In the eyes and minds of many, the Green Bay Packers got stifled on Monday night in Seattle when the refs awarded possession, and by that, a touchdown, to Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate.
The play is unquestionably going to be discussed and debated in all sports circuits as the week goes on.
As time expired, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson launched a Hail Mary pass to the back corner of the endzone. Packers' safety M.D. Jennings went up and gained initial control of the ball, yet Tate did a good job of getting his hands in between the ball and Jennings' chest. The refs, assuming simultaneous possession, awarded the catch to Tate. The play was reviewed, and the call was upheld. Chaos ensued.
The Packers' left the field without argument or comment; they knew any case they would make would be a losing one. The call was made, and that was that. Putting this play aside, because in reality it is an unusual and difficult situation to referee, this game was full of dubious rulings that may just put critics, players, and fans over the edge.
Enough is enough with the replacement officials.
In the press conference afterward, anyone could expect Packers' head coach Mike McCarthy to be visibly vivid and verbally irate. That would actually be completely justified. But McCarthy, a Super Bowl ring already on his finger, calmly and politely rejected to answer any questions about the referees.
He admitted that he couldn't see the play from his vantage point, that he had't seen on a replay, and that he was "told that M.D. Jennings had caught the ball."
Despite all this, he didn't take the opportunity as an excuse to bash the replacement officials. He would let the media and the writers take care of that. Instead, McCarthy, after suffering a loss that was probably unfair, criticized himself for allowing the offense to run so stagnantly.
McCarthy's reaction was absolutely brilliant and commendable. Anyone can complain, and McCarthy, unlike so many whiners, would have good reason. Instead, he took the high road.
He has cemented his reputation as a professional and class act. Green Bay will be okay. They are immensely talented, and they will overcome this adversity.
Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson also were very classy in their post game comments. Rodgers called it "awful" while Wilson commended his defense and Rodgers for their impressive play.
McCarthy, Rodgers, and Wilson are proof that this league is full of talented players with excellent morals and ethics.
The league needs to step up and put referees on the field that will prevent controversies like this from ensuing. Until then, a huge applaud for McCarthy and his poise in the presence of what I will blatantly and simply call "insanity."
Jordan Farmar Derek Fisher Pau Gasol Lamar Odom Baron Davis Blake Griffin
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