NFL reportedly moved officials from downtown New Orleans hotel after Saints-Rams fiasco

The NFL moved officials who oversaw the Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Saints in Sunday’s NFC championship from a downtown New Orleans hotel due to the game’s controversial outcome, the Toronto Sun reports. The Sun cites witnesses who say they saw the officials being harassed in person and over the phone in their downtown hotel before a security team escorted them via bus to a suburban hotel.

NFL confirmed report

The NFL confirmed to the Sun that the officials did relocate to another hotel Sunday night, but said that it was done out of an abundance of caution rather than any imminent threat to the men.

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Historic blown call

The Saints lost in overtime with a late officiating error playing a significant role in the outcome of the game. Officials declined to call a blatant pass interference foul on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, who violently ran through Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis before a pass arrived in the game’s final two minutes. Had officials called pass interference, the Saints would have had a first down inside the Rams 10-yard line in a tie game with around 1:45 remaining and the Rams possessing one timeout. Instead the Saints kicked a field goal on the next play, and Los Angeles eventually prevailed, 26-23 in overtime to earn a trip to the Super Bowl.

Officials reportedly watched AFC game in hotel bar.

A witness at the second hotel told the Sun that he saw an official receive repeated phone calls on his cell phone while in the lobby before handing it to an officer, who told the caller to desist or risk prosecution. Witnesses told the Sun that some members of the officiating crew watched part of the AFC championship game in the bar of the second hotel without incident. Source: https://www.aol.com