People from all walks of life take bribes every day
Judges... policemen....BC baskteball players....mayors....
Why would anyone think Referees cannot be bought? And just because the NFL comes out and backs the refs doesn't mean a thing.
To not even admit the most obvious error - hassleback's phantom cut block - should tell you something's not right here.
The only conclusion I can draw from this pattern of questionable officiating that plaqued the playoffs is that the NFL had a hidden agend to put over certain teams. They tried their hardest to push Manning/Dungy (and they still screwed it up) and then the feel good story shifted to the Steelers.....for the bus... for Cowher....
Looking back.. there was absolutely, positively, no way the Seahawks were going to win that game. None whatsoever. Like the Walrus said - I hope the refs made a ton of money, cause selliing out one's integrity shouldn't come cheap.