Teams, Refs Baffled by Obscure NFL Rules

Did the Cards get hosed?

(NEWSER) - With 5 seconds left, Kurt Warner dropped back hoping for a miracle. Instead, he got nailed by Lamar Woodley, the ball came loose, and just like that, Super Bowl XLIII had its defining controversy. If Warner’s arm was moving forward—and it looked like it was—the play should have been ruled an incomplete pass. Instead it was ruled a fumble, robbing the Cards of one last chance to score. More»

Commish ponders fine for Burress as league shows shorter fuse on public criticism

(NEWSER) - The NFL has long been sensitive about criticism of its officials, but commissioner Roger Goodell is more often going after the wallets of players for ripping refs, particularly on the field during games, USA Today reports. Chicago’s Brian Urlacher was fined for such an incident last week, and Goodell could level one today against New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress. More»

Replay bites Chargers, though Denver makes most with gutsy late conversion

(NEWSER) - The controversy surrounding Denver’s 39-38 victory over San Diego yesterday seems likely to linger, USA Today reports, with the call that allowed the Broncos to hang onto the ball overshadowing coach Mike Shanahan’s all-or-nothing 2-point conversion attempt in the final seconds. “It was a fumble. I think so,” quarterback Jay Cutler said of a play first ruled an incomplete pass, then awarded to Denver though the Chargers recovered. More»

But in Super Bowl XLVI, Manning made a hero of himself

(NEWSER) - Last night's big game was intensely fought, undeniably exciting—and a little mystifying, thanks to Eli Manning's unusual brand of heroism. Analysts weigh in on the game's place in football history:

• Last night brought us "the most Eli Manning moment of Eli Manning’s career." During the game-winning touchdown, we saw "a hero shot in which the conqueror looks totally confused by his conquest," with "arms half-raised in quasi-triumph." His quiet humility was the polar opposite of Tom Brady's "aggro posture," but it remains "difficult to understand," writes Josh Levin at Slate .

Bundchen defends Tom Brady after Patriots' Super Bowl loss

(NEWSER) - Gisele Bundchen made headlines last week when she asked friends and family to pray for her husband's team to win the Super Bowl, but as we all know, those prayers went unheard. Bundchen was decidedly less sappy in her post-game comments last night, caught on tape as she left the VIP suites on her way to comfort Tom Brady. "My husband can not f****ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time," she said as she was heckled by Giants fans. "I can't believe they dropped the ball so many times." The Insider has the video. More»