Seahawks Blog
Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.
Blog Home |
E-mail Danny |
Subscribe |
Twitter feed|
Seahawks forum
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print
Share
Referee Bill Leavy apologizes to Seahawks
Posted by Percy Allen
Before meeting with Seattle-area media on the new NFL rule changes, referee Bill Leavy (above, right) unexpectedly apologized to the Seahawks for his mistakes in Super Bowl XL, which Seattle lost 21-10 to Pittsburgh.
"It was a tough thing for me. I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game and as an official you never want to do that. It left me with a lot of sleepless nights and I think about it constantly. I'll go to my grave wishing that I'd been better. I know that I did my best at that time, but it wasn't good enough. When we make mistakes, you got to step up and own them. It's something that all officials have to deal with, but unfortunately when you have to deal with it in the Super Bowl it's difficult."
The game included several questionable calls:
--- Receiver Darrell Jackson was called for offensive pass interference during a play, in which he caught a Matt Hasselbeck pass in the end zone. Seattle settled for a field goal instead of a 7-0 lead.
--- The Seahawks appeared to have stopped Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the goal-line plane on his 1-yard score late in the first half that gave the Steelers a 7-3 lead. Leavy upheld the call after a replay review.
--- Early in the fourth quarter, tackle Sean Locklear was called for holding on a pass completion that would have put the Seahawks at the Pittsburgh 1, poised for the go-ahead touchdown. After the penalty, Hasselbeck threw an interception.
--- Hasselbeck was called for an illegal low block and given a 15-yard penalty on a tackle after the interception.
Dec 24 - 6:10 AM Looking back: Revisiting Sunday's scouting report
Dec 24 - 1:09 AM Seahawks' scoring binge
Dec 24 - 1:01 AM Video: Summing Seattle's victory
Dec 24 - 12:58 AM Video: Russell Wilson post-game comments
Dec 24 - 12:21 AM Rookie passing roll call


- ‘Miracles’: 3 survive I-5 collapse
- Drivers face lengthy detours around I-5 bridge collapse
- Officials explore use of temporary, portable bridge as quick fix
- Span wasn’t built to take critical hit
- Bridge collapse will cause holiday travel headaches
- As car sinks, young man keeps cool, finds escape
- No quick fix for downed bridge on holiday weekend
- More applicants make getting into UW tougher this year
- Bridge collapse: Oversize-load permits easy to get online
- Percy Harvin already impressing Seahawks teammates, coaches
- Game thread, Mariners vs. Rangers, May 24
304 - Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment
243 - Detour route already crowded; avoid it or leave early, officials say
108 - Zimmerman lawyers release Trayvon Martin’s texts about smoking pot, guns
102 - Mariners find new, old ways to lose their seventh straight
93 - Inslee: State looking at possible quick fix to bridge
69 - Judge: Arizona sheriff’s office targets Latinos
64 - Bizarre day ends with Robert Andino DFA from Mariners
46 - Editorial: I-5 bridge collapse should prompt focus on maintenance
36 - Mariners battered again
33
- ‘Miracles’: 3 survive I-5 collapse
- More applicants make getting into UW tougher this year
- Drivers face lengthy detours around I-5 bridge collapse
- Bridge collapse will cause holiday travel headaches
- Span wasn’t built to take critical hit
- McNerney: Boeing will squeeze suppliers and cut jobs
- Officials explore use of temporary, portable bridge as quick fix
- Green River faculty: no confidence in college president
- Shopping-mall kiosks are little gold mines
- Von’s goes for gusto with big food, cheap drinks | Restaurant review


