Steelers/NFL
NFL referee Bill Leavy who officiated Super Bowl XL, made headlines last week saying “I’ll go to my grave with regret, ” regarding two missed calls in the fourth quarter of the Steelers 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
In attendance last Friday at a training-camp rules interpretation session with the Seattle media, Leavy said his missed calls impacted the game and possibly the outcome. Blown 4th quarter calls that went the Steelers way have been a sore subject for years in Seattle who immediately blamed the officials following the loss in February, 2006.
“It was a tough thing for me. I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game, and as an official you never want to do that,” the veteran official of 15 NFL seasons and two Super Bowls said on Friday.
“It left me with a lot of sleepless nights, and I think about it constantly,” Leavy said. “I’ll go to my grave wishing that I’d been better.”
The question around the league is why bring this up now. Inside Pittsburgh Sports contributor Tim Benz spoke with Steelers vets Brett Keisel, Aaron Smith, Ike Taylor and Casey Hampton today and all four sounded off on Leavy.
“At this point, all I remember is the celebration, ” Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton said. “I don’t remember the game too much….I even forgot who we played, it was so long ago. I forgot it was Seahawks man, nobody remembers who losses the game.” — Casey Hampton
Of the four, Brett Keisel appeared the most irritated by Leavy’s comments and believes if Leavy’s going to say that stuff, he should have to run the Steelers camp next year.
“None of us really care….our names are on that trophy, our rings on our fingers, and that’s what matters to us, ” Keisel said when asked by about Leavy’s comments. “If he’s going to say that stuff he should definitely have to run our camp next year.” — Brett Keisel
