Nickell Robey-Coleman will forever be at the center of one of the most infamous calls in recent NFL history. It’s probably not even accurate to call the blatant missed pass interference penalty in the NFC championship game “controversial” because everyone acknowledges there should’ve been a flag thrown.
The Rams haven’t hidden from the play that helped them land in the Super Bowl, especially not with a Saints rematch on deck Sunday afternoon.
Robey-Coleman isn’t embarrassed about tackling Tommylee Lewis instead of turning and playing the ball, either. He’s watched the play more than probably anyone else.
“Probably over a little over 4,000 to 5,000 times, easy,” Robey-Coleman told reporters in the locker room when asked how many times he’s watched it.
“I didn’t expect it to get that much pub, but it is what it is. They made it into what it is and the league made it a rule. Just got to live with it now and it’s a rule that the whole league is going to have to adjust to. We don’t have no problem with it.”
Of course, the NFL instituted a rule change as a result of the missed call, allowing coaches to challenge pass interference penalties. If there wasn’t a flag thrown and the coach believes there was interference – offensive or defensive – he can challenge it. The same goes for a play like Robey-Coleman’s hit where there was interference but it wasn’t called.
McVay has admitted it was a blown call by the officials, acknowledging as much again on Wednesday.
“We kind of talked about it as a team. It was something that, we all know what it looked like. Obviously, nobody’s going to sit here and say that wasn’t a pass interference and that’s why it led to some rules being changed,” he said. “I think everybody, even though that play benefitted our team, nobody wants anything but a fair game.”
Any time a rule is changed as a result of one play, it’s easy to see why everyone keeps talking about it. Hopefully after Sunday’s game between the Rams and Saints, everyone will begin to move on from it.
The Rams did that a long time ago, but based on the way fans dressed up and trolled referees in Week 1 at the Superdome – and the filed lawsuits for the gaffe in the NFC title game – the city of New Orleans hasn’t forgotten it.
