Minnesota Vikings Add To Collection Of Apologies From League Office

by Christopher Gates on Dec 16, 2011 9:53 PM CST in Minnesota Vikings 2011 Season

From the league that brought you such classics as "that touchdown catch by Visanthe Shiancoe never should have been overturned" and "oh, yeah, your quarterback did take a lot of cheap hits in that NFC Championship Game that were never called" comes their latest blockbuster, "Hey, guess what? We f***ed up again!"

Believe me, I'm as shocked as you are.

@TomPelissero
Tom Pelissero Frazier said #Vikings did turn in non-call of facemask on Joe Webb to the NFL. Result? "They sent us a reply, and it was a facemask. "
Dec 16 via TweetDeckFavorite RetweetReply

Awesome. Hopefully the league will let us know when the Vikings get to road trip back to Ford Field for that one untimed down from deep in Lions' territory.

In a way, it's nice of the league to actually have some sort of accountability when it comes to these sorts of things. On the other hand, the officials that screwed up the call won't face any sort of meaningful punishment, and it still goes down in the loss column for the Vikings.

Is there any team in the NFL that receives as many apologies from the league office for the incompetence of the officials as the Minnesota Vikings do? I'm really not sure that there is.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I think that is very nice of the league to apologize like that

by abba7 on Dec 16, 2011 10:13 PM CST reply actions 7 recs

Wow do I want one of these at work for inane co-workers.

“Let’s see, the GAFOM scores your question a -20!” Great job abba7.

by Caretaker QB on Dec 17, 2011 1:27 AM CST up reply actions

To qoute Will Smith in "Independence Day".......

I’ve gotta get me one of those!

Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is a war room!

by VikesFaninNM on Dec 17, 2011 9:31 AM CST up reply actions

Win.

I'm still a Minnesotan at heart...

by urluckyday on Dec 17, 2011 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

Did you know?

That the refs are all part-time workers hired by the NFL? The NFL, with billions upon billions in revenue don’t have any full-time refs on their staff. If you want to complain about officiating, I’m all ears.

But you should check out this blog as well. They may be the only guys on the planet holding NFL refs accountable.

Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.

by CCNorsemen on Dec 16, 2011 10:25 PM CST reply actions

This one, too

http://www.footballzebras.com/

13.

Build Lasers And Stuff For More Ownage, Dude!

by Wiedmann on Dec 17, 2011 2:28 AM CST up reply actions

... I don't know.

There’s been alot of strange calls by the refs these last few years that seem to stick out. But the Vikings certainly seem to be the ones getting stiffed the most since ’09. Or maybe it just seems that way to us because we pay attention.

I really can’t think of any other team with as many high-profile gaffes by the refs that have effected the outcome of a game in the past couple years.

by REVENGE4KLUWE on Dec 16, 2011 10:35 PM CST reply actions

I have proof that they cheat themselves!

Who you gonna flag there?

by abba7 on Dec 16, 2011 10:40 PM CST up reply actions

How did Tom Pelissero learn of the ref's apology

When Childress made it public that the NFL had apologized, Childress was fined $35,000. So how did Pelissero gain this knowledge? Did someone in the Vikings organization leak it? Will there be another fine?

by vking1 on Dec 16, 2011 11:05 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Now i see it

It was Frazier. Will he be fined for disclosure?

by vking1 on Dec 16, 2011 11:07 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I'm sorry guys

you have had the worst luck. Hopefully you bounce back next season, the Vikings and the Broncos should both be good!

Brad James

Follow me on Twitter

With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!

by the new Bradfather on Dec 17, 2011 1:22 AM CST reply actions

Could you guys loan us some of your luck?

Good luck in the playoffs!

by Coolio12 on Dec 17, 2011 8:03 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

Thanks!

Brad James

Follow me on Twitter

by the new Bradfather on Dec 17, 2011 1:08 PM CST up reply actions

have to say

That call was one of the worst “missed calls” and so were the penalties in the championship game, specifically the hit below the knees that would have brought the interception back to the red-zone for the Vikings.

But as much as it pains me because I can’t stomach the Packers (mostly because of certain fans) they were screwed in the playoff against Cardinals two years back with an identical call when Rogers was hit in the facemask.

It is tough when the only ref responsible for ooking at the QB during the play is screened from the quarterbacks front. Maybe this refs should be in better shape and move their butts in order to get the view they need!

by fox1962 on Dec 17, 2011 7:00 AM CST reply actions

The difference being

That the league reviewed the non-call on the Rodgers play and said it wasn’t a face mask.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2009/news/story?id=4816830

The NFL issued an explanation of the rule, noting that "twisting, turning or pulling" the facemask is a 15-yard penalty but the penalty for an "incidental" grab of the face mask was eliminated before the 2008 season.

They reviewed the non-call on the Webb play and said that it was a face mask.

SBNation Minnesota - For the greatest sports fans in the world.
The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!
"Don't do anything by half. If you love someone, love them with all your soul. When you go to work, work your ass off. When you hate someone, hate them until it hurts." - Henry Rollins
Follow @DailyNorsemanSB
Follow @SBNMinnesota

by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2011 9:26 AM CST up reply actions

great great point

webbs facemask was ten times worse. the hits on favre in the nfc champ game were insane.
i am sick of us getting screwed.

that ref should be held accountable and suspended for the season

by los vikingos on Dec 17, 2011 9:51 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

Apology for Drew Pearson's 1975 push off?

Can we expect that anytime soon? Ancient history, but it still makes me mad along with an arrogant Hank Stram strutting along the sideline in January 1970!

by TexasViking on Dec 17, 2011 10:07 AM CST reply actions

Thanks for recking my day

Ill be pissed all day now…took me 35 years to get over it now the clock starts again!!!

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
George Bernard Shaw

"In those days the best painkiller was ice; it wasn't addictive and it was particularly effective if you poured some whiskey over it."
George Burns
Follow @justanothervike

by just another viking on Dec 17, 2011 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

It seems to me there was a couple of bad calls against the Vikings in a playoff game against the Washington Redskins. I remember Sean Salisbury being yanked around by the facemask for a no call. It also seems like Washington caught a pass that hit the turf first and counted. Both plays were crucial third downs. Was this 1993?? Does anyone else recall this game??

by vking1 on Dec 17, 2011 9:00 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Goodell Anybody?

I hate to bring this up, but (oh what the hell, no I don’t)…It makes one wonder if old “Jolly Roger” is still pissed at the Vikes for the Starcaps incident with the Williams Wall? That and the fact that the league is trying to plant a team in the L.A. area in the near future? I know, I know, the NFL has publicly stated it is working to help the Vikings with a new stadium but one can’t help but wonder with the long line of close game losses against the team due to missed or bogus calls the last couple of years.

by purplegrey on Dec 18, 2011 11:04 AM CST reply actions