Tag: nfc championship game no call

Michael Thomas reacts to Bill Vinovich getting assigned to Super Bowl LIV

Saints WR Michael Thomas was amused when referee Bill Vinovich was assigned to Super Bowl LIV, just a year after the NFC title game no-call.

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A year ago, Bill Vinovich’s officiating crew was at fault for the worst no-call in NFL history, missing a blatant instance of defense pass interference during the NFC championship game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams. The botched foul helped cost the Saints a Super Bowl berth, drew a private apology from the league office, and prompted offseason rules changes that have had mostly-disappointing effects.

Vinovich’s failure also dominated the news cycle, made worse by a pathetic showing by the Rams in the Super Bowl that caused many fans and observers to wonder if the wrong team made it that far. To add insult to injury, the Rams didn’t even qualify for the playoffs the following season.

Which is where we are now — in a postseason that’s seen Vinovich receive the honor of helping officiate Super Bowl LIV, his second title game assignment (he previously worked Super Bowl XLIX). His “all-star” crew will be made up of umpire Barry Anderson, down judge Kent Payne, line judge Carl Johnson, field judge Michael Banks, side judge Boris Cheek, back judge Greg Steed and replay official Mike Chase.

Saints coach Sean Payton has taken aim at the dangerous use of these randomly-shuffled officiating crews for playoff games before, but his warnings have fallen on deaf ears.

Choosing the most infamous referee in recent memory to take on a game of this importance sends a conflicting message, to say the least. And one recipient of that message was Saints wideout Michael Thomas, who brought the jokes, wondering if Vinovich is equipped to even signal fouls when needed.

“Oh no,” Thomas wrote from his official Twitter account, “he don’t even own any flags (to throw). Let me stop,” he laughed, pulling back before he could get himself into trouble. Vinovich’s pockets were empty when Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman interfered with Tommylee Lewis once before; it’s fair to ask if he’ll be willing to call a clean game again in such high-leverage situations.

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