Not even one half of the first quarter had gone by when the Super Bowl refs created some controversy. Rex Burkhead had caught a short pass from Tom Brady when he was blasted on what most thought was a clean hit by Nickell Robey-Coleman.
What in the world was this call on the #LARams ? pic.twitter.com/6DQCTI7ijZ
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) February 3, 2019
After the hit, the refs called a 15-yard penalty. Only, instead of calling it on Robey-Coleman, they said it was on Dante Fowler Jr. Both due to the call itself and the mistake of calling it on the wrong person, the refs had everyone confused, including Tony Romo.
Officials did the impossible. Confused Tony Romo.
— Sportsnaut (@Sportsnaut) February 3, 2019
Not surprisingly, this call triggered plenty of strong responses on social media, including from players and former players.
You can’t make that call come on refs
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) February 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/TorreySmithWR/status/1092207678313635841
Sorry refs are in mid-season form.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) February 3, 2019
NFL refs in fine NFL form for the biggest game of the year I see
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 3, 2019
I guess the Refs making reparations for the non call in the NFC championship huh?
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) February 3, 2019
Textbook hit at every level of football by Robey-Coleman. SMH NFL refs pic.twitter.com/KHSOUc1wYs
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 3, 2019
Saints fans whenever the refs call a penalty on the Rams pic.twitter.com/6IsuxXC2mb
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) February 3, 2019