Steelers nip Dolphins thanks to bizarre ruling on strange fourth-quarter play

[LLT]

Steelers nip Dolphins thanks to bizarre ruling on strange fourth-quarter playMonday, October 25, 2010
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette




MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Having just picked the pockets of the bewildered Miami Dolphins, the Steelers were looking for a fast exit before ... who knows?

"Hurry up guys," coach Mike Tomlin told the news media as he entered their room following the Steelers' bizarre, 23-22 victory Sunday. "We have the buses warmed up."

Perhaps Tomlin remembered what Miami went through 10 years ago to win a game in New England by three points. The game ended, the teams left the field, and the Dolphins celebrated clinching the division. Ten minutes later, referee Johnny Grier informed Miami coach Dave Wannstedt that his team had to return to the field because the officials blew the call that was overturned by replay (Miami finished the win 35 minutes later).



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10298...#ixzz13MMenO81

[LLT]

Dolphins insist they had ball in end zoneMonday, October 25, 2010
By Bill Van Smith, Special to the Post-Gazette



MIAMI GARDENS -- Players seemed baffled rather than angry in the Dolphins locker room Sunday after their 23-22 loss to the Steelers.

The game turned in the final minutes deep in Dolphins territory when officials, after a lengthy video review of Ben Roethlisberger's third-down run, determined that the Steelers quarterback had fumbled before crossing the Dolphins' goal line but could not determine who recovered the loose ball in the end zone. The Steelers were awarded the ball at the Dolphins' half-yard line and kicker Jeff Reed knocked through the game-winning field goal on fourth down.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10298...#ixzz13MQmV41J

[Aussie_steeler]

They should be more baffled as to why they only came away with One TD and five FG's.

[LLT]

Here is a pic that shows Ikaika Alama-Francis on the ball, but not in possession of it....I would love to have the next few seconds of what happened, on video, from this angle. I know that Alama-Francis got out of the pile with the ball, but in this pic he doesnt have his arms around it. According to our RT, Jonathon Scott, he claims that he had the ball, not Alama-Francis, and let it go when he was told to by the ref who was saying that it was a touchdown.

[Aussie_steeler]

Inglorious shot of Kemo " heads down bum up". So many Tim Lumber jokes come to mind

Now thats funny LLT

[LLT]

A mystery at the bottom of the pile
By Mike Prisuta -- WDVE-FM



a a FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Dolphins linebacker Ikaika Alma-Francis emerged from the mass of humanity in the end zone with the football.

But when did he get it? And how did he get it? And had there been other hands claiming ownership of what was eventually ruled a fumble by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with 2:30 remaining on Sunday afternoon at Sun Life Stadium?

Read more:
http://www.steelers.com/news/article...7-d0aa3faeee76

[HometownGal]

Sparano says it best:

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano also held back any show of anger.

"I'm not going to get into what I think," he said. "What I think at the end of the day is it was a big play in the game, but it shouldn't have come down to that play. We had plenty of opportunities to win the football game and we didn't.

[stillers4me]

Offensive tackle Jonathan Scott said the field goal by Reed shouldn’t have been necessary.

“Yeah, me and (guard) Doug (Legursky) had it,” Scott said. “We definitely had it. My arm went numb getting it. It was a situation where Doug had two hands on it and I had one. The ref said, ‘Let go, it’s a touchdown, let go, it’s a touchdown.’ So we let the ball go.

“It’s conflicting from what the ref said when he was explaining the whole situation because if we had the football it would have been a touchdown. Now, the situation of who gets the touchdown, either me or Doug, you don’t really know.”

Head Linesman Jerry Bergman signaled touchdown as Roethlisberger was crossing the goal line, a call that was overturned by Steratore’s replay review. The official play-by-play sheet explained, as Steratore had on the field, that the “2nd part of review was not able to determine who recovered the ball.”

“Under that pile I was holding onto it with one of their guys and whoever else was under there,” Roethlisberger said. “But I actually had a whole arm around it until the ref was patting me on the back saying ‘touchdown,’ so I let go. I heard ‘touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown,’ so I let go. I didn’t want my arm to get broken.

“I had a piece of it under there. And so, I believe, did Doug Legursky. We were holding onto it, as was their player. I’m not denying that he (was) holding onto it. But we let go so that’s just a matter of how do you tell who recovered the ball? I don’t know how you do it.”

. If even one Steelers had their hands on that ball after the fumble then it was a TD. They let it go because the refs told them it was a TD and then the Phins came up with the ball. Maybe we was robbed of some points and the whole arguement is moot.

Who knows....only that it's much better for the media to make a stink beause the Steelers won.

[stillers4me]

Sparano says it best:

At that is the bottom line. That's the Steelers way. I'm sick of football players acting like whiney little girls.

[Kaeg]

We would have been the ones screwed if it was ruled Dolphins ball. And I believe unfairly. As much as the Dolphins may be able to claim it was unfair the way it happened. Then it wouldn't have been fair either because of the several times mentioned fact that it was initially ruled a TD and we really had no reason to fight for it at that point. I'm just glad that some of them did fight for it anyway, seemingly for no reason, and at least made it unclear who came up with it.

[Vis]

At that is the bottom line. That's the Steelers way. I'm sick of football players acting like whiney little girls.

Did they threaten to retire?

[Texasteel]

I think it was the proper can. I said that last night. You can not award the ball to the Fins because you think they may have been able to cover it. It was the Steelers ball before that mess, it should have and was the Steelers ball after.

[Texasteel]

Did they threaten to retire?

Don't fret about it. I'm sure half the Steeler offense will be fined over this.

[TheRuneMeister]

The way I see it, the second they call touchdown on the field there is no way it would be fair to award the ball to the Dolphins since the Steeler players 'might' have stopped playing the ball after seeing the TD call. (though it looks like they didn't). Especially not when breaking up the pile by telling the Steelers players that it was ruled a touchdown. Someone has to let go at some point...at we are talking more than 30 seconds after the play is dead.

I know that is not the rule, but that is simply the only fair way to look at it. They should stop whining and be happy that it wasn't ruled a TD after review.

Its not like they didn't get the ball in their hands at the end of the game to win it. All they needed was a field goal, and they came up short.

EDIT: And by the way. Why doesn't anyone mention the 'dirty tactics' in choosing their white 'away' uniforms in order to try and overheat their opponents (same as tampa). Talk about 'cheating' your way to an advantage.

[Vis]

The way I see it, the second they call touchdown on the field there is no way it would be fair to award the ball to the Dolphins since the Steeler players 'might' have stopped playing the ball after seeing the TD call. (though it looks like they didn't). Especially not when breaking up the pile by telling the Steelers players that it was ruled a touchdown. Someone has to let go at some point...at we are talking more than 30 seconds after the play is dead.

I know that is not the rule, but that is simply the only fair way to look at it. They should stop whining and be happy that it wasn't ruled a TD after review.

Its not like they didn't get the ball in their hands at the end of the game to win it. All they needed was a field goal, and they came up short.

EDIT: And by the way. Why doesn't anyone mention the 'dirty tactics' in choosing their white 'away' uniforms in order to try and overheat their opponents (same as tampa). Talk about 'cheating' your way to an advantage.

Isn't it true that only Ben could have recovered it for the Steelers?

You can't be serious about the uniform color thing.

[SteelMember]

Isn't it true that only Ben could have recovered it for the Steelers?

I believe the "holy roller" rule states that only the fumbler can "advance" the fumble.

Anyone can recover it.

The fact the the officials weren't looking for possession early didn't leave them much room to assume any more than on the play... even after the review.

[SteelMember]

One thing's for sure though... Ben was very sloppy and careless with the ball, more than once yesterday.

[Texasteel]

Isn't it true that only Ben could have recovered it for the Steelers?

You can't be serious about the uniform color thing.

Not sure Vic but I think that is to advance the fumble. It would not have been a TD.

Not saying this was an intentional dirty trick, but you wear a black tee shirt out in the hot sun and I think you will notice a difference. I never wear black during our summers.

[Vis]

Not sure Vic but I think that is to advance the fumble. It would not have been a TD.

Not saying this was an intentional dirty trick, but you wear a black tee shirt out in the hot sun and I think you will notice a difference. I never wear black during our summers.

Miami has worn white at home since 72.

[tube517]

That's true but that rule applies only in the last 2 minutes or any time on 4th down.

I believe the "holy roller" rule states that only the fumbler can "advance" the fumble.

Anyone can recover it.

The fact the the officials weren't looking for possession early didn't leave them much room to assume any more than on the play... even after the review.

[Vis]

What's the rule about fumbling into the endzone? I can't find the actual rule.

[tube517]

If they fumble it into the end zone and the ball goes out of bounds, it is a touchback for the defense and they get the ball. So, if Ben's fumble went out in the back of the end zone, it would be Miami ball at their 20. Otherwise, any member of the Steelers can recover it because it was not in the final 2 minutes or 4th down.

What's the rule about fumbling into the endzone? I can't find the actual rule.

[LLT]

What's the rule about fumbling into the endzone? I can't find the actual rule.

I believe...that the Holy Roller Rule says.... If an offensive player fumbles during the last two minutes of a half or on fourth down... only the player that fumbled can recover and advance the ball. If another offensive player recovers the ball it is placed back at the spot of the fumble. If a defensive player recovers they can advance the ball as far as possible.

In the case yesterday (shich was not a 4th down or within the last two minutes)...had the whistle NOT been blown and an offensive player recovered in the end-zone, it is a touchdown...if recovered by a defensive player it is a touchback and they get the ball on the 20.

[Texasteel]

Miami has worn white at home since 72.

Don't say it was a dirty trick, just said it makes a difference.

[X-Terminator]

Don't say it was a dirty trick, just said it makes a difference.

The Steelers could do the same thing to teams in September when it's still pretty warm here, but the fans would riot if they didn't wear black at home.

[LLT]

Miami has worn white at home since 72.

Not true.

They do wear white at home during day games....but the Dolphins traditionally wear the Aqua uniforms at home during night games.

[Texasteel]

Not true.

They do wear white at home during day games....but the Dolphins traditionally wear the Aqua uniforms at home during night games.

Now that makes it sound a little more fishy.

[X-Terminator]

Not true.

They do wear white at home during day games....but the Dolphins traditionally wear the Aqua uniforms at home during night games.

They also have an orange alternate jersey that they wear at home once or twice a year.

[TheRuneMeister]

Isn't it true that only Ben could have recovered it for the Steelers?

You can't be serious about the uniform color thing.

Its a fact that they do it for the 1'o'clock starts (mostly) in order to force the opponent to wear colors. Tampa did the same thing against the Steelers this year, though I don't know if they have a tradition of doing that like Miami does. I don't know how big an effect it has, but in my book it is kind of a dirty trick and they know it. The heat and humidity alone gives them the same advantage that the winter gives the Steelers at home games. No need to be jerks about it.

As others have mentioned, the recovery rule only applies in the last 2 minutes and on 4th down.(unless they changed it recently)

[Vis]

Its a fact that they do it for the 1'o'clock starts (mostly) in order to force the opponent to wear colors. Tampa did the same thing against the Steelers this year, though I don't know if they have a tradition of doing that like Miami does. I don't know how big an effect it has, but in my book it is kind of a dirty trick and they know it. The heat and humidity alone gives them the same advantage that the winter gives the Steelers at home games. No need to be jerks about it.

As others have mentioned, the recovery rule only applies in the last 2 minutes and on 4th down.(unless they changed it recently)

There are no rules about which uniform to wear. Home team picks.

I thought there was a specific endzone rule so a player being tackled couldn't fumble forward for a TD