The Worst Calls Of All-Time

[Big Bid'Ness]

From:RealGM.com

The Worst Calls Of All-Time

By Tim Crean

I was going to write something about the Bears/ Panthers game... but right around halftime my neighbors house burned down and the fire truck's rescue ladder knocked out my cable. I swear this really happened. Don't worry, everyone is ok but I have no idea what happened in the second half. I hear the Panthers won.

So, that leaves the Steelers/Colts game... My favorite part though is the fact that for the second time in it's history the NFL came out after the game and threw it's referees under the bus (no pun intended). The overruling of the Troy Palomalu interception with 5 minutes left in the game could have been one of the most egregious errors in NFL officiating history. The only saving grace for these particular zebras is that it didn't cost the Steelers the game thanks to a Kris Brown-like shank job from "The Liquored Up Kicker". After the game Joey Porter came out and said that the refs were cheating for Colts. Well that may be, but at the end of the day Porter shouldn't complain that much. Historically, most teams aren't as lucky as the Steelers were to be able to come back from a big blown call. Even, on one occasion... the Steelers themselves.

Pittsburgh Steeler @ Detroit Lions- Thanksgiving 1998

Ostensibly, it doesn't get any easier for an NFL referee than overseeing the coin toss. This is unless you're NFL referee Phil Luckett. With the Steelers and Lions going into overtime tied at 16, Luckett prompted Steeler captain Jerome Bettis to call the coin flip. Jerome said, "tails", the coin lands on tails, and Luckett awarded the choice to the Steel- Lions?? Whether he was hard of hearing, part of Porter's conspiracy theory or just zonked out on triptophan, Luckett's call will go down in history as probably the easiest blown call ever. Luckily for Luckett though, I don't think many people watch football on Thanksgiving anyways.

New York Giants @ San Fransisco 49ers NFC Wildcard- 2003

After blowing a huge lead and tossing cups of ice water at a little kid, Jeremy Shockey and the New York Giants were able to drive down to attempt a last second field goal to beat the 49ers in the NFC Wildcard Game. After a horrendous snap, the Giants holder, against Chris Collinsworth uniformed advice, heaved the ball toward a lineman in the end zone who a promptly hauled down by a 49er before the ball reached him. Unfortunately for the Giants, Chris Collinsworth wasn't the only authority figure in San Fransisco who didn't have a great grasp on the rules. The referees incorrectly ruled the lineman an ineligible receiver down field, which nullified any pass interference there was. A few days later, for the first time ever, the NFL made public the results of their internal review and begged for forgiveness.

Tennessee Titans @ Buffalo Bills AFC Wildcard- 2000

Yeah that's right, I'll say it, "Music City Miracle" my ass! The only "miracle" here is that Phil Luckett, yes that Phil Luckett, of "ThanksgivingGate" fame was the referee for this game. To refresh your memory, Steve Christie kicked a 41 yard field goal to give the Bills the lead with 16 seconds left. On the ensuing kick-off, Lorenzo Neal fielded the ball, lateraled (legally) to Frank Wycheck who threw A FORWARD PASS (very very illegally) to Kevin Dyson who ran 75 yards for a touchdown. Under review, it was upheld. Of course it was reviewed by a guy who can't figure out how to work a coin toss, but whatever. Being from upstate New York this one makes particularly bitter. But if you want to know the biggest blown call in HISTORY, the one that really gets me mad, the one I don't even really want to write about because it's so obscene??? Alright fine, I'll tell since we're already on the subject of horrible calls and Buffalo getting jobbed....

Poor Phil Luckett messing up calls in two important NFL games.

 

[ZigZag]

Whoever wrote that is an idiot.