Oops...
NFL admits officials erred on calls in Colts-49ers game
Posted: Wednesday October 21, 1998 09:10 PM
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Jim Mora: "I can't comment on it anymore. I'm done commenting on it. They admitted they were wrong. It doesn't help us any."
Vincent Laforet/Allsport |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NFL admitted Wednesday that officials blew two
holding calls in Sunday's Indianapolis Colts-San
Francisco game which negated two 49ers turnovers.
The two penalties kept alive San Francisco touchdown drives late in the
second quarter, cutting a 21-3 Indianapolis lead to 21-17 by halftime. The
49ers won 34-31.
In a rare move, the NFL announced that the league's officiating
department has determined Colts defenders did not hold San Francisco
receiver Terrell Owens
in two key second-half plays, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
"Therefore no foul should have been called on the Colts defenders in
either play," Aiello said.
In both cases, the holding calls negated interceptions by the Colts.
League officials also decided Colts coach Jim Mora will not be fined
for his comments after the game, in which he called the officiating "a
horrible job."
Asked about the league's admission Wednesday, Mora said: "Well, that's
what I thought, too. I can't comment on it anymore. I'm done commenting on
it. They admitted they were wrong. It doesn't help us any."
The Colts released a statement from president Bill Polian that referred
reporters to the league office.
"The league office has reviewed our questions in regard to the San
Francisco game. We appreciate their promptness in responding to our
questions," Polian said.
The disputed calls occurred late in the second quarter.
The Colts' Jeff
Burris was flagged for holding Owens, negating Burris' goal-line
interception and 70-yard return with about two minutes to go in the half.
Two plays later, 49ers quarterback Steve Young hit J.J. Stokes in the back of
the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. Stokes was pushed out of bounds by
Monty Montgomery as he made the leaping catch. After conferring, officials
ruled he had possession before being shoved, narrowing the deficit to
21-10. That call was upheld by the league Wednesday.
San Francisco pulled to 21-17 when Young passed 10 yards to Owens for a
touchdown with five seconds left in the second quarter. A defensive holding
call on Montgomery nullified an interception by Colts strong safety Robert Blackmon.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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