McElwee said he had to estimate the spot

[Cntrygal]

NFL referee Bob McElwee explained a key decision in the final minute of the New England Patriots' 33-30 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears.

McElwee, the game's head official, said he had to estimate whether the Patriots made a first down because the ball had been moved before he could bring in the chains to measure.

"I conferred with my crew and they strongly felt that the quarterback had advanced the ball past the first-down marker,'' McElwee said in a statement Monday. He would not talk to a pool reporter after Sunday's game.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2002/1111/1459404.html

[Pride]

What???

I wonder what kind of car the Pats bought him before the game?

[Earthquake Enyart]

I don't know why they didn't go to replay for the spot of the ball. CBS didn't show the shot down the line of scrimmage, so from the views they did show, it was unclear if he made it or not. For Pete's sake, it was a QB sneak on 4th and 3. It was no gimme that he made it.

That crew did a crappy job in the last 3 minutes of that game.