching of feet when both players are playing the ball or neither player is playing the ball.
(c) Contact that would normally be considered pass interference, but the ball is clearly uncatchable by involved players.
Note 1: If there is any question whether player contact is incidental, the ruling should be no interference.
Note 2: Defensive players have as much right to the path of the ball as eligible offensive players.
Note 3: Pass interference for both teams ends when the pass is touched.
Note 4: There can be no pass interference at or behind the line of scrimmage, but defensive actions such as tackling a receiver can still result in a 5-yard penalty for defensive holding, if accepted.
Note 5: Whenever a team presents an apparent punting formation, defensive pass interference is not to be called for action on the end man on the line of scrimmage, or an eligible receiver behind the line of scrimmage who is aligned or in motion more than one yard outside the end man on the line. Defensive holding, such as tackling a receiver, still can be called and result in a 5-yard penalty and automatic first down from the previous spot, if accepted. Offensive pass interference rules still apply.
Jim
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Hi,sometimes it takes years to get NFL justice!..1976...I was a Pats fan,19 years old.They were playing the Raiders.The Pats were robbed of winning the game and going on to the super bowl when tight end Russ Francis was tackled by Raider Phil Villipiano when the pass to him was right there.No instant replay yet,it was just like the play last night with Crabtree.A roughing the passer by Ray(Sugar Bear) Hamilton was the second farce.Years later the Pats vs.the Raiders,2000,or 2001 and the Brady tuck rule?I'd be pissed if I was a Raider fan....Mark Korda
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Passes are uncatchable if the defense is preventing the receiver from running to catch it by holding them. :duh:
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Passes are uncatchable if the defense is preventing the receiver from running to catch it by holding them. :duh:
The ball landed 2 yards out of bounds and with the high arc projection, the receiver would have had to have been 7' tall and have a 23" vertical leap and managed to have got both feet inbounds....stop the friggin sniveling....
Jim
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If he hadn't been held for that second the ball would have been right in his hands. That's how the fade works. Up high and near the line. You see them every game. Think Pittsburgh in the exact same scenario over Arizona in the SB if that helps.
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Its fixed only when ones team loses it appears. Calls both good and bad go both ways. just like balls and strikes. However I admit at times it certainly appears that way.
charles
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The ball landed 2 yards out of bounds and with the high arc projection, the receiver would have had to have been 7' tall and have a 23" vertical leap and managed to have got both feet inbounds....stop the friggin sniveling....
Jim
Actually I think Crabtree would have to be 8' tall with a vertical of 42". A poorly thrown and uncatchable dud. No way the refs bail the 49ers out on that. The play calling by the 49ers on that last series was horrendous. I would have turned Kaepernick loose on roll outs with a run/pass option 4 plays in a row if need be. I would have even taken the penalty and saved the time out on third down. With the right play call, you can roll in just as easily from the 10 as the 5....especially with Kaepernick's running ability.
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Like I said, this is the most ridiculous thread of all-time...
Jim
Cmon you know this game was fixed. Why else would you cut and paste NFL rules in a thread you say is the most ridiculous of all time? And you wrote that twice. The NFL is corrupted. Just admit you believed the farce, now you are wiser.
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Geo, you're right, I'm wasting my time trying to convince the X-File crowd....
Jim
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Jim, you are right. I'm surprised no one mentioned the guy on the grassy knoll who radioed the ref telling him not to make the call.
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Actually I think Crabtree would have to be 8' tall with a vertical of 42". A poorly thrown and uncatchable dud. No way the refs bail the 49ers out on that. The play calling by the 49ers on that last series was horrendous. I would have turned Kaepernick loose on roll outs with a run/pass option 4 plays in a row if need be. I would have even taken the penalty and saved the time out on third down. With the right play call, you can roll in just as easily from the 10 as the 5....especially with Kaepernick's running ability.
Hell, yes.
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That was a perfect fade pass. With the receiver being HELD with two hands up in the jersey for a second made it uncatchable. I guess Ravens fans don't want to admit the obvious. My money was on the Ravens, but that was a catchable ball if the receiver hadn't been held. So the whole season began and ended on bad calls. Surprise! :lol:
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Well just a little fun with this poll. But most all results are in and those who voted believe the Superbowl was NOT fixed.
Thanks for voting and I respect all opinions and comments here. I for one cannot believe in NFL football anymore. I did not watch it much this season, but with what I have seen with players and officiating I cannot respect the game. So I will not be watching it anymore. I used to believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny when I was a kid. My ancestors believed the world to be flat. I think I am done with this kind of mythology now. If I want to see a fair game of football, played with integrity and heart, I will watch high school or pee wee football.
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Don't forget Division II and III college ball. I watch it (and HS ball) from the sidelines as a photographer, and it's far more interesting to see the coach/player/ref interaction up close.
Best (well, only) football coach I played under was a gentleman who taught us a lot, but in my first year a few of us still had leather helmets, so his kind may be rare. But I do see some at games. They are the people I'd like to work for.
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The ball landed 2 yards out of bounds and with the high arc projection, the receiver would have had to have been 7' tall and have a 23" vertical leap and managed to have got both feet inbounds....stop the friggin sniveling....
Jim
Well, we won't agree on this, but allow me to make a couple of points anyway.
If you watch the Santonio Holmes catch in the Steelers-Cardinals SB, the ball would have landed 10-15 yards out of bounds. So saying the ball landed two yards out of bounds absolutely, positively confirms beyond a shadow of a doubt the ball was catchable. Now I don't believe that of course, the ball landed only 1 yard out of bounds, look at the replay, and the interpretations of the rules (which are usually way more important than what the rule says in black and white) say if if the ball could have reasonably been caught, it has to be considered catchable. I don't care who won so there's no sniveling, but I will snivel about being called snivelling.
Personally I think the Ravens deserved the win by the way they played, but it doesn't change the fact that it was blatant holding or interference, you pick, that the refs decided not to call. And despite what the letter of the rules say, the refs don't call interference unless the players make some play on the ball, they always downgrade it to holding or illegal contact because of the severe nature of the spot foul penalty, no matter when the ball is in the air.
But what I thought was more interesting, since we'll never agree on the above, is Mike Greenberg at ESPN brought up some figures this morning that purported to establish that it's five times less likely that a penalty in the endzone during the last two minutes of the game will be called during the playoffs vs the regular season. The refs are predisposed to not calling that penalty if they are officiating a playoff game, including the Superbowl. Thus what we see occurred.