Rapoport, Sherman say no controversy with no-PI decision late in 49ers-Seahawks game

Seattle Seahawks fans thought there was some controversy at the end of the Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. New Orleans fans felt there was some, too. Of course, there was a lot on the line for both teams. A Niners loss would have meant an NFC West championship for the Seahawks and a first-round bye for the Saints.

No, I'm not talking about Seattle tight end Jacob Hollister coming within inches (if that much, even) of a game-winning touchdown. The play in question came just before on a pass attempt from Wilson to Hollister.

Seattle faced a third-and-goal from the five-yard line, and Seahawks fans were left furious after 49ers linebacker Fred Warner wasn't called for pass interference.

Here is the play.


Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll sounded convinced that a flag should have been thrown.

"Yeah, that was pass interference," Carroll said with confidence during an interview with 710 ESPN Seattle on Monday morning. "I think they could have looked at that again in more depth," he said. "If I'd had had a timeout, I'd have called it there … You give them time to make a choice so they're not rushed and hopefully clear heads prevail and they can see it. That's unfortunate. It was a big moment right there in the game."

The NFL actually did take a good look at the play in New York, according to the NFL's senior VP of officiating, Al Riveron.

"We had a great look," Riveron explained after the game. "NBC gives us a great look of the entire route. So we actually did perform a review, but based on what we saw, we didn't see enough to stop the game. But we did review it."

Riveron indicated that it was actually Hollister that initiated the contact with Warner.

"What we see is, we see the offensive player come in and initiate contact on the defensive player," Riveron continued, "nothing that rises to the level of a foul which significantly hinders the defender, nothing that is clear and obvious through visual evidence, which hinders the defender.

"The defender then braces himself, and there is contact then by the defender on the receiver. Again, nothing which rises to the level of a foul based on visual evidence. Nothing happens that rises to the level of a foul while the ball is in the air before it gets there by either player."

Carroll said he intends to bring up the issue with the league.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network joined KNBR on Monday morning and discussed the play. Like some others (more on that in a second), he didn't feel there was enough visual evidence for the league to force an extended look.

The NFL insider was asked if he's heard of any potential controversy surrounding the call among league circles.

"No," Rapoport responded. "It's basically been what we sort of have saw a lot this year. It has to be clear and obvious and egregious. It kind of went one way for a while where you could overturn those, but I know they looked at it.

"Honestly, it's tough for me to tell. It seems like pass interference but I wouldn't bet my life on it, so I sort of get why they wouldn't review it. That would have been a significant game-changing penalty, and I just don't know, right now, that overturning it would have been the right move."

You can listen to the entire conversation with Rapoport below.


49ers cornerback Richard Sherman responded to former NFL coach Tony Dungy voicing his opinion on the non-call.


Sherman commented on the play again in a later tweet.


Eric Crocker of Fourth and Nine explained the play in a way that 49ers fans can relate. They saw something similar seven years ago in the Super Bowl.