NFL Refs are a joke

[63bears40]

About time the call finally went the Panthers way. NE got calls all night. The first PI on the last drive, was an uncatchable ball.
I won 72 v bucks.

 

[JDM]

About time the call finally went the Panthers way. NE got calls all night. The first PI on the last drive, was an uncatchable ball.
I won 72 v bucks.

The one on Dobson? The ball passed within inches of his hands.

 

[NDHoosier101]

Unless it is obvious beyond all reasonable doubt, no referee is going to call a PI on a last second pass to the endzone. That has been an unwritten rule for 30 years.

At least for the past ten years or so.

 

[eric5577x]

It was not PI. It was at least illegal contact. Pats should have had one more shot at the EZ. It sucks, cause that last play ruined a very, very good game. I am fine with the loss, Car is great team, and getting better.

 

[wildturkey]

No guarantee Pats win the game either way but the refs fucked up. It was a penalty.

 

[eric5577x]

 

[JDM]

It was not PI. It was at least illegal contact. Pats should have had one more shot at the EZ. It sucks, cause that last play ruined a very, very good game. I am fine with the loss, Car is great team, and getting better.

Yes it was.

Gronk was within arms length of where the ball ended up and was driven yards backwards. That is very clear cut PI.

 

[#1BostonFan]

It was PI

 

[eric5577x]

I am curious. They say it was un-catchable, but if he was not there to pick it off, it would have landed at Gronks feet...so what the deal? So a person has to be in the way for PI to not stand? It like saying he would have caught the ball if he was not held....

 

[Wazmankg]

Unless it is obvious beyond all reasonable doubt, no referee is going to call a PI on a last second pass to the endzone. That has been an unwritten rule for 30 years.

And, it was uncatchable by most normal sized receivers.

Maybe Gronkowski is big and long enough to reach out another 6 feet and make a spectacular catch....maybe....

Gronk is a freaky big and long guy. So, that is debatable.

Tell Tom Brady to not limp wrist it 8 feet short of the receiver and its not an issue.

I wouldn't go that far. But PI rarely gets called on the last pass play of the game into the end zone. The longer the pass the less likely it's called. It's sort of like the NBA when they swallow their whistles on the last play or the NHL in the last 30 seconds. There were about 3 Panthers between Gronk and the ball when it was came down, including the guy who caught it. This is not a big deal.

 

[eric5577x]

Just saw an interview with an ex ref who said that was a bad call, and he would have called PI cause he disrupted Gronk while the ball was still in the air, and drove him away from the play causing the other defender to be able to make a play.....dude should have just kept that flag in his pocket!!

 

[JDM]

I am curious. They say it was un-catchable, but if he was not there to pick it off, it would have landed at Gronks feet...so what the deal? So a person has to be in the way for PI to not stand? It like saying he would have caught the ball if he was not held....

If Gronk was not interfered with the defender who intercepted it would have had to go through his body to make a play.

 

[Wazmankg]

If Gronk was not interfered with the defender who intercepted it would have had to go through his body to make a play.

I think you have that backwards. Gronk's own momentum was working against him too. He's a great player but he doesn't exactly reverse direction on a dime.

 

[Jims_Doors]

Last play of the game.....fans say "let the players play"

 

[Wolvie]

The way I understand PI is that you cannot have a PI if the catch is deemed uncatchable, which they had decided. Pretty sure that is why they started throwing the 5 yard holding calls much more frequently, because it doesn't matter whether or not the ball was catchable

 

[JDM]

I think you have that backwards. Gronk's own momentum was working against him too. He's a great player but he doesn't exactly reverse direction on a dime.

He didn't have to stop on a dime. He was where the ball ended up when the contact started. He had some momentum away from the ball but not near enough that he wasn't in position to make that grab.

I already said we didn't deserve this win, but it's not even remotely debatable that that was PI.

 

[63bears40]

The one on Dobson? The ball passed within inches of his hands.

Very debatable, But what is not debatable is that NE was getting call after call. Especially when they needed it .
Which spurs me on to start a thread.

 

[Ties5o11]

That was clearly a PI. Biggest bullshit ever.

Just cost me $480

LOL at a Saints fan complaining about the refs this week.

 

[MrMoJoRisin63]

tough call, but i'll take it. the pats get their fair share of calls anyway.

That is just stupid. But IMO the refs made the correct call, the ball has to be catch able and there was no way Gronk was going to get to that ball. Great game and what a drive by both Cam and Tom, hats off to Panthers.

 

[redseat]

Looked like holding at least. Catchable v non catch-able is a sketchy call at best....

Bottom line here are the reasons the Patriots lost (and that last call has not made this list)

1. Talib couldn't go a thing, smith was in his head
2. 3rd and 1 (and the running game was doing decent) and you throw!?!?!
3. Patriots could NOT stop Newton on the ground
4. ARRINGTON!!!!! Clearly holding
5. RIDLEY!!!!! UGGG..... He doesn't fumble and the Pats win because the Panthers got the ball and got a TD right after
6. Inside the Panthers 30 yard line the Pats Offense struggled!