Report: NFL will publicly apologize for blown call that cost Saints

The NFL reportedly will publicly apologize for a high-profile blown call in the NFC Championship Game between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman blasted Tommylee Lewis on a third down play with the game tied at 20 and under two minutes remaining. Though Robey-Coleman hit Lewis before the pass arrived — and in the helmet — no penalty was called. It’s already being called one of the worst blown calls in NFL history.

The NFL has already told Saints coach Sean Payton that they blew the call. Pro Football Talk says the league will also publicly admit to the blown call.

Per source NFL will publicly admit error as to key non-call in Rams-Saints. What the league will do to fix it moving forward remains to be seen.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 21, 2019

That will help in the transparency process considering the crew’s lead official, Bill Vinovich, offered no explanation for the blown call after the game. All he said was that he didn’t see the call.

Bill Vinovich said he did not see the play involving Tommylee Lewis and Nickell Robey-Coleman and has not reviewed it.

That play is not reviewable.

“It’s a judgement call by the official.”

Did the timing of the game have an impact on the call?: “Absolutely not.”

— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) January 20, 2019

That was a terrible call and it cost the Saints dearly. They also had plenty of chances in the game that they failed to take advantage of, and let’s not forget all the calls they benefited from.