(Newser)
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"We wuz robbed" by crazy replacement refs, the Green Bay Packers were thinking last night when a bewildering end of the game call left them scratching their heads. Seattle beat the Packers 14-12. But MD Jennings was certain he had intercepted a late-game pass,... More »
(Newser)
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"We wuz robbed" by crazy replacement refs, the Green Bay Packers were thinking last night when a bewildering end of the game call left them scratching their heads. Seattle beat the Packers 14-12. But MD Jennings was certain he had intercepted a late-game pass, and even had the ball clutched to his chest. But it was no go. "I was very shocked," Jennings said. "But, the refs got the last say, so it is what it is." The confusing final minutes of the game occurred when Seahawk Russell Wilson threw a disputed 24-yard touchdown pass toward Golden Tate in the corner of the end zone as the clock expired. Tate shoved Green Bay's Sam Shields out of the way, then wrestled on the ground with Jennings for possession. One referee raised his arms to signal touchdown while another official waved his arms, apparently signaling a touchback, by way of an interception, notes the Huffington Post. (Or was he signaling that the clock had already run out, as one announcer speculated?)
It was finally ruled a touchdown on the field, but confusion still reigned. After a long review referee Wayne Elliott finally came out to announce that "the ruling on the field stands." It was nearly 10 minutes before the teams were brought back for the extra point. The game is going to further fuel debate about the replacement officials after a wild weekend of disputed calls. "Don't ask me a question about the officials," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy told AP. "I've never seen anything like that in all my years in football." ESPN play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico agreed. "This is the most bizarre sequence you'll ever see at the end of the game," he said. Less »
