One of the NFL replacement officials at the heart of the most controversial moment of the lockout said that Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has reached out to him.
Wayne Elliott awarded Golden Tate and the Seattle Seahawks a game-winning touchdown Sept. 24 on a Hail Mary pass that appeared to have been intercepted by Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings.
The resulting firestorm is thought to have spurred the league to reach an agreement with the regular officials.
Elliott told Showtime's "Inside the NFL" that his phone didn't stop ringing for 72 hours. One of the messages left was from McCarthy.
"He called me at my house last week because he had heard I was having a rough week with all the calls and everything," Elliott said during the segment. "Wanted (me) to know that he thought what I did -- controversial and maybe he didn't agree with it -- (but he thought) I handled it with class."
Asked if he would stick by his call after seeing the replay, Elliott said: "I'd probably call interception. I learned a rule by ******** up the rule."
The league issued a statement after the game saying that Tate should have been called for offensive pass intereference.
Elliott said that during training he remembered being told that "you don't really call interference on a Hail Mary. ... You just let it go."
Despite all the controversy, Elliott would not trade the experience of being an NFL referee.
"I had the time of my life," he told "Inside the NFL."
at this point, it doesnt matter. its too late...and if this has any real playoff effect down the road, everyone will want to burn his house down anyway.
Even if it goes up to 10 bucks a gallon, that will be money well spent.at this point, it doesnt matter. its too late...and if this has any real playoff effect down the road, everyone will want to burn his house down anyway.
Actually Packer fans have a history of taking it out on their dog.You got his address by chance? lol
Actually Packer fans have a history of taking it out on their dog.
I have checked it out but it is still a fun myth like theAll a urban legend
check into it
Actually Packer fans have a history of taking it out on their dog.
i think it's waisted time thinking 'bout the Bad Call. Wenn didn' t loose that Game because of that Bad decision. Instead of blaming the ref werden should realize, that we just played bad football. I think there were certain Situations we had our chances, but we screwed them.
you're right, the Play was the very last one... but i don't agree with you loosing the Game by just that single Play. There were enough plays before, and many mistakes done before that very Play, right? I just think it's too cheap blaming only the ref for the loss, although the Call was as false as it gets
you're right, the Play was the very last one... but i don't agree with you loosing the Game by just that single Play. There were enough plays before, and many mistakes done before that very Play, right? I just think it's too cheap blaming only the ref for the loss, although the Call was as false as it gets
I have checked it out but it is still a fun myth like theEaster Bunnybalanced budget or my vote counts.