NFL MNF Ref Controversy: What a way to launch SB Nation United!

I would like to thank the NFL for deciding to unleash the biggest controversy in years on the day SB Nation launches the new SB Nation United initiative. In case you stumbled over here via a story link and have not checked out the front page of Niners Nation, I highly recommend you check out this rundown and video of some of the changes and updates you'll see here at the new Niners Nation, and SB Nation as a whole.

But back to the story at end. Are you [site decorum] kidding me? I was watching Monday Night Football at the office, but actually left to crash on a co-worker's counch (had to get in early for the United launch!) with about 40 seconds left in the game. I had received a couple random texts about the craziness but had not seen what happened. We stopped at a bar on the way and caught the replays and....wow.

The whole weekend had its share of referee issues, but this really was the icing on the cake. The fact that Golden Tate was behind M.D. Jennings and had to wrap his arms around him to even get his hands on the ball was pretty amazing. The fact that Tate gave the defender in front of him a huge shove, right in front of the referee, was amazing. Add it all up and it is a cluster of epic proportions. Some may argue that in real time it is hard to make that kind of judgement call. On Twitter, Dolphins beat-writer @omarkelly is offering up his defense of the call.

The NFL is expected to issue a statement later today on the final play. I am extremely curious to see if they spin-dry the heck out of this, or somehow manage to fess up to things. I doubt the latter, but maybe the league will surprise us.

At this point, I really can't get any more outraged. Much like Steve Young said last night, I'm just too tired of it at this point.