Mike Martz Says Officials Screwed 49ers 'Every Way Possible' in Monday Night Loss

I'll admit I watched the final play of the 49ers-Cardinals Monday Night Extravaganza in bewilderment -- like the other 47 people who actually stayed up for the exciting conclusion.

And, like Gretz, I just assumed that Mike Singletary had turned off Mike Martz's headset in the final two minutes. Which explained why the 49ers decided to break out the world's slowest-developing running play with three ticks on the clock, no timeouts, and the game on the line.

Funny story: not only was Martz's headset functioning, he's also fully responsible for the dubious play call. One thing, though: he dialed up a running play before the officials re-spotted the ball.

CBSSports.com's Clark Judge had the enviable task of asking Martz about it:

"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 2½ and tell us they're going to start the clock on the official's wind.

"We couldn't change the play. We had to go with what we called. If it would've been at the 1, we would've made it. But they moved it and didn't give us any time. So what are we going to do? 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."

You know, it's easy to hate Martz -- he's the NFL's version of Sherman through Atlanta -- but it's hard to blame the guy for this. Even if he'd sent in two plays, there were only a few seconds on the clock; it's not like quarterback Shaun Hill would've had time to audible to a pass.

Whatever, Martz wasn't done:

"Obviously, if we had had time we wouldn't have called that play for that situation," he said. "We would've called a double fade and passed it. I didn't expect anything like that. We had no recourse. We got screwed every way possible."

And what's the going rate for getting "screwed every way possible"? No idea -- that's up to the NFL Plinko Board -- but I'm guessing Martz will be receiving an invoice from the league office for his comments. Maybe Ray Anderson will even hand deliver it.

Judge also talked to Mike Pereira, NFL head of officiating, who disagrees with Martz and says the officials acted properly. Snyder will undoubtedly have more on this later in the week.

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Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt calls a play against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jevon Nellon,13, of Truman Middle School works on his vertical leap during mini-camp activities as part of the NFL Network's Keep Gym in School program launched in partnership with Cox New Orleans in Marrero, Louisiana, November 11, 2008. REUTERS/NFL Network/Sean Gardner (UNITED STATES). NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES.

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New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister leads Truman Middle School students in mini-camp activities as part of the NFL Network's Keep Gym in School program launched in partnership with Cox New Orleans in Marrero, Louisiana, November 11, 2008. REUTERS/NFL Network/Sean Gardner (UNITED STATES). NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES.

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New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister (R) leads Truman Middle School students in mini-camp activities as part of the NFL Network's Keep Gym in School program launched in partnership with Cox New Orleans in Marrero, Louisiana, November 11, 2008. REUTERS/NFL Network/Sean Gardner (UNITED STATES). NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES.

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