For what it's worth... FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots head coach Bill Belichick opened his Monday afternoon press conference with a statement about the incident at the end of Sunday night's game in which he grabbed an official as he was leaving the field. "I've been asked about the situation at the end of the game, so I'm just going to take a couple of minutes to explain that, and that'll be the end of it. On the final kick, after we took the timeout, and rushed the kick, from the sideline I saw the ball go pretty close to the upright, I couldn't obviously tell from where I was at where exactly it went. But I saw players waiving that it was no good, then I saw the officials giving the signal that it was good, and I just wasn’t sure from where I was standing whether the ball, when it went over the cross bar, was above the upright or in-between or not in-between the upright. So by rule, if the ball isn’t over the crossbar, and it’s either inside or outside of the upright, that’s reviewable. If it’s over the crossbar, over the top of the upright rather, then it’s not reviewable. I couldn’t tell, from my angle, when the ball crossed the crossbar, where it was. So I didn’t know whether or not that play was going to be under review or whether it wasn’t. “So when the game was over, I went out and I was really looking or an explanation from the officials as to whether or not the play was under review. I did try to get the official’s attention as he was coming off the field to ask that, but I really wasn’t able to do that. “I’ve coached in this league a long time. I’ve never been penalized, never had any incidents with officials or anything like that. I have never meant any disrespect or in any way tried to abuse or be disrespectful to the officials and the job that they do. I was trying to get an explanation for obviously an important call/play in that game. That’s the No. 1 thing between coaches and officials, it’s always at the forefront, just communication of what’s going on and what’s happening. “As many of you know, I’ve been involved in a game like this before, in 2000, here in Foxborough with Johnny Grier as the referee. Drew [Bledsoe] was trying to throw a pass at the end of the game against Miami and the ball was ruled a fumble. The clock ran out and the game was over. Then, as I was walking off the field with Johnny at that time, I talked to him about ‘This seems like an incomplete pass, there should be more time on the clock, we should have another play here.’ [His response was] ‘No, that’s the ruling, the game’s over.’ We go back into the locker room, 10 minutes or so later, Johnny comes back and says they are reviewing the play and we may have to go back out and finish the game. About five minutes after that, players got dressed, we came back out for a final play in that game. “So I’ve been through a situation at the end of a game where it’s over, but it’s not over, that type of thing. That was really the situation last night. I was trying to get the official’s attention to get an explanation on it. In no way, was I ever trying to do anything other than that. “I have nothing further to add about that situation, but that’s what happened.”
To be honest, I kind of believe him. That doesn't justify him putting his hands on the ref but his story does make sense. Whether it's true or he just worked it out with the PR team to make it sound better I guess we'll never know. He looked pretty upset, obviously, but Harbaugh looked way more angry at the ref and then made his story that he was trying to call a timeout...I don't buy that story for a minute. BB's actually kinda makes sense. Still hope they fine him.
I think the explanation is plausable but like ^ said that doesn't give Bellichick to place his hands on an official. I also think if Bill really meant this he would have said after the game at the presser that all he wanted was an explanation. He wouldn't need to have gone into detail but simply saying I wanted an explanation would have worked fine then. Waiting 2 days to say something makes it seem made up and insincere.
Who cares? It's the Patrashits and the worse that will happen is a slap on the wrist. We've seen this before, maybe they burn the film too.
When the real refs are back, Beli just bought himself a few calls. Nothing like showing a little solidarity to make a union guy's heart grow fond. Not that that's why he did it...but I understand.
I thought he said he wanted to invite him to the Blue Oyster bar with Brady to show there were no hard feelings....but that he was open to some later.
100% believe BB. He's a smug son of a bitch but we know he's not stupid. The refs fucked the explanation of the kick up (as in there was no explanation).
As much as I hate BB and understand you cant touch the ref.....I dont blame him. Not saying it was good or not, but just ending the game and no explanation....nah....that was messed up. That being said, its still no excuse and I would like to see him held to the same standard as others who touch the officials.
I didn't think he was trying to grab the official, it looked more like he was trying to put some hot sauce on him. Totally unacceptable and this deserves a fine and maybe even a suspension.
The NFL has already said he won't be suspended and has yet to fine him..surprise..surprise. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8...-suspended-interactions-replacement-officials "While Belichick and Harbaugh will avoid suspensions, Belichick is expected to be fined. Discipline could be announced as early as Wednesday, a source told ESPN's Ed Werder."
there are lines in sports that cannot be crossed, this is one of them. for these guys to allow him to grab the ref like that and not punish him severely is just asking for something out of control to occur. dont touch the referee, period! everyone knows that. and he should be severely punished. he is actually lucky he grabbed the guy who was pretty good sized, there was one guy that looked like a rail. if he had grabbed that guy like that he would have knocked him down. and that would be a whole other issue. dont be surprised if it happens again and the next time its worse. they are setting teh bar VERY low when it comes to physical contact with referees
agree completely. this just screams of favoritism towards bellichick. i know i sound like a crazy jets fan saying that, but come on, you got to be kidding me that this guy isnt going to be suspended for grabbing a ref in anger. thats just unacceptable. harbaugh too, but if they did it to harbaugh theyd have to do it to belli, so you know...
If that's really what happened, why did he grab him then turn around and walk the other way? If he thought he had a valid point he could have walked along with him and pled his case.
He wasn't trying to plead a point. If you read correctly he said he was asking if the ball was over the upright and wanted to know if there was a review happening. He didn't try to tell the ref the kick was good. When he realized the ref wasn't going to stop, he turned and shook hands with Harbaugh. Wallace actually grabbed a ref the week before and got a fine. Harbaugh bumped a ref and threw a profanity laced verbal attach him, then claimed a few minutes later when he got flagged for it that he was just trying to call a timeout. Edit: Per the NFL, Harbaugh will not be fined. Belichick will get a stiff fine $50 to $100K and that will be fair. If he shoved the guyor got in his face then some of these silly suspension popsts on here might have some basis in reality.
I didn't think they would suspend him. I think it's just the NFL's way of really saying sorry we fucked up but we're still kind of sort of going to take the officials side. IMO what Mike Wallace did the week before was worse
No, but I don't think it would have been only 50k either..of course if it was Rex he may have ripped the ref's arm off.
