Court document: NFL admits blown call in NFC title game, says it wants lawsuit thrown out

Eight days after a blown call helped shape the outcome of the NFC Championship Game, the NFL finally acknowledged its mistake in an official capacity.

In a court document filed Sunday, lawyers for the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell wrote they "do not dispute" what Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters after the game — that the league called him and admitted the officiating error shortly after New Orleans' 26-23 overtime loss.

"Because the officials on the field are humans, like the players and coaches, errors will happen," the league's lawyers wrote. "The NFL parties do not dispute that they have previously advised the Saints, including the club’s head coach, that one or more penalties — for pass interference or illegal helmet-to-helmet contact — were mistakenly not called late in the NFC Championship Game, and that the NFL would like its officials on the field to make these calls.

"This was acknowledged immediately after the game to the coach of the New Orleans Saints by NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Al Riveron."

The NFL's acknowledgment came in a brief filed by New Orleans law firm Jones, Swanson, Huddell & Garrison in response to a lawsuit filed by two Saints season ticket holders last week. 

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The league had declined to publicly own up to the error in the days after the game, prompting criticism from media members and current and former players, including Saints tight end Benjamin Watson. NBC Sports reported Sunday that Payton has privately "urged the NFL to 'show some leadership'" and issue a statement about the missed call.

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In its brief, the league also argues that Goodell does not have authority to order that all or part of the game be replayed, as some had speculated. The league requests that a U.S. District Court judge throw out the lawsuit because "this kind of dispute implicates no legally cognizable rights."

"At its essence, this suit was filed because the Plaintiffs, fans and ticketholders of an athletic event disagree with the outcome of that game," the NFL's lawyers argue.

ESPN reported that Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman was fined for the play in question — an apparent helmet-to-helmet hit on Tommylee Lewis. Robey-Coleman said after the game that he thought a penalty flag should have been thrown on the play.

The Rams will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

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