Was the fix on?

[watermock]

was a fix on?

[Bronx33]

Mock how many threads do you need to state the same thing?

[Jason in LA]

Me and my buddies were saying that all night long. It was more of a joke, but man, it sure did seem like the fix was on.

The ref runs in with one arm up, saying the guy was down, then puts up another arm calling a TD.

There were a few other calls that I can't remember now, but some where horrilble calls. How about the illegal block on Hasselback when he was making the tackle?

I'm not about to say the refs gave the Steelers the game. Passing the ball way too much lost it more, but the refs sure were on the Steelers side.

[Needa Pass Rush]

Someone wrote Jeremy Stevens a big check.

[ZachKC]

http://home.no.net/holodoc/ordinary1.jpg

This man says yes.

[Blueflame]

It sure looked like the Steelers were getting more breaks from the officials than the Seahawks were. I don't know that one could definitively state that the "fix" was in, but the calls sure weren't 50/50.

For the record, I was totally ambivalent about the SB... while I looked forward to the game and avidly watched it, I really did not (and still do not) care one iota which team won.

[Jason in LA]

Hasselback got called for a low block when he was making a tackle. I thought that was kid of funny.

[Taco John]

I don't think the fix was on... But I could see how a Seahawks fan could sure feel like it. That was the worst officiating I can remember ever seeing in a Superbowl.

[enjolras]

I was on the fence until Hasselback got called for tackling someone.

[TheChamp247]

Yea I do agree with all the skewed calles by the refs but also what about the promo portion of it. For one the "I'm going to Disney World" commercial was almost all Steelers. Also the pregame pictures of the players holding the Lombardi Trophy were all Steelers. It's not like the game was a blow out the whole time and the Seahawks didn't have a chance, they were still in it. Kinda made me think.

[loborugger]

I dont think it was. There is soooo much money made on betting on the NFL that if the word ever got out that there was fixing.... I dont know.

Besides, if the NFL was gonna fix it, wouldnt they wanna fix it for Seattle? There is already a legion of Steelers fans. I would think they would want to create a little bandwagon for the Hawks fans to jump.

If there was any fixing, I would think that it would have been for New Orleans this season. They had a horrible season, I am not sure any fixing coulda saved that mess.

[Orange_Beard]

Every game changing pay the Hawks made was called back on a questionale call.

[Jason in LA]

It was funny when the side judge ran in with one arm up, signalling 4th down, then all of a sudden he puts the other arm up for a TD. A buddy of mine said that he felt the buzzer in his pocket so he put the other arm up.

[wabbit]

The ref crews must be going through a transition phase...new hires & the like.

There seemed to be a louder howl over officiating this year than I've heard in a while...me amongst them.

Yes, this game was officiated poorly. No, I can't believe there was a fix...they just stunk, which in itself is amazing when you consider the SB crew is supposed to be the best of the bunch as graded throughout the season.

That 'low block' call on Hasselbeck has to rank among the very worst in play-off history...if not the worst.

What's even more bizarre is that the head referee allowed the call. I mean, that's just basic football...yikes.

[Northman]

There was no fix, just bad officiating like it has been all season long. wah wah wah.

[meangene]

The officiating has been horendous throughout the playoffs. Yesterday was no exception. The "push off" or the phantom holding call that turned the game were jokes. Penalties for tackling, the after thought TD call. They looked like keystone cops out there. It was an embarassment!

[watermock]

Well, you couldn't really tell WTF was happening on the call on Hassleback, but evidently you can't tackle low on a return...some obscure rule I have never heard of...and have no clue why it exists...but one announcer said Hassleback never even touched him...maybe he got the number wrong...

This crew is supposed to be the best of the best and they were worse than a history teacher officiating a junior high game.

I don't want to believe the fix was on, it's a pretty risky proposition, but money talks and I'd like to know if there was a huge bet on Pitt in Vegas. It just smelled fishy. Every time Seattle would make a play, they would call it back. Two TD's called back? The low tackle call? The Vinnie Testeverde TD what clearly showed Bettis 4 inches short when they had replay? Everyone on the board said it was short.

Maybe Ruin was in on the fix too...WTF was he doing booting into the endzone from the 50 every time? He doesn't see the sideline?

The stats on this game would make you think that Seattle won, and that's without the nullified plays.

It was almost like Seattle was fixing it too. Ha! How many times did they have the ball at midfield only to watch Ruin boot it into the endzone for a 20 yard net.

And what was with the clock management by Seattle late? And the kicker was 0-3 or something? Holmgren is supposed to be an accomplished coach and he looked like a Middle School History teacher out there as well.

Just an ugly ugly game.

[Beantown Bronco]

The Roth "TD"....

An offensive pushoff that is never called....if it was, Michael Irvin would have less catches for his career than Lelie has right now.

The Hasselback penalty for a "tackle below the knees".

The fantom holding call that essentially wiped away another Seahawks TD (a pass play that would've set up first and goal at the one or two if I remember right).

No off-sides calls on the Steelers when Porter lined up off-sides nearly every time he was lined up as a DE. The most obvious time was right after a touchback. The Seahawks had it first and ten at the twenty and Porter had his hand on the twenty yard line. It couldn't have been more obvious than that. There was absolutely no doubt about where the line of scrimmage was. He also got an early start off the line on a sack of Hasselback on a key third down which pushed them out of field goal range.

And I had money on the Steelers, so it's not I'm just some bitter Seahawk fan with an agenda.

This was at least the third game this season that had me convinced the whole thing is fixed. I'm starting to get worried because it's really starting to affect my whole enjoyment of the game.

[Garcia Bronco]

Bar none this is the worst officiating I've ever seen in a season....and every year that passes I think this is fixed just a bit more.

[BroncoBen]

Yea I do agree with all the skewed calles by the refs but also what about the promo portion of it. For one the "I'm going to Disney World" commercial was almost all Steelers. Also the pregame pictures of the players holding the Lombardi Trophy were all Steelers. It's not like the game was a blow out the whole time and the Seahawks didn't have a chance, they were still in it. Kinda made me think.

The Steelers after beating the Colts became the new NFL darlings. This was suppose to be the year for the Colts. Makes you wonder how much influence the NFL has with the Refs.

[BombsOverBaghdad]

I don't think the fix was on... But I could see how a Seahawks fan could sure feel like it. That was the worst officiating I can remember ever seeing in a Superbowl.

Since the Broncos were not playing - and the fact that I live here in the Seattle area - I was pulling for the Seahawks.

The penalties called by the refs were a joke! How many times would you see Offensive Interference called? How could anyone view BR's (the Steelers) first touchdown and not admit that he did not break the goal-line plane with either the ball or body, before his knee touched? And, how can you call an illegal block when you are making a tackle?

Terribly officiated!!! The league should look into this.............

[TheDave]

Was the fix on... Stop that. The game wasn't fixed, nor was their a gunman on the grassy knoll, and yes we went to the moon.

The fact is, there was alot of bad officiating this year and the NFL needs to make these refs full time employees. I can't begin to understand why a billion-dollar business like the NFL won't commit to having full-time officials like every other major sport in the country. Anyone who watched the Superbowl... much less the regular season... can see that the league has a serious problem... But "Fixing" the games is not one of them.

[Mile High Shack]

yeah, I voted fix, but that is b/c, that is just what I do.......I kill flies with sledgehammers all the time

the #1 offseason priority for the NFL has to be the officiating, it was bad this year

[Disco Man]

The call on Hasselback after the threw the pic was just a joke..there were 3 or 4 calls that could have gone both ways. The tuchdown that they gave Ben, the pass int. in the end zone, the holding call that would have had Seattle on the 1 yard line. I think it was a BAD game for the ref's...the NFL needs to look at it's crews...this year had plenty of those "bad call" games. Just think if the Steelers would have lost the Indy game after the int. was turned around.

[broncosteven]

Maybe not a Fix per-se but the calls sure seemed one sided. A balanced called game would have been more interesting than the Turd we got serverd up yesterday.

[Garcia Bronco]

Here's the bottom line about this...whether it's true or not....when you turned off the game...you felt like you saw a fixed game. That needs to be addressed.

[Garcia Bronco]

Since the Broncos were not playing - and the fact that I live here in the Seattle area - I was pulling for the Seahawks.

The penalties called by the refs were a joke! How many times would you see Offensive Interference called? How could anyone view BR's (the Steelers) first touchdown and not admit that he did not break the goal-line plane with either the ball or body, before his knee touched? And, how can you call an illegal block when you are making a tackle?

Terribly officiated!!! The league should look into this.............

You can't low-block a blocker......but the kicker is...he didn't block the blocker....

[~Crash~]

The Roth "TD"....

An offensive pushoff that is never called....if it was, Michael Irvin would have less catches for his career than Lelie has right now.

The Hasselback penalty for a "tackle below the knees".

The fantom holding call that essentially wiped away another Seahawks TD (a pass play that would've set up first and goal at the one or two if I remember right).

No off-sides calls on the Steelers when Porter lined up off-sides nearly every time he was lined up as a DE. The most obvious time was right after a touchback. The Seahawks had it first and ten at the twenty and Porter had his hand on the twenty yard line. It couldn't have been more obvious than that. There was absolutely no doubt about where the line of scrimmage was. He also got an early start off the line on a sack of Hasselback on a key third down which pushed them out of field goal range.

And I had money on the Steelers, so it's not I'm just some bitter Seahawk fan with an agenda.

This was at least the third game this season that had me convinced the whole thing is fixed. I'm starting to get worried because it's really starting to affect my whole enjoyment of the game.

3rd game is all? heck the NG season was fixed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:wiggle:

[Garcia Bronco]

Was the fix on... Stop that. The game wasn't fixed, nor was their a gunman on the grassy knoll, and yes we went to the moon.

The fact is, there was alot of bad officiating this year and the NFL needs to make these refs full time employees. I can't begin to understand why a billion-dollar business like the NFL won't commit to having full-time officials like every other major sport in the country. Anyone who watched the Superbowl... much less the regular season... can see that the league has a serious problem... But "Fixing" the games is not one of them.

See...I don't get this argument at all...full-time....half-time...all-the-time...it's just a designation. These guys get paid more than enough to only be NFL officials.

[Elway 4 Life]

Here's the bottom line about this...whether it's true or not....when you turned off the game...you felt like you saw a fixed game. That needs to be addressed.
I wouldnt go as far as to say the game was fixed but I will say that Stevens sure did look like he got payed to drop everything thrown his way.

[TheDave]

See...I don't get this argument at all...full-time....half-time...all-the-time...it's just a designation. These guys get paid more than enough to only be NFL officials.

and are still able to work other jobs... If they were full time, they can dedicated more time to their career rather than treat it as just a well paid part time job. Obviously, officiating needs to be improved... make a full time (not part time) commitment to doing so.

[Garcia Bronco]

and are still able to work other jobs... If they were full time, they can dedicated more time to their career rather than treat it as just a well paid part time job. Obviously, officiating needs to be improved... make a full time (not part time) commitment to doing so.


Then they need to hire different people. I will say this though...many of them are doctors and lawyers...which are people of utmost good faith in our society. Utmost good faith is an important thing for the integrity of the refs.

[bronco_diesel]

and are still able to work other jobs... If they were full time, they can dedicated more time to their career rather than treat it as just a well paid part time job. Obviously, officiating needs to be improved... make a full time (not part time) commitment to doing so.

how would full-time change anything? there are only 16 games a year + preseason and camp. these guys know the rules, they know how to call a play...i just don't see how changing it to a year round thing helps much.

if by making it full time - then allowing for their salary to be fined for a obvious bad call...i can see that a little.

i think more importantly the nfl needs to show somehow that the refs are not paid for or bought off.

people see this kind of stuff-

denver vs. NE - i saw holding after holding after holdling that was never called against the NE oline - one or two calls and that game never comes down to 8 points.

denver vs. NYG - again, holding after holdling on the NYG oline + a few phantom calls against denver - result, denver loses. call one holdling play - which were at critical points of the game, and denver wins.

playoffs-
indy vs pitt - it was very clear that peyton was intercepted. Polamalu got two feet down, with the ball in possession, fell, rolled over, then fumbled on his way back up. i thought to myself at this moment - that is an obvious interception...if this gets changed via replay, then this league is surly fixed. the play was overturned.

there are many more examples to draw from, these are three with 2 being homer certified. the point is, a lot of fans are feeling the same way about their teams and officiating.

the nfl needs to do something - there is a growing belief that the league is fixed to some degree - if it is not true, the nfl needs to address this and show the fans they are committed to good quality football.

[bendog]

The guy who could really fix a game is Jake. He could take a snap, run 30 yards backwards, fall down, get up, make 3 guys miss, and throw a pick lefthanded that a 360pd fatty ran in for a score, and people would just say ... JAKE!!!

[KipCorrington25]

Nobody mentioned it and the broadcast only showed the replay ONE time but on Seattle's drive at the end of the half Jackson caught one and steped out at the one, it looked to me he had one foot in and the other foot slightly moved the pylon as he steped out. The pylon is in play, in my opinion this should of been reviewed and a Seattle touchdown. The annoucers didn't even notice and they only showed the replay ONCE.

The fix was in, what a joke.

Looked like NBA officials out there with the B.S. calls.

And I'm a neutral... in fact I was even sort of pulling for Pitt until I saw all the B.S. calls and changed my preference.

[watermock]

how would full-time change anything? there are only 16 games a year + preseason and camp. these guys know the rules, they know how to call a play...i just don't see how changing it to a year round thing helps much.

if by making it full time - then allowing for their salary to be fined for a obvious bad call...i can see that a little.

i think more importantly the nfl needs to show somehow that the refs are not paid for or bought off.

people see this kind of stuff-

denver vs. NE - i saw holding after holding after holdling that was never called against the NE oline - one or two calls and that game never comes down to 8 points.

denver vs. NYG - again, holding after holdling on the NYG oline + a few phantom calls against denver - result, denver loses. call one holdling play - which were at critical points of the game, and denver wins.

playoffs-
indy vs pitt - it was very clear that peyton was intercepted. Polamalu got two feet down, with the ball in possession, fell, rolled over, then fumbled on his way back up. i thought to myself at this moment - that is an obvious interception...if this gets changed via replay, then this league is surly fixed. the play was overturned.

there are many more examples to draw from, these are three with 2 being homer certified. the point is, a lot of fans are feeling the same way about their teams and officiating.

the nfl needs to do something - there is a growing belief that the league is fixed to some degree - if it is not true, the nfl needs to address this and show the fans they are committed to good quality football.

I've been watching football for 35 years and I'm seeing things the last few years I NEVER saw before. The "Patriots" allowed to maul recievers to the 10 in the 9/11 year. Now, you breath on a WR, it's illegal contact. If anyone thinks Brady didn't fumble that "tuck" they are insane. It was fun to torture RaiderFan tho. Ha! This "can't tackle low on a return" rule I had never seen called in 35 years, and how is a pinkie on a QB "down on contact". You have a 240 pound QB NOT DOWN and a pinkie brushes him...he flops down because he has the first, the ball squirts out without anyone touching him. "Down by Contact" is another call that has multiplied like cockroaches in a filthy kitchen in Florida. I'm also seeing alot of baloney roughing the QB calls. Your supposed to get a step and a half...I have seen it called clearly at 1/2 step. And now if players incidentally clash helmets, which was happening back to leather helmets, it's a PF. I'm getting pretty dissalutioned anymore. The refs are supposed to make an equal playing field, not decide games. Again, I was rooting for Pitt, but Seattle was playing 45 degrees uphill all day. And if that was Offensive PI, what about the push off no call in the Viking/Dallas game. And if Palamino's INT wasn't real, WTF was Butch Johnson's TD in the SB?

My two favorites among those mentioned was the odd Palamino Ha! "Didn't get his knee up after the intercepetion call" WTF was that? And the Bettis TD that replay clearly showed, and 19 of 20 posters here say it was totally clear he was short is just absurd.

And why was 90% of the attention about Pitt by the media? Bettis this...Big Ben that...and don't get me going on the non-holding calls against the Broncos. And WTF was that phantom holding call yesterday? I have seen Broncos getting tackled all day and not one call.

If this game wasn't fixed, it was certainly biased heavily. The Bus needs to earn his ring, not because the media wanted a cinderella ending.

[Alkazar]

Another thing that shows the fix was in: Seattle was the No 1 cede from the NFC while Pittsburgh was the No 6 cede in the AFC, Seattle had the better overall record, and yet Pittsburgh was concidered the home team and had like 90% of the fans in the stadium. How does that happen if the fix ain't in?

[defenseman]

This game DID NOT endear the NFL to any "Newbie" fans. If anything, they may lose fans. The NFL needs to fix the problems. There are going to be boring games, no doubt. However, the officiating was some of the worst I've seen in quite a while. You are supposed to save your best for last, not worst for last. The NFL needs to be reminded of that...dman

[-Slap-]

I wouldnt go as far as to say the game was fixed but I will say that Stevens sure did look like he got payed to drop everything thrown his way.
Worst case of the yips I've seen in a long time. He was even fighting that touchdown pass all the way.

[Elway 4 Life]

Worst case of the yips I've seen in a long time. He was even fighting that touchdown pass all the way.
Both he and porter should have stayed in the hotel and watched the game. All that sh1t talking and that's all they got. What a joke!

[Bronx33]

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