Refs Head Should Roll for Botched First Down in Browns-Steelers Game
I am a person that really hates seeing someone lose their job. This weekend I had some of the worst customer service at a local auto parts store but have no intentions of making a formal complaint because I will give the worker the benefit of the doubt and hope that the person assisting me was just having a bad day. I do not, however, feel the same about NFL official Walt Anderson who completely botched the easiest call in all sports incorrectly giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a first down against the Browns. In giving the Steelers the call the integrity of the entire game comes in question in my mind and the whole complexion of the game was changed allowing the Steelers to score on the drive. The funniest thing about the call was that everyone screwed up on the play as the spot shouldn't even have been that close as Ben Roethlisberger was clearly stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
Anderson said explaining the call:
"The ball has to penetrate the plane of the stake," Anderson said. "When we set the ball up ready to measure, the chains are set beside the football; they're not put down on top of the ball. So when the stakes go down, I'm sighting in between the nose of the football and the stake. If the nose touches the stake, it's a first down. It's kind of like a football touching the plane of the goal line."
Asked about the replay, Anderson said: "If you shot at an angle, maybe from back behind the ball it might look like it's short. If you shot at an angle from the other side, it might actually look like it's farther in advance of the stake then what it actually is."
Maybe he should take a look at the above picture and give a better explanation. I think Roger Goodell and millions of Browns fans across the country are wondering if NFL officials have somehow got a Tim Donaghy on their hands with that perplexing call. As a Cleveland sports fan, just I'll just shake my head and chalk it up as just another really weird way to manage to lose a game (and some faith in sports as whole).
Comments
The resulting drive only managed a field goal, so the game ended up 24-14 rather than 27-14, what does it matter then ?
15 July 2006
1 hour 14 min
It changed the whole complexion of the game. If you watched the game you would have seen that.
"The resulting drive only managed a field goal, so the game ended up 24-14 rather than 27-14, what does it matter then "
Because Pittsburgh kept the ball they got 3 points, so if that possession ends there, the score is still 21-14... If Cleveland, now with the momentum of having forced the turnover on downs, scores a TD then the game is tied. Make sense now?
How about the spot was also a horrible spot ????
I believe the camera was angled in such a way that the ball was looked at by TV viewers from the 4 o clock position instead of the usual 6 o clock. That may be where the confusion still lies in how first down was determined. Also, the ball was given to the Browns 3 times by the Steelers near their own end zone with practically a big red bow tied to it, and the Browns basically said no thanks we'll take the loss. If anyone should be fired it should be the Cleveland Browns offense.
15 July 2006
1 hour 14 min
The quarterback sneak was nowhere NEAR where he needed to get in the first place. And please, watch this and tell me HOW IT WAS A FIRST DOWN.
Browns are pathetic
Did you see Troy Polamalu make that interception?!! Now THAT was a game changer! Of course, whenver Polamalu enters a game he alters it! I do believe, in all sincereity, that Troy saw that his beloved Pittsburg Steelers would be just short of the first down, so he reached out with his bare hands to take hold of the turf and pulled the Earth to advance the ball. Right at that moment, before relinquishing his mighty grip, the referee, Walt Anderson, exchange glances with the legendary safety and they both knew...without saying a word...first down. To Walt Anderson, "You said it with your eyes man. You said it with your eyes."
Can't tell yet, stake isn't placed in the dirt and besides this is the same camera angle as before......
"Also, the ball was given to the Browns 3 times by the Steelers near their own end zone with practically a big red bow tied to it, and the Browns basically said no thanks we'll take the loss." What game were you watchin?The Steelers were on like Cleveland's 20 and there was 3 turnovers due to BOTH teams!It wasnt just the Browns!And to say Cleveland should fire there offense?What your saying makes no sense! If Pittsburgh forked up the ball 3 times like you claimed,shouldn't they be fired?Shame on the refs for the last 2 weeks!And shame on the defending national champions for even letting one of the worst offenses come close! PUCK FITTSBURGH!
23 June 2009
40 weeks 6 days
I don't know what kind of cahoots the Stealers and NFL officials are in, but I'm sure that Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals fans are both wondering the same thing. It's pathetic.
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I think someone should call Walt Anderson and ask him about the photo.
The browns marched down and scored 7 on the ensuing drive. Hardly a game "complexion" changer. Perhaps instead of talking about the refs, you could run an article on how to catch a ball. If your receivers and defensive backs could get some pointers, yinz would win a game or two.
Two things:
1. Since this call happened at the end of the half it was a definite momentum changer (especially for the defense). A play like that changes the dynamics of a team. The called caused a shift from the browns defense making a great stop in their own territory. Things like this are game changers at the end of periods that can give a defense confidence and even change the motivation and aggressiveness of a team (ask anyone who has played football stoping a driving team in your territory on a fourth and short is a big changer in a game especially for the defense).
2. Everyone keeps talking about this camera angle. If you want to talk about camera angels and replays. Then if this camera angle gives that much of a distortion on a crucial call such as a first down, then catches along the sideline or backs of endzones that are reviewed (or any replay for that matter) cannot be taken as an accurate depiction of the event since you can make this camera angle argument in every situation. If camera angles are not precise enough to give an accurate image of the event then instant replays must be removed from the game.
Awesome point of view!
It is FAIR to say that situations thrown in an already dramatic sport can absolutley determine the outcome of a game. Yeah the Browns on are down in there luck or are they?Last week Cleveland was beat on a wide right field goal!The excuse,the angle on the camera.This week we have a situation that would determine the outcome of the first half due to none other but the angle of the camera.You mean to tell me with the technology that we have and the fact that EVERY inch counts in this game we cant do a better job of determining the outcome? When situations come across like this its only GOING to hurt peoples careers any way you look at it.Wether it be the ref losin his job for a horrible call(s) or a defensive player and or coaching staff due to the fact that they "converted" there play.So in all honesty not only should we point our fingers at the officals in the the NFL but at the NFL as a whole!This is the 2nd most popular sport in America(MMA First) and its no wonder they are 2nd!Just like the Bud Light foam finger commercial said."Nobody likes number 2!"So come on NFL get it right!
CORRECTION I STATED ABOUT A MISSED FIELD GOAL LAST WEEK I MENT 2 WEEKS AGO!SORRY MY MISTAKE I MADE A BAD CALL MUST HAVE BEEN THE ANGLE MY MONITOR WAS SITTING AT! HAHA PUCK FITTSBURGH!
15 July 2006
1 hour 14 min
Yeah, those angles can be tricky. At least you admitted your error unlike the NFL. I love the fact that on the official highlight reel that the NFL put out it completely skipped over the non first down. Embarrassing.
15 July 2006
1 hour 14 min
Yeah, those angles can be tricky. At least you admitted your error unlike the NFL. I love the fact that on the official highlight reel that the NFL put out it completely skipped over the non first down. Embarrassing.
Wow you honestly think that the Browns would have actually scored they had 1 TD from the offense and D Anderson sucks. The crying will stop when the Steelers pound them into the ground week 14
Wouldnt have scored anyway D Anderson and the offense had 1 TD the other was from the special teams. Come on people determined the game are you serious. Big Ben threw all over the Browns the game ended the way it was going to end no matter what. Go Steelers get Lucky #7
You're right, I am wrong about the Browns getting the ball in their own end zone after the fumbles. So sorry, I must be getting all of these Steeler clobberings over the Browns mixed up...maybe if the refs were really trying to help the Steelers win, they also would have overturned Ward's reception in the end zone to a touchdown. The Browns still can't win when calls go in their favor, so maybe the idea of improving/firing the current offense or just selling the team to prevent any further disgrace to the city could be exercised at about this point. Can't imagine who would pay decent money for them though. Can't wait to see what thankless gifts the Steelers give the Browns in Dec....maybe Big Ben will have an even bigger game of his young career than he had last week. Waiting for the next big Steelers vs. Cribbs, oops I mean Browns "rivalry"...
The catch was considered a touchdown!And then went under further review! Then overturned It was obvious when the play was live that he did not have full control of the football ALL THE WAY THRU.He was obviously bobbling the ball from the moment he caught it.You can see him look at the ref and try to block the location of the ball as he was getting up.But again as Browns fans yes we already knew we were not gonna win! And thats what is so hard to stomach the fact that EVERYBODY knew we were not gonna beat them but yet the refs still tried pullin the wool over our eyes.Simply pathetic considering the point spread in vegas was a 14 point spread and it ended up bein only 1 point off spread wise.HMMMM IRONIC?Dont think so.And to say the steelers have ALWAYS whooped the browns check your resources. The steelers have only beat us a handfull of times more then we beat them!So again before you go running your mouth CHECK YOUR RESOURCES
I was simply referring to the current century, not the previous one. We are in a new era of the Browns, for which I am not sorry that I get to watch.
I am a huge Browns fan and this was rather hard to swallow. Not the Browns losing cause I have become use to that. I just want to know that the game is being called fairly on both ends. The Browns probably would not have beaten the Steelers but how do we know that when there are bad calls being made? Nonetheless it has passed so I hope that the league recognizes a possible error that should be easily avoided. Go Browns!