McCarthy says call to ref was the 'right thing'
Share This Story
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)
Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Friday that he called the replacement referee who made the call on a final play that cost the Packers a game against the Seattle Seahawks to offer his support.
''I felt the phone call was the right thing to do. That's why I made it,'' McCarthy told Newsradio 620 WTMJ.
A pass to Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate that appeared to be intercepted by Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings was ruled a touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 14-12 win on Sept. 24. Referee Wayne Elliott didn't make the call but he reviewed the play and let the ruling stand.
Elliott revealed the call in an interview shown Wednesday on Showtime's ''Inside the NFL.''
''He called me at my house last week because he had heard I was having a rough week with all the calls and everything. He wanted me to know he thought that what I did ... maybe he didn't agree with it, that I handled it with class,'' Elliott said.
In McCarthy's interview he was reluctant to talk about his phone call to the referee.
''It was a phone call that I placed with the intent of it being a personal phone call. Obviously, I didn't think this was going to be the outcome,'' McCarthy said, referring to praise he's received from around the nation for making it. ''I've asked the football team to move on.''
Elliott was asked what he would have called if he had been one of the two referees in the end zone.
''I'd probably call interception,'' Elliott said.
Replacement referees worked the first three weeks of regular season games, triggering a wave of outrage after a number of questionable calls. It was the one that cost the Packers a win that seemed to recharge negotiations between the league and its union referees, who reached a deal later that week that ended the lockout.
As for the last play, the NFL issued a statement a day after the game that the final play was correctly ruled a reception but that interference should have been called moments earlier on Tate, which would have given the Packers the win.
In the Showtime interview, Elliott was asked about how officials are trained to handle the so-called ''hail Mary'' plays.
''(For) the deep officials, it was brought up that you don't really call interference on a hail Mary... The deep officials were trained that during a hail Mary, there's a lot of bodies in there and you just let it go,'' Elliott said.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Tiger, Sergio are both chicken
Neither Sergio Garcia nor Tiger Woods did anything to promote better race relations. ... -
Teen strangled by dog lead
A Kentucky high school football player known as a "jokester" was strangled by a dog l... -
Flock, Petty highlight new class
Flock. Petty. Jarrett. Ingram. Roberts. New Hall class is diverse. -
Reports: 'Melo has torn labrum
His final numbers may not have indicated it, but New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony... -
Man, 80, becomes oldest atop Everest
An 80-year-old Japanese mountaineer on Thursday became the oldest man to reach the to...
NFL Videos
Billick and Jones: Players primed to perform
Posted: May 23, 2013
Brian Billick and Taylor Jones have young players primed for big seasons.
Brian Billick and Taylor Jones have young players primed for big seasons.
Throwback Thursday: Russell Wilson
Posted: May 23, 2013
Highlights of Russell Wilson as a high school quarterback in Richmond, VA.
Highlights of Russell Wilson as a high school quarterback in Richmond, VA.
Marvez: Urlacher calls it a career
Posted: May 22, 2013
Alex Marvez on the career or Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Alex Marvez on the career or Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.
NFL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Jets/browse/featuredproduct/800466/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800466_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike New York Jets Just Do It T-Shirt - Green - |
| Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Steelers/browse/featuredproduct/800489/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_800000/ff_800489_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike Pittsburgh Steelers Just Do It T-Shirt - Gold |
| Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Francisco_49ers/browse/featuredproduct/801102/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_801000/ff_801102_xl.jpg&w=100 | 27.95 | Nike San Francisco 49ers Blockbuster T-Shirt - Scarlet |
| Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Detroit_Lions/browse/featuredproduct/825450/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825450_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Calvin Johnson Detroit Lions Game Jersey - Light Blue |
| Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_England_Patriots/browse/featuredproduct/825465/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_825000/ff_825465_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Rob Gronkowski New England Patriots Game Jersey - Navy Blue |
| Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Giants/browse/featuredproduct/830781/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_830000/ff_830781_xl.jpg&w=100 | 94.95 | Nike Eli Manning New York Giants Womens Game Jersey - Royal Blue |
| Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Denver_Broncos/browse/featuredproduct/845755/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_845000/ff_845755_xl.jpg&w=100 | 99.95 | Nike Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Game Jersey - Orange |
| Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Jacksonville_Jaguars/browse/featuredproduct/851602/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851602_xl.jpg&w=100 | 49.99 | Nike Justin Blackmon Jacksonville Jaguars Draft Game Jersey - Teal |
| New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Green_Bay_Packers/browse/featuredproduct/853845/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853845_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era Green Bay Packers On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Green |
| New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_Orleans_Saints/browse/featuredproduct/853852/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_853000/ff_853852_xl.jpg&w=100 | 34.95 | New Era New Orleans Saints On-Field Performance 59FIFTY Fitted Hat - Black |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.