FanHouse Scott Green

Maybe this season is no different than the others, but it sure seems like NFL officials are in the middle of more controversial calls than I can remember. It all started in Week 2 with Ed Hochuli gifting the Broncos a win over the Chargers. In Week 11, Scott Green screwed degenerate gamblers out of millions. And yesterday, it was Walt Coleman's turn.

You certainly know the story by now -- late in the game, trailing 9-6, the Steelers marched 87 yards, and on third-and-goal, Ben Roethlisberger found Santonio Holmes near the end zone (his feet were definitely in; it wasn't initially clear if the ball broke the plane). The call on the field was fourth-and-millimeters. The play was reviewed and a few minutes later, Coleman announced that Holmes had scored a touchdown, 13-9, Steelers, thanks for coming.

Commence whinging.

This morning I mentioned that Coleman, after botching the on-field explanation, elaborated on the call after the game. And in his Monday Morning Quarterback column, Peter King spoke with NFL head of officiating, Mike Pereira for his take on the reversal:

It's been visited and revisited, but yes, the referee of the Steelers/Chargers game made a colossal error at the end of it. Thankfully, it did not affect the outcome of the game, but the NFL is looking to make changes to ensure a future outcome is not affected by an officiating error.

Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president of officiating, said in a televised interview Monday that the referee on the field should be allowed to check the replay booth a second time if necessary to get the call correct. Currently, a second consultation isn't allowed, and Pereira said a second consultation might have prevented Sunday's error.

At first glance, this doesn't seem like a great idea. People are surely imagining an official getting onto the field and announcing the outcome of the review, only to be buzzed back to look at the replay again. That's not really what's going to happen, though.

Should a situation like Sunday's arise -- which won't be often -- where the official incorrectly interprets a play or rule, the replay booth would buzz him to come have a word with them. They would surely then have told Sunday's referee, Scott Green, that the touchdown by the Steelers should stand.