NFL upholds Seahawks' disputed win over Packers, resumes talks with locked-out referees

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - The NFL upheld the Seahawks' disputed 14-12 win over the Green Bay Packers and resumed meetings with its locked-out referees in an attempt to resolve an impasse that has prompted torrents of criticism against the replacement officials.

The NFL said Tuesday that Seattle's last-second touchdown pass would stand and the victory was final - but conceded Seahawks receiver Golden Tate should have been called for offensive pass interference before the catch.

Two people with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press that the two sides were meeting Tuesday. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were not made public.

The ire of coaches, players and fans at the struggles of the replacements had been steadily building this season, and it reached an apex Monday with what everybody had feared would happen: a highly questionable call deciding a game.

"Hopefully, (the final play will) be enough to warrant making some actual progress to get the regular referees back on the field," CBSSports.com's Will Brinson writes. "Someone finally lost a game as a result of the replacement officials and it's time to make a change."

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On the final play, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson heaved a 24-yard pass into a scrum in the end zone with his team trailing 12-7. Tate shoved away a defender with both hands, and the NFL acknowledged Tuesday he should have been penalized, which would have clinched a Packers victory. But that cannot be reviewed by instant replay.

Tate and Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings then both got their hands on the ball, though the Packers insisted Jennings had clear possession for a game-ending interception.

"It was pinned to my chest the whole time," Jennings said.

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Instead, the officials ruled on the field that the two had simultaneous possession, which counts as a reception. Once that happened, the NFL said, the referee was correct that no indisputable visual evidence existed on review to overturn the touchdown call.

The NFL locked out the officials in June after their contract expired. Unable to reach a new collective bargaining agreement, the league opened the season with replacements, most with experience only in lower levels of college football.

Here is the NFL's full statement regarding the Monday Night Football controversy, via CBSSports.com:

In Monday's game between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, Seattle faced a 4th-and-10 from the Green Bay 24 with eight seconds remaining in the game. Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw a pass into the end zone.

Several players, including Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate and Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings, jumped into the air in an attempt to catch the ball.

While the ball is in the air, Tate can be seen shoving Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields to the ground. This should have been a penalty for offensive pass interference, which would have ended the game. It was not called and is not reviewable in instant replay.

When the players hit the ground in the end zone, the officials determined that both Tate and Jennings had possession of the ball. Under the rule for simultaneous catch, the ball belongs to Tate, the offensive player.

The result of the play was a touchdown. Replay Official Howard Slavin stopped the game for an instant replay review. The aspects of the play that were reviewable included if the ball hit the ground and who had possession of the ball.

In the end zone, a ruling of a simultaneous catch is reviewable.

That is not the case in the field of play, only in the end zone. Referee Wayne Elliott determined that no indisputable visual evidence existed to overturn the call on the field, and as a result, the on-field ruling of touchdown stood.

The NFL Officiating Department reviewed the video today and supports the decision not to overturn the on-field ruling following the instant replay review.

The result of the game is final.

[johngaltwho]

NFL

No
Friggin
Legitimacy

[kyjp55]

Between the interception and offensive pass interference the call by both the ref and the NFL are wrong. The NFL is standing along the ref because they are supportive of the scab refs. If Green Bay misses the playoffs this year by one game we will all be looking back to this wrong call.

[lloydbest1]

Saw the replay. Jennings had clear control of the ball and it wasn't stripped from him until he was downed. The play should have been called dead when he hit. It was clearly an interception.

What surprised me is even after review and slo-mo, the touchdown stood. Yes, there was offensive pass interference but Shields hadn't a snowball's chance in hell of getting the ball anyway; and Tate was also shoved - into the ball.

Was the miscall the result of inexperienced officiating? Probably. I do not think there was any "funny" business going on and it is also true if either team had performed up to expectations, the game wouldn't have been decided by a blown call at the end of regulation....

[Forty-Four]

It is a case of "dual posession." In that case the ball is ruled to the offensive player....they do not look for who had "more posession." They had their hands in there at the same time. Ethically, it was an interception. According to the rule book, it was a touchdown

[johngaltwho]

The concept of what constitutes simultaneous possession seems a bit challenging for some people. If you have a grilled cheese sandwich with two pieces of bread and a slice of cheese in the middle, one could say each slice possesses the cheese. If, on the other hand, you put two slices of bread one on top of the other and then a slice of cheese on top - possession would go to the bread in direct content with the cheese. Does that help or do you just hate cheese so much that you are incapable of rational thought?

[darwufche]

It is obvious in slo-mo that GB caught the ball and controlled it. Why didn't they review the footage at end of game? Why didn't NFL also do so in their infinite power? Are they blind?

[Stopfmg]

Green Bay s#ucks anyway

[Forty-Four]

I like this comment

[rider1956]

This is a game. What makes it controversial is the fact that fans spend a lot of money on this game. But it is only a game.... Games are usually won by the team who makes the least mistakes. The fact that the referees make mistakes makes the game more interesting to watch.... It is just a game and it puts no money in my pocket.... It only meant for entertainment just like a 'soap opera'.

[magnumdr]

The commish of the football league should be fired and be made to get an eye test. He don't have the balls to do what is the right thing to do about this game. Everyone else in the Country knows who really won this game!

[Boomvang1]

Its time the owners fire Roger. Enough is enough get the real refs back or the NFL is about to lose alot of fans.

[76SpiritOf]

No i think its time for the individual cities to the power of immenent domain to releive the NFL owners of their responsibilities.

It is clear they place more importance on busting the referees over putting a quality product on the field.

I am going to concentrate on other things like hunting, building things around the house and screw the NFL...at least until the real refs comeback.

The players should show solidarity and go on strike to support the refs.

[csparish1956]

Hmmmm, I think the NFL organization would not change the outcome due to precedent. Imagine if they were called upon to dissect every controversial call made? But, no matter what the outcome is, it was obvious that Jennings had possession and the call was incorrect. I can understand any official making an incorrect call on the field, but to review the play, see the truth, and still call it wrong was stunning!

[pjsuther]

I'll wager if it had been Green Bay that got the touchdown call, a lot fewer people would be upset. Few outside the city limits like seeing Seattle, the team everyone loves to dis, win against the Perennial Favorite.

Besides, why not take the MLB attitude about umpires here: the unfavorable bad calls (against my team) ultimately even out against the favorable bad calls (against the opponent's team)?

[76SpiritOf]

perhaps. There were bad calls all night and unfortunately for the Packers the last one was on the last play of the game.

It really is annoying to think that for a small fraction of a players pay the owners cannot do whats right for the league.

Its called penny wise and pound foolish!