Source: NFL tells 49ers that officials made mistakes

The NFL admitted this week to the 49ers that they blew at least three calls in the game against the Eagles, a league source said on Friday.

Niners coach Mike Nolan showed some restraint Friday when I asked him about his communication with the league office.

“I got answers back,” Nolan said of the questionable calls the team turned into the league office for explanations.

When asked what those answers were, Nolan turned to 49ers director of public relations Aaron Salkin and asked him, “Where should I stand on this?”

Salkin reminded Nolan that he would be subject to a fine if he divulged any information. “You’re not supposed to report on it,” Salkin told Nolan.

“Conversations between the officiating department and the clubs are confidential,” NFC information manager Michael Signora wrote in an email after I left him a voice message seeking comment.

Of course, the confidential admission from the league that referee Terry McAulay’s crew made some mistakes should not come as a big surprise. TV replays clearly showed the errors.
Nolan made it clear that whatever the league told him, the officials did not cost the 49ers the game. But the calls in question resulted in 207 yards in the second half of Sunday’s game:
—The 49ers challenged the ruling on the field that Eagles DT Mike Patterson was not down after recovering running back Frank Gore’s goal-line fumble. Replays appeared to show Patterson, with possession of the ball and both knees on the ground, in contact with 49ers tackle Kwame Harris.

The correct call would have given the Eagles possession on their 2-yard line. The source said McAulay did not have access to a replay angle from the end zone that would have enabled him to overrule the call on the field.
—The 49ers had gotten to within 14 points early in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles bumped the lead back to 21 points with a touchdown. The big play was QB Donovan McNabb’s short pass to TE Matt Schobel for a 60-yard gain.

On the play, Eagles WR Reggie Brown clearly blocks 49ers FS Mike Adams, who was in man coverage against Schobel, before the pass was caught. The illegal pick play was not called and the play stood.
—On the 49ers’ next possession, WR Antonio Bryant’s 49-yard reception to the Eagles’ 8-yard line was nullified when 49ers RB Michael Robinson was called for an illegal chop block. The 49ers failed to get any points from the possession.

Although Nolan did not address the play Friday, he spoke about it Monday at his press conference. A chop block is when a defensive player is in engaged with a blocker and another blocker makes a block below the waist on the defender.

“On that play, Michael is chopping, and after he’s chopping him, then Jonas (Jennings) falls on top of the guy,” Nolan said. “That’s not a chop, from my understanding. So, I’m going to get the rule explained to me.”

Source: Matt Maiocco