Seattle
  • Current Conditions
    45°
    Partly Cloudy
  • 1:00am
    43°
  • 4:00am
    42°
Full Forecast »
Severe Weather Alert
Affected Counties

Related To Story

Online Petition Says 'NFL Is Fixed'

POSTED: 8:34 am PST February 7, 2006
UPDATED: 8:45 am PST February 7, 2006

As fans continued to weigh in on calls by officials during the Super Bowl, a group has set up an online petition claiming the "NFL is fixed."

The petition, at http://new.petitiononline.com/nfl12006/petition.html, says "We, the fans of the NFL, will no longer stand by and allow our pure game to be corrupted by blatant bias."

The petitions ask fans for suggestions on how the problem can be fixed.

Seahawks fans are voicing outrage over what they say were game-robbing calls by officials in the Super Bowl.

In one, Darrell Jackson was called for pushing Chris Hope away as he broke to catch Matt Hasselbeck's pass in the back of the end zone. Replays showed Jackson extended his arm, but Jackson argued vainly there was no push involved. Seattle settled for a 47-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead -- instead of a 7-0 one.

Later, referees ruled that Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got the ball to touch the goal-line plane on his 1-yard score with 1:55 left, which put the Seahawks behind for good, 7-3.

Referee Bill Leavy upheld the call after a replay review. Holmgren then upbraided Leavy on his way off the field at halftime.

Holmgren walked over to Leavy, a fifth-year referee calling his first Super Bowl, and could be seen angrily telling him, "It wasn't even close."

The second half brought more Seahawks frustration.

Officials flagged first-year starting right tackle Sean Locklear for holding when Stevens did finally catch a pass, a 17-yard grab at the Steelers 2 with 12:11 left and Seattle trailing 14-10. On the next play, Casey Hampton bowled through Pro Bowl blockers Robbie Tobeck and Steve Hutchinson for a sack.

One play after that, Hasselbeck threw his game-breaking interception to doom Seattle's last chance of the game and of a suddenly lost season.

At a welcome home celebration at Qwest Field on Monday, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren took a shot at the Super Bowl officials, saying he knew the game was going to be tough, but he didn't know the Hawks were going to have to play the guys in the striped shirts as well.



Shop At The Online Mall

Sponsor Links

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Besieged by nagging aches and pains? You might have fibromyalgia. Read about the signs and symptoms. More Details

So you want a cool job huh? Find out what you could be making to do something you love. More Details

Paying down your debt is one of the most important things to do to get through a recession. Find out how you can lower your interest and escape your credit card debt. More Details

Learn about 7 of the most common skin rashes and everything you need to know to avoid getting them and treating them if you already do. More Details

Don’t be left out. Make the switch to Digital TV.

Cheerleaders Of The NFL

Check out slideshows from the NFL cheerleading squads! More Details


Consumer Info


Sponsored Content Provided by ARA

Sports Survey

Which college football team do you think should be ranked No. 1?

Sports E-News

Sign up to receive daily sports headlines.
 


Back To Top