Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

NFL responds to Falcons’ pass interference complaint

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn talks to reporters in a post-game press conference following an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn talks to reporters in a post-game press conference following an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
By
Oct 19, 2016

Falcons coach Dan Quinn has heard back from the NFL’s head official Dean Blandino about the controversial non-call at the end of the Seattle game.

“I had a good conversation with Dean Blandino,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday. “I’ll keep that conversation private between he and I. But we did talk this week.”

The latest controversy surrounding game officiating is the no-call on Seahawks defender Richard Sherman’s contact against Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones late during Seattle’s victory on Sunday. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
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Game officials did not penalize Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman for grabbing wide receiver Julio Jones’ right arm with the ball in the air on what turned out to be the Falcons’ final play. A pass-interference penalty would have given the Falcons the ball near Seattle’s 35-yard line with 1:30 to go and one timeout. The Seahawks took over on downs and ran out the clock on their 26-24 victory.

Quinn reacted angrily to the play on the sideline, national commentators said Sherman should have been penalized and Saints coach Sean Payton said pass interference should be subject to replay reviews.

Wide receiver Julio Jones can't make the catch on fourth down as cornerback Richard Sherman defends Oct. 16, 2016, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

Credit: Otto Greule Jr

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Credit: Otto Greule Jr

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

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