Pete Carroll: Refs said practice kicks weren't allowed

The Seattle Seahawks nearly pulled off the greatest fourth-quarter comeback in NFL playoff history. And yet Pete Carroll and his crew will spend much of the offseason wondering: What if?

This was a game the Seahawks should have won. They scored zero points on two trips inside the 15-yard line in the first half. And they should have been able to capitalize on Russell Wilson's sensational effort after they grabbed the lead with 31 seconds left. Perhaps the most confusing moment came when Carroll took a timeout before Atlanta Falcons kicker Matt Bryant's game-winning field goal.

Carroll took a timeout, then Bryant was able to get off a "practice kick." Bryant missed it. Carroll was irate after the play because of a pregame conversation he had with officials, who warned him that kickers wouldn't be able to take a practice kick, like Justin Tucker did between overtime periods in the Baltimore Ravens' win Saturday.

"The officials told us before the game that nobody's going to get a chance to do that," Carroll said. "I asked them pregame what if somebody does, and they didn't know what the answer was, obviously. I had never heard that before, so I was just challenging it."

It's hard not to wonder if Bryant would have made the kick without a practice attempt. Icing the kicker has been statistically proven not to help, and giving kickers an extra swing at the ball is a detriment to the team that's on defense.

(Also a detriment for the Seahawks: They blitzed on Atlanta's two completions on the game-winning drive. The blitzer was late both times.)

A lot of stories will be written about the Falcons finally getting over the hump with their 30-28 win. They deserve a ton of credit, but Seattle's mistakes in the first half and its approach in the final 31 seconds helped along the way.

"I would have really liked it if he missed the kick," Carroll said.

Are the refs supposed to run out and tackle the kicker to prevent him from taking a practice kick or something? [pic]

Shouldnt of waited so long to call the timeout, or maybe you shouldnt of called the timeout at all

[pic] Peter is a biitch, how the fucck was the kicker supposed to stop when he was mid kick

He may very well be right but he has to know that the refs aren't going to penalize the Falcons fifteen there and take away their ability to win the game.

oh and he is a damn fool to think they would do that with the game in Atlanta. The refs wouldnt have made it out the city.

mid kick? They called the timeout before it's snapped. It is bang bang but Bryant heard the whistle and could have chosen to not kick the ball but he did the right thing and got a practice swing in. I can't fault him but let's not exaggerate the scenarios here though.

daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwww [pic]

Pete Caroll is really going to complain? The guy that was all smiles talking about a great win for his team after the Fail Mary game? Clown.

confused[..] nicca.......he's thinking of the !! that happened in Denver with the Ravens having their kicker actually come out and practice a !!ing kick. This situation is totally different and Pete needs to !!ing smarten up.



You go up to a ref and you talk about a !!ing practice kick of course they are going to say no and Im sure they were thinking about that Denver / Ravens !! too.........this !!ing moron is trying to relate the two and they are different. Matt Bryant has been doing this for years.....that !! that happened yesterday was some new !!.

[pic]

KARMA???????

This dude is such a cry baby

Actually he is right and you aren't supposed to do it but kickers do it anyway and the refs just let it slide. They never call that !! and they damn sure wasn't going to call it at that point and decide a playoff game.

A ref did run in during the Pats-Texans game to stop the Texans punter from punting one as Belichick called time out and he stopped instead of punting it anyway like you see a lot of guys do.

In the end Pete gay as !! for wanting that penalty.

Just admit your defense lost yet another game [pic]

Why the !! did they blitz?

Seahawks should have everyone in man and deep with a lb spying

I Thought He Called T/O pretty early.

The Whistles Were Blowing and The Falcons Hurried Up And Snapped It

But Pete Fuked Up On that 4th & 1 & Russell Wilson Taking That Sack At the End Of The First

I don't remember this nicca complaining about refs when his team benefited in week 3.

if his dumb[..] would have taken those FGs in the first half they would have won the game.

they had video of him calling a timeout before the kick then he gonna stand there wondering who called the timeout after Bryant missed the "practice" kick [pic]

K-a-r-m-a

HA, I was laughing at that !!!