Dolphins jobbed on Sharper's TD, replay

If you haven't seen the photo in Sports Illustrated that should fry your frank, here it is:

 
  
The photo clearly shows that Saints safety Darren Sharper fumbled  before he crossed the goal line in the third quarter of the Saints' 46-34 victory over Miami.

The play was ruled a touchdown in the third quarter of the game, cutting Miami's advantage from 24-10 to 24-17. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano threw a challenge flag. And he lost the challenge and a time out.

What's the point?

The point is this photo proves Sharper did not score. It further means the Dolphins should have gotten the ball at the 20 yard line after a touchback while still nursing a 24-10 lead.

Sparano was asked today if he saw the photo (by the way, if you want to see a bigger image, click on it).

"Yes," he said.

And his thoughts?

"No comment," the coach said after a pause, obviously not wanting to say anything that would incur a fine from the NFL.

You, however, are encouraged to comment.

Comments

[Marc]

Good hustle by teddy after the enormous mistake. i think we all knew it was a fumble, and while it did contribute we still had a collapse of epic proportions...not like they can start the game over from that point

[Brian]

So ted ginn's hustle play to strip the ball finally gets verified as a fumble. Maybe all the Ted Ginn haters should all take a deep breath and lighten up with the critical comments at least for a day.

[Pete Rose]

Ron Marinucci is the ref (LJ 107) according to the gamebook on nfl.com. Someone needs to see if he's betting on the games.

[Vancouver FinFan]

I knew the Phins got screwed on the call during the game and could not believe it wasn't overturned. Reversing that call would have had a huge effect on the game!

Everybody has been on Ginn for bobble that lead to the interception, and that is justifiable, but it was Ginn who raced back into the play to knock the ball loose. The play should have ended with Miami retaining possession and going from the 17 yd line to the 20 yd line but the team got screwed.

I think the team got hosed on the Bess fumble as well. To me the movement was Bess switching the ball from one arm to the other and it was moving and did come out but it was clearly in/on his hand when his knee was down.

[Phins87]

The refs called the whole game for the saints it's like they payed them to call it besides that one play we got called in favor of us that whole game was rigged it's a shame and good for ginn getting that FF let this be a lesson for NFL and see that these reffs need to go back to ref school!

[Albo]

There were two Vidio camera men on that corner of the field - End Zone and 5 Yard line. Why weren't those used for replay?

[Marc]

Again teddy is the scapegoat. he's an easy target. he was the #9 overall pick. yet, including that play i've seen him tackle on turnovers and special teams on several occassions. he gets flack because he plays "scared", but, last time I checked when you're on offense the objective is to avoid getting tackled...just a thought

[Brian]

So ted ginn's hustle play finally gets confirmed as a fumble. Maybe all the ted ginn haters can take the day off. The guy is being handed way more blame for the phins 2-4 record than he should.

[Cory A.]

My thoughts are that it was a make up call for the malfunction of the equipment in the first quarter. It's complete BS, but nothing we can do about it now. a bunch of shoulda, coulda, woulda's.

[Brent]

I will give Ginn credit for making up for the previous interception. Too bad the officials won't. Just poor execution on their part. How do they miss that on instant replay. The fact that coaches can't speak out against this crap without getting fined is outrageous.

[JJay]

14 points off BS calls...lol. can't wait to see the refs calls in new york. why do i spend $300 for the sunday ticket only to see my team go down like that.

[D-dense]

Armando, it doesn't change the end result of the game ( the photo) is it? The officals see it one way, the reply shows another and so does this photo. It's like the jets fans, morons. Three differnent people see an accident, all three have different perspectives. So do we change the score or call it was it was. A bad call, it's just 1, right. What about all the bad plays from our secondary, those count and made the difference in this game.

[JPM]

More Saints coverage. Please focus on the Jets! The Jets are being overlooked and may just pull out a win because everyone on the Dolphins is still focusing on the Saints!

[thecryingyears]

Should have never had the ball in the first place.

[Josephus]

I go back to the stupid time out before halftime that allowed them to pull within 14.

You know both teams went to their rooms thinking: "It's only two TDs".

Two TDs is nothing for the Saints.

But Sharper's TD just made the Dolphins play different after that.

I gotta tell ya...this coaching staff has had a couple of crap games. I would put ATL, IND and the Saints on either Sparano or the coordinators.

[Matt]

JPM-

How is 'everyone on the Dolphins' focusing on the Saints. Armando asked the question. Armando posted the info in his blog, not the Dolphins.

Relax Francis.

[JWDolfan]

The turning point in the game was the Bess fumble and it was questionable at best. Then if the wr is called down as he should have been the last 5 sec run off and were up 24 to 3 at the end of the first half. Then we get screwed on this call. It seemed clear on the replay I saw he lost the ball before crossing the goal line. The score at this point should still have been 24 to 3 not 24 to 17, huge difference.

[Josephus]

Ted Ginn comments on here...how about he CATCH SOME BALLS.

Him and his buddy Tony "Dropsy" Fasano.

I love this team so much that I'm actually starting to hate them. I can't take the hurt much longer. Almost 40 years now...this is bordering on an abusive love affair.

I wanna puke.

[John Madden]

You know what I take from this photo... 5 Dolphins still hustling down the field trying to make a play... Theres no give up in this team... Regroup and spank the Jets.

[jets suck]

Typical... we play the other team AND the refs each week. Too many bad calls against the Fins this year already...time for them to even out. Wish we could fine the hell out of these old fart refs that cheat us weekly. BTW- jets suck

[Josephus]

We gotta spank the Jets. I don't care if we win another game the rest of the season (and we're not going to make the playoffs...get a good draft pick)...but beat the Jets.

One more win...this Sunday. That's all I want. Win 2 over the Jets.

[Mac]

This is not not surprising. There is nothing that is 100% accurate. If you want to ensure officials making decisions that are completely accurate then address adding more cameras from different angles on the field to ensure that every angle of every play is covered. That would at least take some of the guess work out of a challenge. I hate this 'inconclusive' junk. Make it conclusive NFL.

[Aloco]

WHY DIDN'T THE REF TO VIEW THE PLAY ?
WHY THE PEOPLE WATCHING THE GAME IN THE STANDS TOLD HIM TO PROTEST ASK THE REF FOR A REPLAY ?

IT DIDN'T LOOK AS A FUMBLE IN THIS PICTURE TO ME

[Mac]

WHY DIDN'T THE REF TO VIEW THE PLAY ?
WHY THE PEOPLE WATCHING THE GAME IN THE STANDS TOLD HIM TO PROTEST ASK THE REF FOR A REPLAY ?

Translation please.

[Phinhead_Drew]

We can cry to the heavens about this play and the timeout call. But the fact of the matter is that we never should have allowed them to get into positions where the outcome could be in doubt. Especially with the lead we had

[bryan in ohio]

got screwed on the bess call as well as this terrible call that should have resulted in a TOUCHBACK for the dolphins also reggie bush did'nt get in either....horrible and what good is instant replay if these morons can't get it right.!

[Mac]

Actually, the Bess fumble was the correct call. The ball came loose before his knee touched, so I'm not sure how one can say the call was incorrect.

[Aloco]

SORRY,MAC ..........WHY THE COACH DIDN'T ASK THE REF FOR VIEWING THE REPLY ?I DON'T SEE ANY FUMBLEL IN THAT PICTURE .DO YOU MAC ?

[Mac]

Aloco, heck yeah I do. Blow up the picture and you can clearly see that Sharper DOES NOT have possession of the football.

[bangee TED GINN's #1 FAN]

TED GINN WILL RISE FROM THE ASHES AND TAKE HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AS THE NUMBER 1 WR FOR THE DOLPHINS LOOK FOR HIM TO HAVE A BOUNCE BACK GAME< SCREW THE REFS AND THE NFL THEY WANT ANOTHER 16-0 TEAM BUT IT AINT HAPPENING < CHEATERS NEVER PROSPER LOL , THATS NOT THE ONLY CALL WE GOT SCREWED ON BUT HRY WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE

[FISH TANK]

MAC IS RIGHT ABOUT THE BESS CALL .BESS DID COAST THAT GAME FOR US

[John Raleigh]

I thought that was the case. I could not understand why a reverse angle shot wasn't available on the replay. New Orleans had several calls go their way in that game..

[Mac]

Bess didn't 'cost' us the game. Come on man. Did we lose the game on that one play? Were we up by 21 when that fumble occurred? As if there weren't other factors involved in 2nd half that didn't play a part. A team loss. Unreal.

[ALoco]

easy mac ,i don't see a fumble there .the ball clearly in his hands and he still running .we are not donkeys ,we can see and hear .

[KillerDolphin]

I dont give a dam how fast he ran after the guy After the ball hit him on both hands a bounced right to Sharper that fact is he caused the fumble with those rocks he calls hands and his issues have and will cause us games we should have never given that ball up to saints to begin with and to all those Fans out their a good size of our failure's this this year have been caused by Ginn!! When your are the star clutch 1# WR you get the ball your way when it COUNTS!! and when you catch it you get all the glory when you don't then you get all!!! The grief this season has soon us that Ginn isn't the the #1 WR and shouldn't get paid or the important passes like one and the hunt go's on for a #1 WR this next off season so don't be delusional about him with the those comment like look at the huslte after the int Come on man the guy is the cause of most of our disappointment in clutch moments!!

[dolfanman13]

Ginn is a lousy WR...maybe his true-calling was to play defense.

[Mac]

Aloco, not much else can be said for you if you still see the ball clearly in his hands. I don't know too many players running with a ball 'in their possession' around their knee pad.

[bobbyd12]

God, we have caught the short end of the stick all season from the refs...it's obvious that ball is out, why is there instant replay if they can't get simple things right??? This is why refs need to be fined and suspended by the NFL for calls like that one!!!

[Ricardo]

I SEE THIS AND I JUST WANT TO PUKE. I AM REALLY SURPRISE THAT THIS WAS NOT BROUGHT EARLIER IN THE WEEK. THESE REFS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE LEAGUE. EVEN PEE-WEE OFFICIALS CAN CONFIRM THAT SUCH BALL DID NOT CROSS THE GOAL-LINE. I JUST HATE TO BLAME THIS ON THE REFS BECAUSE ITS OBVIOUS THAT MIAMI BLEW IT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER BUT, HEY A 24-3 GAME ITS NOT THE SAME TO A 24-17 GAME. MOMENTUN ALREADY HAD SHIFTED AND WE GOT SCREW. ROGER SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND RETURN MY MONEY'S WORTH FROM THAT SUNDAY AT THE PARK.

[NJ PHIN FAN]

Right on MATT ! LOL @ JPM>

[Mac]

Well, that was a still shot obviously not only from a high-resolution camera, but also from a perfect angle. More cameras in different angles need to be added to the replay review system. Find a way NFL. Having to rely on these TV angles, which in some cases are worthless, is a shame. It speaks to the integrity of the game.

[dolphnfan]

What about the call at the end of the first half. The ref called it a touchdoown, causing the clock to stop with 5 seconds. Hed the ref mad the right call, the Saints were out of time outs, the half would have ended. Because of that bad call (and our time out) the Saints scored then and on this bad call. That is 14 unearned points. Cant change it now, but we were robbed.

[NJPHIN champ]

spot on mac .

[FinfanfromCA]

What blows my mind was the fact there was a referee right next to where it had happened and the ref without hesitation gave the two arms high in the sky touchdown signal. And everyone knew it was a close call but to have him immediately give the signal, especially the wrong one?!?!?!? That ref should be fired. I knew it was a fumble and I had a worse angle. Refs are suppose to keep the game fair but instead they give u a bad taste of the sport because they can't they can't do their job right even when they get paid to do it. I suggest quit with all these old ass refs because evidently there vision is blurred and there brain can't process to make a right call. Two bad calls in this game that resulted into touchdowns. Reminds me of that superbowl game with the Steelers and Seahawks.

[Wayne Fontes]

I told you Mando that was a fumble...(I finally got one right).

Keep up the good work.

[thought we were InFINcible]

What exactly is the ref looking at?? I think we all could see that it was a fumble from our couch. As much as I love football, it further puts into question the integrity of the NFL. Pats would have gotten every call we didn't get in that game, and you can take that to the bank!...maybe ref 107 already did!

[NYFINFAN]

It was obvious from one of the replays they showed during the game.

The camera angle from the other side of the endzone showed the ball flying across the goaline with no hands on it to slow its progress.

Absolutely terrible call made even worse by this photo.

[Mark in Toronto]

No shite they got screwed. I saw the same thing on high def on my tv, boggles the mind how the review refs or even the blind donkey ref looking right at the play couldn't see it.

This is not even to mention Colston not coming within a country mile of reaching the end zone at the end of the first half that led to the clock stoppage.

Refs lead directly to 14 Saints points last week and bogus penalty calls lead to Jet points the week before.

Doesn't anybody investigate these bafoons or is the entire NFL fixed? It's one or the other.

[Dolfdan13]

My favorite part of the picture is the ref standing right in front of the play. Just look at him, bent-over super focus, and still he doesn't see its a fumble.

Mark Sanchez better bring some weiners for Sunday's game.

[finsup]

the officiating across the board in all major sports is an absolute joke right now. NFL, college football, MLB, NBA, NHL. No matter who you root for you cant help but notice it.

it is unbelievable with all the attention paid to the finer details by coaches, players, fans, media etc. that officials are not held to a higher standard. and the fact that coaches are not allowed to speak about bad calls is terrible. bad officiating should not be considered "part of the game" it should be considered a problem and unfortunately no one seems to have a solution. and as long as they keep running out these 80 year old fossils who cant run or see straight things will not change.

[NJPHIN champ]

it's not a fumble fish fans .every time you lose you try blame some one else but not yourselves .
GO JETS,

[Jet Fans Blowboma]

It sucks that the outcome of this game was impacted by the refs. Could we have stopped the Saints, who knows, but the refs are making too big an impact on games. Baseball umps are screwing up as well. The game moves so fast, but give me a break. Players and coaches lose their job over this. Refs and Umps should have the same treatment. If I screw up at my job I get written up and maybe fired. If the refs had some form of progressive disipline maybe they'd have some incentive to get it right. Now they just don't get the extra $$ because they're grade is not high enough to ref playoff games.

We were 6 seconds away from getting screwed in the Jets game as well due to the PI call on the one by Allen. Every broadcaster and sports network I saw called that a BS call as well. It's time to get it right and let players decide the outcome, not the refs.

[Yitz]

It doesn't matter. I'm long over whining about the refs, for any game. You have to play, and you have to win. Don't get stuck in a situation where you are dependent on the refs not to screw up a call.

[DOLPFIN]

WHO EVER THAT REF IS, SHOULD B BANNED FOR A GAME WITHOUT PAY. HE RIGHT THERE N SEE THE DAMN BALL OUT N STILL CALL TD N THEN CALL IT AFTER THE REPLAY FROM THE RED FLAG, HE SAW THIS SAME PIC UNDER THE HOOD N STILL CALL IT. SOMEBODY NEED TO B CHECKING THE REF'S FOR BETTING ON THE GAMES.

[Fire Everybody]

Catch the damn ball and this is a non-issue to begin with. But we don't want people who can catch the ball. We want people from good families. To hell with this franchise.

[EmoFinFan]

rats!

[Marc]

What I just noticed and can't believe is one of those SIX Dolphin's is none other than Jake Long...How the heck did he get down there so fast?

[perspective]

Coaches, players and anyone else associated with either team is not allowed to comment on officials calls. It would make the NO FUN LEAGUE look bad. To me I think they’re overlooking an obvious question/fact here. Gambling. Not just in this game, in every game. No one can tell me these lawyers, dentists, and other professionals //supposed officials don’t play favorites and also gamble. I think since the NFL is as profitable as it is, it’s time to find and train offiicials and make them work at this on a full time basis. Having someone investigating these people should not be considered off limits. It is a big part of the outcome of every game every week. While it’s one thing to listen to Sparano, Henning and Pasqualoni make excuses for their players, it’s quite another when the officials are in complete control of the outcome, and no one is officiating the officials.
It's time to fix this.

[Napsndreds]

The saints game just won't go away it seems

[Marc]

So, IA officials? It'll never happen. It's kind of like the Spygate scandal. Destroy the evidence