A federal judge has denied a lawsuit from a New Orleans Saints fan over the NFC Championship Game.
A lawsuit was filed by a Saints fan on behalf of other season ticket holders demanding damages, the case to be handled at a state level, and for Roger Goodell to force the replay of the end of the game. District judge Susie Morgan issued a ruling on Thursday in response to the lawsuit, denying all requests from the plaintiffs.
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan has ruled in favor of the NFL in the Saints ticket-holder lawsuit. Denied plaintiffs' request to return this lawsuit to state court; and the federal judge also denied their request that she order the NFL to replay the end of game.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) January 31, 2019
The judge’s entire opinion can be read if so desired.
Here's the Federal court's decision in the Saints lawsuit: holding that the case was properly in federal court and denying relief to the plaintiffs. i.e., the NFL wins, this is almost over, etc. https://t.co/2FtQ7oaJaH
— Raffi Melkonian (@RMFifthCircuit) January 31, 2019
The Saints and Rams were tied at 20 in the final two minutes and New Orleans had the ball for a key third down when Nickell Robey-Coleman hit Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis early, causing him to be unable to make the catch. There should have been a penalty called on the play for pass interference and an illegal hit to the head, but nothing was called. The Saints settled for a field goal and the Rams tied the game, sent it to OT, and won in the extra period. The blown call could have been the difference in who went to the Super Bowl.
Though some changes may be made by the league to help future situations, this was simply a blown call, though one of the most costly blown calls of all time. Replaying the end of a game that has already been decided is not the answer. On top of that, the refs missed several calls that benefited the Saints in the game, and the Saints still had several chances to win things afterwards — with a defensive stop or by not turning the ball over in overtime. This isn’t all on Goodell, as much as they’d like that to be seen as the case. At least the commissioner has finally weighed in on the situation.
