NFL

NFL defends officials' calls in overtime game

KIRKLAND, Wash. - The NFL denies telling the Seahawks that officials erred when they ruled two New York Giants touchdown receptions complete in Seattle's 24-21 overtime win.

Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that the league took the rare step of admitting officiating mistakes in Sunday's game. The league said in a statement Tuesday that reports that it told the Seahawks of officiating mistakes on the two touchdown receptions were inaccurate.

"Our officiating department never discussed with the Seahawks the Amani Toomer touchdown reception, which was properly called," the statement said. "The Jeremy Shockey touchdown catch at the end of the first half was not overturned because the referee determined that there was insufficient visual evidence to reverse the call."

On Monday, when asked whether he had heard from the league on the two Giants touchdown calls, he said he was told "there were some mistakes that took place, which we felt at the time."

The Seahawks said Tuesday neither Holmgren nor the team had further comment on the matter. A league official declined further comment Tuesday.

SPECTER BACKPEDALS: U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., backed off a threat to have a Senate subcommittee investigate whether the NFL and the Eagles violated antitrust laws in their handling of receiver Terrell Owens.

Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that he talked to lawyers in the Department of Justice about it.

"I think it's more a matter for them than us because we've got ... a lot of matters which take precedence over this for our own time," said Specter.

Specter did not say whether the Justice Department indicated it will look into the matter.

The Eagles suspended Owens on Nov.5 for four games without pay for "conduct detrimental to the team," and deactivated him with pay Sunday after the suspension ended.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch said the team's actions were supported by the labor agreement between the league and the NFL Players Association.

BEARS: Jack Concannon, 62, the ex-Boston College star who started at quarterback for Chicago in the late 1960s and early '70s, died Monday of a heart attack.... Offensive lineman Lennie Friedman was signed to a one-year contract and receiver Airese Currie was placed on injured reserve. Wide receiver Eric Hill also was released from the practice squad.

BENGALS: Linebacker Nate Webster was activated off the physically unable to perform list.

DOLPHINS: Guard C.J. Brooks was signed off Oakland's practice squad and linebacker T.J. Hollowell was released.

JAGUARS: Backup linebacker Jamie Winborn was placed on injured reserve (knee).

JETS: A New York man has been charged with stabbing two fans in a restroom during a Jets game at Giants Stadium.

Thomas J. Conwell, 21, of Brooklyn, was charged with aggravated assault, accused of stabbing Shawn Hundley, 19, of Roselle, and Henry Finnila, 24, of Freehold, during Sunday's loss to the Saints.

State police said Conwell began taunting Hundley, who was wearing a Jets jersey bearing the name and number of injured quarterback Chad Pennington. Conwell then took out a knife and stabbed Hundley in the face, neck and ears, authorities said.

Finnila, a bystander who tried to break up the fight, also was stabbed in the head and neck.

RAIDERS: Cornerback Lenny Walls was claimed off waivers from the Broncos and safety Reggie Tongue was placed on injured reserve.

RAMS: Coach Mike Martz wants to return to the field after missing the last six games with a heart ailment. Martz said he would ask his doctor for permission to return.

[Last modified November 30, 2005, 02:15:38]