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Fail Mary
DateSeptember 24, 2012
StadiumCenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
FavoritePackers by 3[1]
RefereeWayne Elliott
Attendance68,218
TV in the United States
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersMike Tirico, Jon Gruden, and Lisa Salters

The Fail Mary,[2] also known as the Inaccurate Reception or the Intertouchdownception,[3] was a play in the National Football League (NFL) game played between the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks on September 24, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington.[4] In a nationally televised game on ESPN's Monday Night Football, the Seahawks defeated the Packers, 14–12, in controversial fashion.

On the final play of the tightly contested game, Seattle rookie quarterback Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary pass into the end zone intended for wide receiver Golden Tate.[5][6] Both Tate and Packers defender M. D. Jennings got their hands on the ball while both players were still in the air and attempting to gain possession. The two officials near the play initially gave separate signals of touchdown and touchback, before ruling the players had simultaneous possession, resulting in a Seahawks game-winning touchdown.[7] Prior to the catch, Tate shoved Packers cornerback Sam Shields with both hands, which the NFL later acknowledged should have drawn an offensive pass interference penalty that would have negated the touchdown and resulted in a Packers victory.[8] The lack of a pass interference penalty and the ruling of a touchdown via simultaneous catch were widely questioned in the aftermath of the game, drawing comments from the game's announcers, NFL players, and the media. The NFL subsequently released a statement defending the touchdown ruling, while conceding that offensive pass interference did occur, which would have resulted in a Packers win.

The controversial ending followed weeks of criticism regarding the quality of officiating by replacement officials employed by the NFL during the 2012 NFL referee lockout.[9] Two days after the game, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association (NFLRA) announced that they had reached an agreement to end the lockout.[10][11] NFL commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged that the negative attention the game drew to the referee situation was an impetus for ending the labor dispute.

Background

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Further information: 2012 Green Bay Packers season, 2012 Seattle Seahawks season, and 2012 NFL referee lockout

The Green Bay Packers started the 2012 NFL season 1–1 after an opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers and a Week 2 victory against the Chicago Bears.[12] The Seattle Seahawks also started the season 1–1 in similar fashion, losing in Week 1 to the Arizona Cardinals before beating the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.[13]

Prior to the beginning of the season, the NFL Referees Association and the NFL had a labor dispute. After negotiations failed for a new collective bargaining agreement, the NFL locked out the referees and began hiring replacement officials. These replacements were primarily fielded from lower college divisions or even high schools. Through the first few weeks of the season, officiating controversies occurred during various games leading many analysts and players to complain about the poor quality of the officiating.[citation needed]

Game summary

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Events of the play

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Prior to the play, the Packers were leading the Seahawks 12–7. With eight seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks had possession of the ball at the Packers' 24-yard line with a fourth down-and-10 situation.[14] On the final play of the game, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary pass into the Packers end zone. Several Packers and Seahawks leaped to catch the ball. While in the air, Packers safety M. D. Jennings had two hands on the ball and Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate had one hand on the ball. Jennings visibly controlled the ball, with both arms wrapped around it, upon landing on the ground. Tate, lying beneath Jennings, still had a hand on the ball, with his arms wrapped around Jennings.

The two officials near the play conferred and then simultaneously made separate signals; side judge Lance Easley raised his arms to signal touchdown, while back judge Derrick Rhone-Dunn waved his arms to signal stoppage of the clock. Because Rhone-Dunn signaled timeout so as to stop the already expired game clock, Rhone-Dunn indicated that he desired further investigation of the play before rendering a verdict whereas Easley, from his angle, found sufficient evidence of a simultaneous catch with which to call a touchdown. The ruling on the field was officially a touchdown, with Tate and Jennings maintaining simultaneous possession.

Replay official Howard Slavin initiated a video review, as is required of all scoring plays. According to an NFL press release after the game, "The aspects of the play that were reviewable included if the ball hit the ground and who had possession of the ball. In the end zone, a ruling of a simultaneous catch is reviewable." Referee Wayne Elliott determined that there was not adequate evidence to overturn the call, so the ruling stood as a touchdown.[14]

As the teams and sports media swarmed the field, the Packers left the field and reported to their locker room, but were required by officials to return to the field for the then-mandatory conversion attempt per NFL rules despite it not changing the result (the rule was later phased out, though in this situation, under the revised rules, the try would still have to be attempted, as the Packers would have been able to return it for 2 and win the game).[15]

Box score

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Week 3: Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Packers 0 0 6612
Seahawks 0 7 0714

at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

  • Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 68,218
  • Referee: Wayne Elliott
  • Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com[16] and ESPN.com[17]
Game information

Analysis

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The NFL rulebook states, "If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control. If the ball is muffed after simultaneous touching by two such players, all the players of the passing team become eligible to catch the loose ball."[14]

Regarding the NFL's position of a simultaneous catch with both players on the ground, Mike Florio wrote for Pro Football Talk, "In reality, the outcome was determined before the players hit the ground. That’s when Jennings first gained 'control' of the ball, regardless of whether Tate eventually secured simultaneous 'possession' of it... The relevant portion of the official 2012 rules comes from Rule 8, Section 1, Article 3, Item 5: 'It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control.' (Emphasis added.) Thus, it doesn’t matter whether the officials determined that Tate and Jennings jointly had 'possession' when they landed; the question is whether Jennings 'gained control' first."[18] The New York Times columnist Greg Bishop disputed the touchdown, writing, "Another defender, M. D. Jennings, leapt from behind Tate. The ball appeared to land in Jennings’s hands. Tate’s hands were there, too, as Jennings fell to the ground and pulled the ball to his chest. Tate eventually wrestled the ball away."[15] Bishop further noted that, in waving his arms, back judge Rhone-Dunn appeared to be signaling a touchback for a change of possession via interception, which would have ended the game with a Packers victory.[15]

Contrary to Florio's analysis of the rules, Cold Hard Football Facts writer Scott Kacsmar supported the touchdown ruling, stating "Golden Tate had the first control of the ball, catching it with his left hand, which never loses control of the ball throughout the entire process of the play. His two feet hit the ground to establish possession before M.D. Jennings establishes possession. Tate’s butt hits the ground, and at this point, he still has control, possession and is in the end zone for a good touchdown. Tate pushed off for an uncalled offensive pass interference that would have ended the game, but this is irrelevant when history shows no referee in football will make such a call on a Hail Mary. Seattle’s win is legit."[19]

Most sources, however, agree with Florio that Jennings gained control before Tate, with some posting photo and video evidence to back up their claim.[20][21][22] Following the incident, Larry Brown of Larry Brown Sports summed it up: "Most fans, media members, commentators, and impartial viewers agreed that safety M.D. Jennings intercepted the pass. He possessed it and appeared to control the ball. It was only after Jennings had the ball that Tate seemed to wrestle it from him."[23]

Controversy

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The lack of a pass interference penalty and the ruling of a touchdown via simultaneous possession became the source of immediate controversy. During the SportsCenter broadcast, Gruden expressed disbelief over the calls: "Golden Tate gets away with one of the most blatant offensive pass interference calls I've ever seen. M.D. Jennings intercepts the pass. And Tate's walking out of here as the player of the game. Unbelievable."[24] ESPN's Kevin Seifert wrote, "In all, it was one of the most disorganized and embarrassing scenes you'll ever see on an NFL field. At least, so far."[25] The winning catch was subsequently referred to in the media by nicknames such as Fail Mary[26][27], Inaccurate Reception,[28][29] and Intertouchdownception,[30][31] (respectively referencing the Hail Mary pass, Immaculate Reception, and a portmanteau of the words "interception" and "touchdown") and Russell Wilson was referred to as having thrown a "game winning interception".[32]

Following the game, the NFL released an official statement that acknowledged that the pass interference should have been called on Tate, but supported the decision to uphold the play as simultaneous possession:

When the players hit the ground in the end zone, the officials determined that both Tate and Jennings had possession of the ball. Under the rule for simultaneous catch, the ball belongs to Tate, the offensive player. The result of the play was a touchdown.

Replay Official Howard Slavin stopped the game for an instant replay review. The aspects of the play that were reviewable included if the ball hit the ground and who had possession of the ball.

Referee Wayne Elliott and the officials determined that no indisputable visual evidence existed to overturn the call on the field, and as a result, the on-field ruling of touchdown stood. The NFL Officiating Department reviewed the video today and supports the decision not to overturn the on-field ruling following the instant replay review.[14]

In an interview with TMZ three days after the game, side judge Lance Easley defended his touchdown ruling, saying, "It was the correct call." When asked why it was not an interception, he said, "You have to not only have the ball but have either two feet or a body part on the ground, and that never happened." He later added, "Put any other official who knows the rules and they would make the same call."[33] However, the day before Easley made that comment, locked out referee Walt Anderson, who has worked numerous NFL postseason games including two Super Bowls, said he would have ruled interception either on the field or under the hood.[34] In addition, Bill Leavy, speaking on behalf of the locked out NFL officials including Ed Hochuli, said "they would have ruled Monday Night's would be an interception," and added "Like Ed, I've never seen one," referring to a simultaneous catch.[35]

Many NFL players commented on the ending, including several Packers players. Green Bay offensive lineman T. J. Lang tweeted after the game, "Got fucked by the refs.. Embarrassing. Thanks nfl." He later added, "Fuck it NFL.. Fine me and use the money to pay the regular refs." The second of the two was retweeted over 98,000 times, a record on the Twitter platform at that time.[36][37] Lang was ultimately not fined for the posts. Lang also claimed that the Packers were considering going on strike if the lockout was not resolved, though ultimately, no such action was taken.[38] Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded by saying, "First of all, I've got to do something that the NFL is not going to do: I have to apologize to the fans. Our sport is a multi-billion dollar machine, generated by people who pay good money to come watch us play. The product on the field is not being complemented by an appropriate set of officials. The games are getting out of control."[39] Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy later stated he had been informed that Jennings had intercepted the pass.[24]

The day after the game, then-New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, a Packers fan, announced plans to introduce legislation banning replacement officials from working professional sporting events in New Jersey; two NFL teams, the New York Giants and the New York Jets, play their home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.[40] Then-Mayor of Green Bay Jim Schmitt sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, stating, "As an elected official and public steward, I'm concerned about the impact on the integrity of the game and the significant financial effect that it may have upon our community."[41] U.S. President Barack Obama weighed in on the ending, calling it "terrible" and adding, "I've been saying for months, we've gotta get our refs back."[42]

Former quarterback Warren Moon speculated that the game—which had 24 called penalties for 245 yards (7 more than Seattle's 238 total yards gained)—could be an impetus to resolving the labor dispute, saying, "This could be the game that gets a deal done. Something like this, on the league's biggest stage, on Monday night, it's just not good for the game. You could argue the officials had a hand in the outcome, that they cost Green Bay the game or would have cost the Seahawks."[15]

Impact

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On September 26, 2012, two days after the game, an agreement was reached between the NFL and NFL Referees Association to end the referee lockout that began in June 2012. The contentious nature of the replacement officials' decision at the end of the Packers-Seahawks game is widely considered to have been the tipping point that finally led to the agreement.[9][10][43][44] Roger Goodell acknowledged that the game "may have pushed the parties further along" in negotiations.[45]

Las Vegas oddsmakers estimated that over $300 million in bets changed hands due to the final play.[46] Offshore betting website SportsBook.ag announced that it would be refunding wagers for customers outside of the United States who bet on the Packers. For American football wagers, this was a tiny percentage of their take.[47] In the wake of the controversial ending, SportsCenter achieved its highest ratings ever, receiving a 5.0 overnight Nielsen rating.[48] Reportedly, 70,000 voicemail messages were left at NFL offices by disgruntled fans.[49] In 2014, ESPN's listing of the 45 most memorable moments in the history of Monday Night Football, as voted on by ESPN.com contributors, ranked the controversy as #1.[50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Borden, Sam (September 25, 2012). "Some Bettors Get Relief on Game Decided by Botched Call". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "'Fail Mary' official fighting depression". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures, LLC. January 13, 2015. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "The 'Inaccurate Reception' still haunts the Green Bay Packers". LombardiAve.com. December 13, 2012. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "Replacement refs decide game as Seahawks top Packers on Hail Mary". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Associated Press. September 25, 2012. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  5. ^ Wilson: 'I gave him a shot and he came down with it'. Seahawks.com. NFL Enterprises, LLC. September 24, 2012. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  6. ^ Nevada Daily Mail (September 28, 2012). "Column: : NFL replacements: Train wreck or blessing in disguise?". Nevada Daily Mail. Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  7. ^ "Oklahoman Derrick Rhone-Dunn plays key role in Monday Night Football debacle". The Oklahoman. September 25, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
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  13. ^ "2012 Seattle Seahawks Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d "NFL supports decision to not overturn Seahawks' touchdown" (Press release). National Football League. September 25, 2012. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
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  19. ^ "Shame on the Angry Mob: Golden Tate's Touchdown Was Legit". Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
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  22. ^ Petchesky, Barry (September 27, 2012). "Seahawks Truthers Continue To Insist Golden Tate Caught That Touchdown". Deadspin.com. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  23. ^ Brown, Larry (September 24, 2012). "Seahawks given win over Packers on controversial Hail Mary". Larry Brown Sports. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  24. ^ a b Greenberg, Chris (September 25, 2012). "Seahawks Defeat Packers, 14–12: Disputed Replacement Referees' Call Results In Golden Tate TD (VIDEO, PHOTOS)". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
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  30. ^ Strouf, Alex (August 6, 2013). "Fantasy football rankings 2013: Best wide receiver on all 32 NFL teams". Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  31. ^ Gerakis (September 4, 2014). "NFL - Packers vs Seahawks Predictions". sportige.com. Sportige. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
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  33. ^ "NFL Replacement Ref Lance Easley – I Made the Right Call". TMZ.com. TMZ. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  34. ^ McIntyre, Brian (September 26, 2012). "Locked out referee: Packers would have won if I was working Monday night's game". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  35. ^ Garafolo, Mike (September 26, 2012). "NFL's regular officials still convening to stay game-ready". USA Today. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  36. ^ Tam, Donna (September 27, 2012). "Record-breaking NFL tweeter celebrates end of ref lockout". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 20, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  37. ^ "That Vulgar Tweet From A Packers Player Has The Most Retweets Ever". Business Insider. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  38. ^ DETROIT (97.1 The Ticket) (September 25, 2012). "Lang says players could take action if NFL refs' issue continues". CBS Detroit. CBS Local Media. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Michael Cherner; Michael Hiestand (September 25, 2012). "Saying NFL won't do it, angry Aaron Rodgers apologizes to fans". USA Today. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  40. ^ Renshaw, Jarrett (September 25, 2012). "Sen. Sweeney moves to block replacement refs from working in N.J. following blown call in Packers game". NJ.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  41. ^ "Green Bay Mayor to Commish -- You're Crushing Packers' Shot at a Super Bowl". TMZ. September 25, 2012. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  42. ^ Kyung M. Song (September 25, 2012). "Obama calls Seahawks-Packers touchdown call "terrible"". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  43. ^ Garafolo, Mike (September 27, 2012). "NFL, referees end lockout after reaching new labor deal". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  44. ^ Battista, Judy (September 27, 2012). "N.F.L. Reaches Labor Deal With Referees". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  45. ^ "Officials get standing ovation". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 28, 2012. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  46. ^ Ken Ritter; Oskar Garcia (September 25, 2012). "Seahawks-Packers Bets: Golden Tate Touchdown Swings $300 Million In Vegas, Oddsmakers Say". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  47. ^ Petchesky, Barry (September 25, 2012). "Clarification: SportsBook.ag Is NOT Refunding American Gamblers Who Bet On The Packers". Deadspin. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  48. ^ Koblin, John (September 25, 2012). "Who Was The Winner In Last Night's Scab-Ref Debacle? SportsCenter, With Its Highest Rating Ever". Deadspin. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  49. ^ Reiter, Bill (September 27, 2012). "Fan revolt made NFL come to senses". Foxsports.com. Fox Interactive Media. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  50. ^ McTigue, John (September 8, 2014). "MNF moments, No. 1: The Fail Mary". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
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