NFL admits hit on Favre should have been called

[PLamb]

When I was watching the game I saw Favre go down just after throwing an interception by being tackled below the knees on a play that was eerily reminiscent of the play that sent Brady down for a year, except the player went at him from the back right side

I was wondering for the rest of the game why the flag wasn't thrown, especially after all the attention the new penalty had been given throughout the NFL and the media

But none was thrown, a very important scoring drive was lost to a turnover and the Vikings went on to lose

Today the NFL admitted the refs erred and should have thrown the flag and given the ball to the Vikings on the Saints 19 yard line

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4868880

Now I'm not saying this would have changed the outcome of the game given the Vikings propensity for wanting to hand the ball over to the Saints, especially on the red zone, but one never knows

I do love however that the NFL isn't afraid of saying they blew a call and make it public

Yes the NBA will reverse a technical, which as an aside I think Wallace's from last night will be reversed, but they almost NEVER come out and say "Bavetta blew the call late in the Celtics game" or "Salvatore should have called a travel on that call late in the Cavs game".

Another reason why the NFL is the best game in town

[Fafnir]

The NBA admitted error in the late game no-call on Brent Barry in 2007-2008 WCF.

[angryguy77]

This game was murder for me. I was hoping Favre could get to the sb. I do believe that the Viks lost the game and not the refs. But it was clear to me that the Saints were trying to injure Favre. I figured I would root for the Saints if they won before the game, but not now. Because they played a dirty style imo, I hope they get humiliated. These two play again next year and I would hope that Brees has a good inusrance policy. I'm not hoping he will get hurt, but I'm sure from what his coaches have been saying this week, other teams as well as the Viks are not going to hold back.

[Cman]

I agree that it is good that the NFL admits when it is wrong.
I am just so sick of hearing about Brett Favre -- I really am -- and am happy that he is not in the SB and that the Saints are.  I like Indy (even though I am a Pats fan), but am rooting for the Saints in this one.

[anotherbanner]

This game was murder for me. I was hoping Favre could get to the sb. I do believe that the Viks lost the game and not the refs. But it was clear to me that the Saints were trying to injure Favre. I figured I would root for the Saints if they won before the game, but not now. Because they played a dirty style imo, I hope they get humiliated. These two play again next year and I would hope that Brees has a good inusrance policy. I'm not hoping he will get hurt, but I'm sure from what his coaches have been saying this week, other teams as well as the Viks are not going to hold back.

I agree with you in that I also think the defense they played was dirty, delibrately trying to injure Favre. A lot of the hits he took were borderline roughing, not the measley two they called and the one they missed. So 3 roughing penalties, not to mention the ones that could also have been called, that's way too many for one team in one game. If you can get to the QB, fine, hit him, but multiple late hits and roughing, is dirty football.

[angryguy77]

When you hear things like this:

Asked if after a game that included a couple of controversial hits on Brett Favre he would talk to his defense about the potential for calls protecting Manning, he said:

"Here’s the deal. When you put too much of that type of worry on a warrior’s mind, he doesn’t play all out. If it happens, it happens. And the only thing you’d like for me to say is that if it happens you hope he doesn’t get back up and play again."


It doesn't leave much room to question what they were trying to do. What a dumb thing to say going into the SB. Does he not think the refs are going to be paying even more attention to what his d does?