NEW YORK (AP) - San Francisco offensive coordinator Mike Martz has been fined $20,000 by the NFL for his criticism of the officiating at the end of the 49ers' 29-24 loss in Arizona.
Martz said the team had been "screwed" by the officiating crew when the ball was spotted at the 2 1/2-yard line for the final play of the game after a replay of a run on the previous snap by Frank Gore. Martz, who thought the ball would be at the 1, already had called a run up the middle that was stuffed by the Cardinals.
"It cost us the game," he said. "We go to the 1 — or the half-yard line — then spike the ball when, all of a sudden, officials tell us they're going to look at the replay. While they're looking at it, the ball stays at the 1. So we send in a play. Then, when they make their decision, they move the ball back to the 2 1/2 and tell us they're going to start the clock on the official's wind. ...
"If they would've moved it to the 10, we still would've had to run the play that was called. We got screwed because of the spot, first and foremost."
The fine was confirmed Friday by NFL spokesman Randall Liu. |