DAVIE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins’ Head Coach Tony Sparano has sent off film to the league league of the controversial play that happened at the end of Sunday’s 23-22 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in hopes of getting a better explanation of the ruling that led to the Steelers’ game-winning field goal.
Even though the outcome of the game will not change, there were enough questions afterwards about what exactly took place on that 3rd-and-goal quarterback keeper by Ben Roethlisberger that Sparano saw fit to take that extra bit of action.
Roethlisberger’s right arm was hit by Dolphins’ free safety Chris Clemons before he reached the end zone and the ball popped loose, bouncing into the end zone. An immediate scrum took place with what appeared to be mostly Dolphins players at the bottom of the pile, but since the side judge came in and thrust his arms in the air signaling touchdown, the search for who actually recovered the fumble officially stopped before Miami’s Ikaika Alama-Francis emerged with the ball and handed it to an official. After the Dolphins challenged the ruling that it was a touchdown, the decision went up to the replay official in the booth high above the field.
