NFL Rules Against Steelers� Protest on Unfair Advantage by Pats
The NFL announced this morning that it has ruled against the Steelers and their formal protest regarding what the Steelers thought was an unfair advantage by the Patriots that allowed the Pats to cruise to the easy 34-13 cakewalk victory on Sunday afternoon.
NFL spokesman Ed Lenardo issues this statement during a press conference at the NFL headquarters:
�We have reviewed the claims made by the Pittsburgh Steelers, that the New England Patriots had an unfair advantage in the 2nd half of last week�s contest. In particular, we thoroughly reviewed the Steelers� claim that they were forced to play 10-on-11, which was an unfair tactic and advantage by the Patriots.�
Continued Lenardo, �We have thoroughly examined the NFL rules, and there is no rule or verbiage in the rulebook that mandates that a defense must insert a nose tackle into the game on each and every play.�
�On top of that, we consulted with every member of that referee crew, and not one referee instructed any member of the Steelers� team or staff that they mandatorily had to insert a 340-pound nose tackle into the game on just about every play of the 2nd half.�
Lenardo concluded, �In conclusion, the protest has been denied. There is no rule, nor was there an edict or a verbal order, that forced the Pittsburgh Steelers to insert a slow, fatassed, pudgy, one-dimensional nose tackle into the game on every play against a no-huddle offense that was passing on each and every down. The Steelers made this choice on their own initiative, and like all football decisions made by the coaching staff, they must live with the results. The NFL, in good conscience, cannot go around punishing teams that take advantage of such imbecilic schemes and tactics, and we now consider this protest a closed issue.�
Attempts to interview Steelers� Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau were met with blank stares and mumbling, incoherent mutterings by the 70 year-old LeBeau.
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