EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Vikings coach Brad Childress was incensed over the officiating in his team's 28-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and he likely didn't feel much better after talking to the NFL's vice president of officiating on Monday.
Childress said Carl Johnson, the league's director of officials, admitted that referee Scott Green should not have overturned a touchdown catch by Visanthe Shiancoe in the second quarter after Green Bay challenged the ruling.
Childress said he also was told a touchdown catch by Packers tight end Andrew Quarless in the second quarter would have been overturned had the Vikings challenged it.
Childress, who blasted the officiating in a postgame radio interview with KFAN, clearly was still frustrated by it during his Monday news conference.
"I called (league officials) very early this morning and they said they were disappointed that the call was reversed," Childress said.
Shiancoe made a diving 17-yard catch in the end zone. Part of the ball touched the ground, but Shiancoe maintained control and the officials ruled it a touchdown. Green Bay challenged and the play was reversed.
"It's supposed to be irrefutable evidence," Childress said. "The guy is looking right down on it and says it is a touchdown. You have got to show them something that says it wasn't a touchdown. I saw him control the ball. It's not about forearms. It's not about hands. I was told it was about hands. If he has it in his teeth and it touches the ground and he has it when he comes up, it's a touchdown."
The Vikings had to settle for a field goal, costing them four points - the margin of victory.
"You never know how the game would have turned out after that," Shiancoe said. "That's four points and we did lose by four points. But there's nothing I can do about it now. They're human beings, too. Everybody makes mistakes. But sometimes it can be costly."
A NFL spokesman said conversations between Johnson and teams are confidential and the league does not discuss them. The Vikings were frustrated that the officials overturned a correct call on the field.
"You would think that overturning it had to be indisputable evidence," Shiancoe said. "I was stunned. It was like, 'What's going on here?'"