JETS AND GIANTS, WHOOOOOOOOO

[The Outlaw]

Giants miffed at officials

By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer December 18, 2004 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New York Giants joined the list of NFL teams complaining about the officiating. Following their 33-30 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, the Giants griped about a roughing-the-passer call by referee Gerald Austin and a non-call on a potential pass interference play late in the fourth quarter. ``I guess we must have forgot to send someone a Christmas card over there in the black and white shirts,'' center Shaun O'Hara said after the Giants (5-9) lost their seventh straight game. ``I have never seen so many lopsided calls and that's frustrating,'' O'Hara added. ``You are playing your heart out and you put your heart and soul on the field, and to have stupid calls like that is frustrating.'' Pittsburgh was penalized twice for 14 yards. The Giants lost 55 yards on five penalties. In the past two weeks, Seattle coach Mike Holmgren and Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher have voiced concerns about the officiating. Holmgren complained about a late touchdown catch by Dallas' Keyshawn Johnson that was clearly out of bounds in a Seahawks loss. Fisher complained about an inaccurate blow to the head penalty called by referee Tom White that cost the Titans a game against Kansas City on Monday. The call that annoyed the Giants was a roughing-the-passer against safety Brent Alexander in the second quarter. Alexander, Carlos Emmons and Fred Robbins surrounded Ben Roethlisberger on a third-down sack. Austin blew his whistle and the other two Giants released the Steelers' quarterback. Alexander seemed to be caught off balance when the other two let go and he and Roethlisberger fell. Austin called it unnecessary roughing. The Steelers got 15 yards, a first down and eventually scored a then go-ahead touchdown on the drive. ``I was holding him and we just fell over,'' Alexander said. ``I didn't pick him up or try to drive him or whatever. We just fell over.'' What annoyed Alexander even more was one of the other officials who he was not able to identify told him it was ``a dumb play.'' Three plays after the penalty, Alexander said he was still so annoyed his missed an easy tackle on Verron Hayes on a third-down play. ``I was still complaining and lost my focus on a play that would have gotten us off the field,'' Alexander said. The call came shortly after Steelers safety Troy Polamalu threw Giants running back Tiki Barber to the ground five yards out of bounds on the Pittsburgh side of the field. The officials never saw it, although Barber complained. The Giants' second complaint concerned a deep pass by Eli Manning to Amani Toomer with 3:31 to play and the Steelers ahead 33-30. Toomer had a step on cornerback Willie Williams on a third-and-2 from the Giants 44. Toomer was in stride to catch the pass and Williams stepped on his feet trying to catch up. The officials felt both players were going for the ball and said the contact was incidental. Toomer insisted it was pass interference. ``I was going to catch the ball,'' Toomer said. ``I had him beaten and he pushed me in the back. It's a tough way to lose a ball game, especially since we played so hard.''