Former NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira and the go to guy for calls on TV and Twitter said the correct call was made on the 4th and Goal call in Super Bowl XLVII.
It’s a play that 49ers fans will question forever but according to Pereira the correct call or no call was made.
“Both players were hand fighting and when you look at this play in real time, there’s not enough to call pass interference against either player. Smith had a quick grab and Crabtree had a quick push-off. Smith went down on the play and the pass fell incomplete.
Crabtree never complained and it’s the type of play where a flag thrown against either team would have, in my mind, created more controversy than a decision not to throw the flag.
By the way, it couldn’t be defensive holding because the pass was in the air when the contact occurred. It’s either offensive pass interference or defensive pass interference.
It was not an obvious foul and until I looked at it in slow motion, it seemed like no foul at all. It’s not a penalty I would want called if I were still VP of Officiating for the NFL”
Well there you have it. I know that won’t satisfy the 49ers fans but I respect Pereira’s opinion. After looking at the video over and over again, I’m still not sure the pass was catchable. On the bright side 49ers fans, your team is solid and should be in contention next year.