A little dose of karma never hurt anyone.
So when the San Francisco 49ers came within five yards of possibly winning the Super Bowl and faced a fourth-and-goal situation, I couldn’t help but think back to why they were the team representing the NFC in the first place. When they held on a goal-to-go stand in the Georgia Dome, the 49ers punched their ticket to New Orleans, but it wasn’t without a little controversy.
Linebacker NaVorro Bowman committed defensive holding on wide receiver Roddy White.
Now, I understand how it works. To make a call like that in the final seconds of a game, you’d have to have something egregious happen. So — and I hate using this phrase, but I’ll do it anyway — it is what it is.
Well, it happened again on Sunday night, and this time, it happened to the Niners.
Two GIFs tell the story of the Roddy White no-call and the fourth-and-goal no-call on Michael Crabtree during what was the biggest play of the Super Bowl. Judge for yourself (both images courtesy of The Falcoholic):
No-call on Roddy White
No-call on Michael Crabtree
A couple of quotes from members of the 49ers’ defense after their win over the Falcons were interesting. The first is from Bowman; the second, safety Donte Whitner (both from a USA Today article).
“(White) was complaining, asking for the flag. There wasn’t no flag; that was a clean play, man.”
“We made more plays than they did, and we’re going to New Orleans.”
I guess the Ravens just made more plays than the 49ers.
(Also read: The new Falcons turn 10 years old)
I don’t like to hang an entire game on one, single play, or penalty, or, in this case, a questionable non-call. Was it a hold? The case could certainly be made that it was. But there was plenty of contact both ways. Had the refs thrown a flag, it might’ve been called a cheap penalty, but I think people would’ve understood it.
But there were plenty of non-calls throughout the game. I saw a blatant hold against a Niners lineman during one of San Fran’s scoring drives. The refs blow the whistle, it negates a huge gain.
You live by it. You die by it. That’s just the way it goes.
I agree. Thanks for your comment.
Hell no it wasn’t a hold!! Then again I am a little biast haha
That was a clear hold on White however
I think the referees made the no call because in a championship game that became competitive, would they really want to be the reason, in addition to 34 minute blackout delay, why the Ravens lost their lead and the game. And in a season with replacement referees causing a huge stir during the beginning of the season, would the regular referees be blamed and get the bad criticism for 7-8 months before they can redeem themselves?
Could have gone either way just like the Niners last offensive play of the S.B. The vids on your article is something you and I can watch repeatedly but refs don’t have that luxury. Tough ones Sean…We’ve all been down that road many times over.
On Roddy White? YES..on Micheal crabtree, NO..from a different angle you can see both players were holding on to one another..That wasn’t a catchable ball anyway