Former NFL official says refs got Seahawks call wrong
Sep 25, 2012, 8:45 AM | Updated: Oct 11, 2024, 1:07 pm
 Former NFL official Jim Tunney is among those who say the referees got it wrong Monday night (AP image) |
Add former NFL veteran official Jim Tunney to the list of people who say the referees got the end of the Seahawks game wrong.
In an interview with Ross and Burbank, Tunney says he’s watched the replay dozens of times and is convinced the play should have been ruled an interception.
At issue is whether the play was what’s considered a simultaneous catch, at which point possession goes to the offense.
“It didn’t look like a simultaneous catch,” Tunney says. It appears the Green Bay guy got a hold of the ball and as they came down the Seattle fellow went down with him and took it away,” Tunney says. And he says Tate didn’t have both hands on the ball as required.
“One hand is not sufficient, one arm doesn’t make a simultaneous catch , he’s got to have both hands on the ball in control of it.”
But Tunney says the referees also got it wrong moments before, when the Seahawks’ Golden Tate pushed off a defender before the catch.
“There’s an obvious pass interference that the guy in the 60th row having had six beers could make the call, because he pushed him pretty hard and to the ground,” Tunney says.
Tunney says the biggest mistake the two referees involved in the controversial play made was in not talking among themselves before making a final ruling on the field.
Ultimately, he says the replacement referees have compromised the integrity of the game and the league should be ashamed.
“I think the credibility of the NFL has taken a really big hit in this situation the only difference is the fans keep going to the game the addiction is so strong.” And he says what really worries him is that when the regular officials come back the focus will be on the referees instead of the game.
“It’s not about the officials, we want to walk on the field, do the jobs and walk off.”
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