Over the course of its 100-year existence, the NFL has faced numerous controversies. The league is used to deflecting criticism for anything from critical officiating errors to team scandals to domestic abuse. In this article, we will take a look at the top 5 most controversial moments and decisions in the history of the NFL.
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The Immaculate Reception
One of the most well-known football plays is the Immaculate Reception, which took place on December 23, 1972. In the final 30 seconds of the game, the Pittsburgh Steelers were down to the Oakland Raiders. The pass from Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw was intercepted by fullback Franco Harris after being deflected by either a Raiders defender or John Fuqua’s hands. He later scored the game-winning touchdown on the ground, giving the Steelers a 13-7 victory. Many people claimed that the ball only touched Fuqua or that it hit the ground before Harris caught it, leaving open the debate surrounding the play. Given the rules in effect at the time, either would result in a deficient pass.
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Dez Bryant “non-catch”
Referees concluded that wide receiver Dez Bryant did not make a “football move” prior to losing possession of the ball following a spectacular catch during the Dallas Cowboys’ 2014 NFL playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. If the play had been deemed successful, the Cowboys would have been at the Packers’ 1-yard line and down 26-21. The call was opposed by many people. The play should have been called a catch, the NFL competition committee concluded in 2018.
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Deflategate
There have been claims that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady ordered the purposeful deflation of footballs used in the team’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Championship Game of the 2014–15 NFL Playoffs.Following appeals, Brady was given a four-game suspension that took effect for the 2016 regular season. The team also forfeited two draft picks and paid a $1 million fine. The NFL altered its game ball processes in response to the scandal.
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Fail Mary
On September 24, 2012, the NFL witnessed yet another officiating error due to the referee lockout. Russell Wilson, the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, completed a Hail Mary pass into the end zone with one play remaining and the Green Bay Packers trailing by a score of 12-7. Both Packers safety M. D. Jennings and wide receiver Golden Tate attempted to get possession of the ball. The touchdown and touchback signals were given separately by the officials. The Seahawks scored the game-winning touchdown after it was determined during review that the players had simultaneous possession. The contentious conclusion led to scrutiny of the replacement officials’ officiating during the 2012 NFL referee lockout.
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Ray Rice
A grand jury indicted Ray Rice in March 2014 for assaulting his then-fiancée Janay Palmer in the third degree. In July 2014, Rice received a two-game NFL suspension to start the season. Rice was dismissed by the Ravens and suspended from the league indefinitely when the video of the incident, which showed Rice hitting Palmer and knocking her out, was made public by TMZ. The NFL changed its domestic violence policy after the event, mandating a lifetime ban for a second offense and a six-game suspension for a first, according to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who said that he “didn’t get it right” in determining Rice’s penalty.
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