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The Nola No-Call

The 2019 NFC Championship Game

Time of Play:

Egregiousness:

Summary:

“ Yes, I got there too early. I was beat, and I was trying to save the touchdown. Yes, I got there too early. I was beat, and I was trying to save the touchdown. Nickell Robey-Coleman (Rams CB)

via Twitter @RobertKlemko (January 20, 2019)

https://twitter.com/RobertKlemko/status/1087137228319608833 via Twitter @RobertKlemko (January 20, 2019)

Effect:

Apology:

Fallout:

“ It (making pass interference a review-able call) has been (discussed) and for good reason, and let's hope that that at some point is (addressed) sooner than later. It (making pass interference a review-able call) has been (discussed) and for good reason, and let's hope that that at some point is (addressed) sooner than later. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints Head Coach (2016)

https://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2016/10/sean_payton_doubles_down_on_de.html



Boycott Bowl

The New Orleans market, outspokenly bitter about the Nola No-Call, posted a nation-wide low telecast rating. This could be due to the Super Bowl alternatives occurring throughout the city on the day of the Big Game- collectively known as the



“ #NOLA has spoken.



Super Bowl LIII earned a 26.1 rating in New Orleans, the lowest of of any market and the lowest ever in New Orleans. #NOLA has spoken.Super Bowl LIII earned a 26.1 rating in New Orleans, the lowest of of any market and the lowest ever in New Orleans. Jeff Duncan (NOLA.com Sports Columnist)

via Twitter @JeffDuncan_ (February 4, 2019)

https://twitter.com/JeffDuncan_/status/1092438225698897920

via Twitter @JeffDuncan_ (February 4, 2019)



[ADD PHOTOS OR BOWCOTT BOWL]

The New Orleans market, outspokenly bitter about the Nola No-Call, posted a nation-wide low telecast rating. This could be due to the Super Bowl alternatives occurring throughout the city on the day of the Big Game- collectively known as the "Boycott Bowl" Instead of watching Super Bowl LIII, Saints fans joined in on Second Lines in the streets and watched Super Bowl XLIV (where the Saints defeated the Colts for their first Lombardi Trophy) in the many bars re-airing the game. The New Orleans area posted just a 26.1 viewership rating for the Super Bowl.

Officials :

*Of these, only Baynes and Hill are full-time officials. The rest are listed as part-time.

Go State!

Concerns have been raised regarding the hometowns of four of these officials. Coincidentally, the four in question are the same officials



The location of the LA Coliseum and the hometowns of the four officials under scrutiny for the Nola No-Call The location of the LA Coliseum and the hometowns of the four officials under scrutiny for the Nola No-Call



No one seems to have seen the play.



“ It's a judgment call by the officials. I personally have not seen the play. It's a judgment call by the officials. I personally have not seen the play. Bill Vinovich (Head Referee/Crew Chief, 2019 NFC Championship Game) when asked by a reporter about the play

https://nypost.com/2019/01/21/refs-explanation-for-blown-saints-rams-call-is-unacceptable/



When officials are assigned games to call, hometown locations are typically no longer taken into account. These are, after all, professionals. However it is not unheard of for referees to recuse themselves, or be reassigned. Long-time NFL referee and Phoenix resident Ed Hochuli would often not be assigned to games involving the Arizona Cardinals. Mike Carey, a resident of San Diego, would not be assigned Chargers games. And in 2012, a referee scheduled to call a Saints/Panthers game was reassigned after he admitted to being a Saints fan on social media.



In an ironic twist, some fans of the Los Angelos Rams



After the game, the officiating crew's

Concerns have been raised regarding the hometowns of four of these officials. Coincidentally, the four in question are the same officials under the most scrutiny due to their given responsibilities on the play in question. All four reside in Southern California.Head Official and Referee Bill Vinovich lives in Newport Beach, California. Down Judge Patrick Turner, tasked with keeping an eye on receiver TommyLee Lewis throughout the entirety of the play, lives in Lakewood, California of Los Angeles Country. Side Judge Gary Cavaletto, who was responsible for focusing on the target receiver once the ball was in the air, lives in Santa Barbara, California. Back Judge Todd Prukop, who lives in Mission Viejo, California, was standing in the end-zone and was supposed to be an extra set of eye for the crew.No one seems to have seen the play.Shortly after the conclusion of the game, NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Alberto Riveron talked with the members of the officiating crew . During the meeting, Bill Vinovich claimed it wasn't his call to make, while Side Judge Gary Cavaletto tried to describe it simply as a "bang-bang" call. When the crew was then shown video of the play, and of how Robey-Coleman ran straight through Saints receiver TommyLee Lewis before the ball arrived, the room reportedly fell silent. Faced with undeniable evidence of how Robey-Coleman "whacked his ass" ( his words, not ours ), the officials had no further excuses.When officials are assigned games to call, hometown locations are typically no longer taken into account. These are, after all, professionals. However it is not unheard of for referees to recuse themselves, or be reassigned. Long-time NFL referee and Phoenix resident Ed Hochuli would often not be assigned to games involving the Arizona Cardinals. Mike Carey, a resident of San Diego, would not be assigned Chargers games. And in 2012, a referee scheduled to call a Saints/Panthers game was reassigned after he admitted to being a Saints fan on social media.In an ironic twist, some fans of the Los Angelos Rams attempted to petition Vinovich's crew to be replaced for the game. Since 2008, the Rams has lost 8 straight games called by Bill Vinovich and his crew. Fortunately for the Rams, the petition was unsuccessful.After the game, the officiating crew's hotel accommodations were changed due "to an abundance of caution". Law enforcement assisted in the move, and reports surfaced that the crew was subject to repeated harassment from enraged fans. Additionally. security guards were posted outside of the hotel room throughout the night.

Awards Earned:

Holding

Your Breath

no official response from the league for three (or more) days

Unsportsmanlike

Response From the Fans

dangerous or illegal

reactions by the fans

Notable Responses:

“ Obviously it's a disappointing way to lose the game. Frustrating. Just getting off the phone with the league office- they blew the call. And man there were a lot of opportunities. That call puts it first and ten, we only need three plays, and it's a game changing call. And that's where it's at. So it's disappointing. Credit the Rams- they made enough plays though. They won the game. The kicker made some big kicks. But for a call like that not to be made, it's just hard to swallow. And then to get a phone call. So what do you do? Obviously it's a disappointing way to lose the game. Frustrating. Just getting off the phone with the league office- they blew the call. And man there were a lot of opportunities. That call puts it first and ten, we only need three plays, and it's a game changing call. And that's where it's at. So it's disappointing. Credit the Rams- they made enough plays though. They won the game. The kicker made some big kicks. But for a call like that not to be made, it's just hard to swallow. And then to get a phone call. So what do you do? Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints Head Coach

From the NFC Champtionship Game Post-Game Press Conference

https://www.neworleanssaints.com/video/week-3-playoffs-sean-payton-postgame-press-conference From the NFC Champtionship Game Post-Game Press Conference

“ It was simple, they blew the call. It should never have not been a call. They said not only was it interference, it was helmet-to-helmet. Two calls. They just, they couldn't believe it. It was simple, they blew the call. It should never have not been a call. They said not only was it interference, it was helmet-to-helmet. Two calls. They just, they couldn't believe it. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints Head Coach, when asked what explanation he was given about the non-call

From the NFC Champtionship Game Post-Game Press Conference

https://www.neworleanssaints.com/video/week-3-playoffs-sean-payton-postgame-press-conference From the NFC Champtionship Game Post-Game Press Conference

“ No team should ever be denied the opportunity to reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions, of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field. As is clear to all who watched the game, it is undeniable that our team and fans were unfairly deprived of that opportunity yesterday. No team should ever be denied the opportunity to reach the title game (or simply win a game) based on the actions, or inactions, of those charged with creating a fair and equitable playing field. As is clear to all who watched the game, it is undeniable that our team and fans were unfairly deprived of that opportunity yesterday. Read More... Gayle Benson (Saints Owner)

Official Statement (January 21, 2019)

https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/statement-from-saints-owner-gayle-benson Official Statement (January 21, 2019)

“ Your (Commissioner Goodell) continued silence on the matter is unbecoming of the position you hold, detrimental to the integrity of the game and disrespectful and dismissive to football fans everywhere. Your (Commissioner Goodell) continued silence on the matter is unbecoming of the position you hold, detrimental to the integrity of the game and disrespectful and dismissive to football fans everywhere. Read More... Benjamin Watson (Saints TE)

via Twitter (January 24, 2019)

https://twitter.com/BenjaminSWatson/status/1088567526542458881 via Twitter (January 24, 2019)

Media:

THIS JUST IN: On the Pontchartrain Causeway... pic.twitter.com/32LNrYw28b — WWL-TV (@WWLTV) January 20, 2019

Bill Vinovich is one of the refs in the St. Mary's at BYU basketball game on ESPN2. Surprise No. 1: His crew overturned a call. Surprise No. 2: He's not working the UCLA game at Pauley Pavilion. pic.twitter.com/Hvd7N3a2xv — John Bialas (@johnbialas) January 25, 2019

LAR 26 - 23 NO (F/OT)Late in the NFC Championship Game, two obvious penalties (Defensive Pass Interference; Helmet-to-Helmet/Targeting) go uncalled to change the outcome of the game, and who went on to play in Super Bowl LIII.Video of the Play: https://www.neworleanssaints.com/video/sean-payton-livid-after-no-penalty-on-third-down-incompletion 1:45 remaining in 4th Quarter3½ out of 4With just under 2 minutes left in the game, the Saints were facing 3rd and ten from the Rams' 13 yard line. A first down would, for all intents and purposes, seal the game. The Saints could run three consecutive times and kick an all-but-gimme game winning field goal, leaving around 20 seconds remaining on the clock. And with only one time-out remaining, the Rams were essentially hopeless in spoiling the Saints' second ever Super Bowl berth.Without ever taking his eyes off of his receiver's wheel route, Saints QB Drew Brees lobbed the ball into single coverage, where Rams CB Nickell Robey-Coleman never put his eyes on the ball. The cornerback, who would later admit to being beat on the play, opted to take a chance on a Defensive Pass Interference penalty over a most-assuredly game-winning touchdown and plowed straight through the intended receiver TommyLee Lewis.Not only did Nickell Robey-Coleman willfully interfere with the receiver's ability to catch the ball, but he also made helmet-to-helmet contact with Lewis (Robey-Coleman was later fined $26,739 for the hit). Either of the penalties would have given the Saints an automatic first down, along with the ability to run the clock down to around the 20 second mark on the game clock, before kicking the potentially game-winning field goal. Neither penalties were called.With just under 2 minutes left on the game clock, the New Orleans Saints were forced to settle for a field goal, giving the ball to the LA Rams with only a 3 point lead. The Rams went on to tie the game in regulation and win with a 58 yard field goal in overtime.Yes. Minutes after the game ended (and before New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton even had a chance to reach the podium for the post game press conference, the NFL's Head of Officiating Alberto Riveron had personally reached out to him to admit "We messed it up." It took NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell an additional 10 days to publicly address the non-call when he was asked about the play two Wednesdays later at the opening press conference for Super Bowl LIII, known as the 'State of the League' address. In it, Goodell echoed Riveron's statement that the officiating crew missed the call, chalking it up to human error.It's too early to determine what changes the league will implement as a direct result of the game- the NFL Competition Committee usually convenes in August before the start of each season. Sean Payton, a member of the 8-person group, has called for pass interference to be added to review-worthy calls as early as 2016. If anything is to be done, now is the time.As a more immediate result of the play, NFL fans everywhere were witness to one of the dullest Super Bowls of recent memory, as the Rams managed only a single field goal in their 13 to 3 snooze-fest (i.e. "Defensive Masterpiece") loss to the New England Patriots.Initial reports of the ratings for the Super Bowl were the lowest posted in the past decade - the nation-wide rating was 44.9. The Los Angeles area, not doing much to help their own team's ratings for the Super Bowl, claimed an embarrassingly low rating of only 44.6, surprisingly below the national average for the game.Bill Vinovich, Referee (13 years experience)Bruce Stritesky, Umpire (13 years experience)Patrick Turner, Down Judge (5 years experience)Rusty Baynes, Line Judge (9 years experience)Tom Hill, Field Judge (20 years experience)Gary Cavaletto, Side Judge (16 years experience)Todd Prukop, Back Judge (10 years experience)Mike Wimmer and Bill Ellis, Replay Official/Assistant