NFL's blown call nets sportsbooks $66 million

(via ESPN.com) · November 17, 2008 · 5:42 PM

Conspiracy theorists should probably head into their nuclear-bomb proof bunkers, because NFL referees have once again made a very fishy call that heftily benefited Las Vegas sportsbooks.

The San Diego Chargers, who are no strangers to bad calls ala Ed Hochuli, attempted a last second comeback against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday with the old hook and ladder play. Trailing 11-10, the Chargers' Steel City miracle failed miserably as Troy Polamalu intercepted a backwards lateral and ran it back for a touchdown.

Initially the refs ruled the play a touchdown and had Steelers kicker Jeff Reed line up for an extra point. Regardless of whether or not the final score was 17-10 or 18-10, Polamalu's touchdown was enough for Pittsburgh to cover the 4.5 point spread.

After a second trip to the video review booth, however, referee Scott Green reversed the ruling on the grounds that the Chargers threw an illegal forward pass.

Not only is there no evidence of a forward pass anywhere during that play, but Green apologized Monday, admitting his crew made the wrong call.

Normally this would not be a huge deal considering the Steelers won regardless of that play's outcome.

But something just doesn't feel right when that mistake means a $66 million swing in favor of the casinos, according to ESPN The Magazine Senior Editor Chad Millman.

Naturally the NFL has no logical explanation for all of this.

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