Hey ref..

[Cyclopsis Joe]

I hate the 'Phins, but jesus, if that wasn't a screw over, I don't know what was.

For those of you not in the know: Dolphins up 17-14, 4th Quarter. Pittsburgh makes a big play, but the receiver's foot goes out of bounds ~2 yard line. Sabin sees the replay, and throws out the red flag..BEFORE the ball was snapped for the PAT.

Officials don't see it, so basically, as far a they're concerned, he didn't challenge.

Good job refs, what a great way to start the season.

[LMU]

You'd think that in the year 2006 there would be better methods of alerting a referee of a challenge than throwing a little red piece of fabric on the ground. Until they find something better, they need to instruct refs to actually pay attention to the world around them in-between plays.

[STL FANATIC]

He should be able to use another replay challenge to prove he did the first one...

Or the NFL and the refs could just not be morons.

[FiddySicks]

You'd think that in the year 2006 there would be better methods of alerting a referee of a challenge than throwing a little red piece of fabric on the ground. Until they find something better, they need to instruct refs to actually pay attention to the world around them in-between plays.

Yeah im thinking shock collars will do the trick.

[Mac the Knife]

On the other hand though, Saban threw that flag with all the conviction of a ten-year old schoolgirl, literally doing an underhanded double-pump.

While I agree the Fins got jobbed on the call, (1) if I'm challenging that play I'm throwing that damned flag so far that it lands near the kicker, and (2) Pittsburgh would've scored anyway and it likely wouldn't have made any difference in the game's outcome.

[Bleujayone]

You'd think that in the year 2006 there would be better methods of alerting a referee of a challenge than throwing a little red piece of fabric on the ground.  Until they find something better, they need to instruct refs to actually pay attention to the world around them in-between plays.

Yeah im thinking shock collars will do the trick.

Flare Guns, Boat Horns, Marine Signals Flags, Taser Shots...

Either that or maybe he could just hit the ref with this little red bean bag.

[VandyDelphia Mike]

Either that or maybe he could just hit the ref with this little red bean bag.

Payback for how Phil Luckett did Orlando Brown?

[slapshot]

How about Saban throwing it a little earlier?

Saban is roaming the sidelines with the flag in his hand. Just standing, waiting. You cna see him just staring at the snapper. It didn't even look like he was calling for the ref. At the last second, he half-assed tosses the flag, and the ref doesn't see it, so the conversion is made.

This is the Dolphins getting screwed?

Why does it take so long for the coaches to decide to throw the flag or not? Five seconds earlier, everyone sees the flag.

It's no one's faultbut the coach's if he waits too long to throw the flag and no one sees it.

[fiasco!]

it's absolutely saban's own fault. if the flag were not weighted, i could understand the weak toss, but it's weighted....he could have thrown that thing to mid field and got someone's attention. granted, pittsburgh probably would have scored a TD or FG anyway, but the momentum may have been stopped a little if only saban used a little bit of conviction on that throw.

[CC97]

I agree with placing fault on the coach here... he waited till the last possible second, then weakly tossed it behind every referee...

Whoops.

[Korkie]

I agree with Chris, Sabin should have thrown that flag much sooner and with more conviction, but still there needs to be something better. They got rid of the buzzer system. Why not something like a walkie-talkie or cell phone? In a loud stadium the coach needs to get the refs attention somehow. Also, Goodell was in attendance, so I wonder if he'll say/do anything about it. That said. The Dolphins lost that game themselves last night. That play was 80+ yards by a tight end, then 2 straight INTs. The Steelers defense took over and won that game.

[Frenchie]

Huge DolFAN here, and that alome makes me not a huge fan of Saban.

Come on!!! (using Mad TV's Michael mcDonald's MARVIN TIKVAH's character's tone)

In today's technologically advanced world, somedy had to call down to the sideline with the verdict.

On the other hand, I'm not a big fan of challenging a spot at the 2 yard line vs a touchdown.

At that point in the game, the Steelers were picking up momentum, and were managing the clock very well, give them their stinking 7 and go back on the attack. We needed to score, and we needed to do it quickly. We didn't need to watch our defense on the field for another 60-90 seconds of precious clock time.

Problem is, we didn't come back with a 2TD 2-minute drill. Culpepper looked hesitant in the pocket, and without his running game, he's not better than ... let's say: JAY FIEDLER... that's right, the guy who got booted out of town. I was a huge fan of his, and his ability to fight back, and run a 2-minute drill.

The Doolphins' line did an awesome job at giving Daunte tons of time to find his receivers. Why did it take him so long to start hitting Chambers?

On a different note from the braodcast: how many time can Madden and Michales say the name Roethlisberger in a broadcast? Especially when the guy is NOT dressed (and I mean NOT DRESSED, come on guy, get rid of the backward cap and put a suit on... NFL needs to follow NBA's example with dress code). batch was playing a great game and all we were hearing was Ben this, and Ben that, and I'm pretty sure he even got more On-Screen exposure...

Let's not forgot, we got beat by the Super Bowl Champs... But it would have been great to keep the winning streak going.

[nyk]

Nick Saben said he couldn't step out the box when he threw the red flag. NFL Offical stated that when they took the buzzers away 2 years ago. That was one nessecary reason when a coack can step out the box to get the referees attention.

At first i was like the Dolphins got screwed, but now that I know that they could have stepped out the box, i dont be its the officals fault. Saben should have done a better job gettin their attention. At some point the officals have to keep their eye on the play that is going on the field.

[jkrdevil]

Nick Saben said he couldn't step out the box when he threw the red flag. NFL Offical stated that when they took the buzzers away 2 years ago. That was one nessecary reason when a coack can step out the box to get the referees attention.

At first i was like the Dolphins got screwed, but now that I know that they could have stepped out the box, i dont be its the officals fault. Saben should have done a better job gettin their attention. At some point the officals have to keep their eye on the play that is going on the field.

Actually I remember mentioned on the broadcast that the NFL stated Saban could have ran on the field and thrown the flag to get the refs attention.

[tBBP]

This is something that WILL be addressed before next season, if not sometime this season...alerting refs to an on-field challenge, that is. MARK MY WORDS.

Having said that, even if he wanted to wait to see a replay, he could have thrown that thing DIRECTLY AT THE BACK OF THE LINE JUDGE'S HEAD OR YELLED FOR HIM OR SOMETHING if he really wanted to challenge.

Now, having said THAT...

...the city of Miami along with Dolphins nation (if one exists) is going to crucify Saban about that one, if they haven't already. If anyone remembers anything about this guy later on in his career, that'll be one of them--the challenge that wasn't...

Now, having said all THAT...

...it realyl would not have mattered one ioda had the challenge been called and the call reversed, because the Steelers were going to score anyway--be it 3 or 6--and with all that was going on yesterday, with Mayor O'Connor's funeral earlier in the day and it being opening night and the game being here, and with how strongly the folks in this city tie their very lives' EXISTENCE into the Steelers, wasn't no way the Steelers were going to lose that game. Just like the Super Bowl. Wasn't no way. (Even if the Seahawks actually EXECUTED--read:CATCH SOME BALLS AND TACKLE SOME PEOPLE--Pittsburgh would have still won, because of it being Bettis' last game--in his hometwon nonetheless.)

[DEAD!]

Hey Saban, have you considered using a foghorn?

[evobost]

His toss of the red flag was ridiculous. The ref is standing there with his hands on his knees waiting for the snap, and Saban gently tosses the flag right behind him, come on. This is all Saban's fault.

[lilgump]

I think every coach in the league now is aware of the rule where they can run onto the field to throw the flag.

They used to have the buzzer but it malfunctioned too much so they took it out 2 years ago. Is the NFL not smart enough to create a buzzer that works?

And to say pitt would have gotten 3 or 6 anyways, look what happened on their last drive when they were at the 1. You never know.

[Tazz013]

They used to have the buzzer but it malfunctioned too much so they took it out 2 years ago. Is the NFL not smart enough to create a buzzer that works?

That's "malfunctioned" - the coaches would use the buzzer just to call a ref over so they could yell at them.

What they should to do is set up wireless remotely triggered lights on the down/LoS markers and give the coaches remotes for them. Somebody ought to see a spinning/flashing light (or lights, maybe different colors for home/visitor) on the top of a down/LoS marker. To prevent accidents, make the remote require two buttons to be pressed at the same time.

[myartsaywhat]

(2) Pittsburgh would've scored anyway and it likely wouldn't have made any difference in the game's outcome.

WHAT?? They fumbled the ball on the 1 yard thier previous possession. That play changed everything and went in the Steelers way.

The season started the way it ended... The Steelers were given a free touchdown by the refs. (Still brooding over XL)

I do think Saban needs to balls up a bit more and get the refs attention though. Having said that, it was a nice pass.

Awwwww, my favorite season of the year. Football season