NFL Notes: League says ref blew call

The NFL said the referee made a mistake: Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu caught the ball.

The league acknowledged Monday that referee Pete Morelli erred when he overturned on replay Polamalu's interception of a Peyton Manning pass Sunday in the playoff game between the Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts.

Mike Pereira, the league's vice president of officiating, said in a statement that Morelli should have let the call on the field stand.

"He maintained possession long enough to establish a catch," Pereira said of Polamalu. "Therefore, the replay review should have upheld the call on the field that it was a catch and fumble."

After the reversal, made with 5:26 left in Pittsburgh's win over the Colts, Indianapolis went on to score a touchdown and a two-point conversion, cutting the Steelers' 21-10 lead to 21-18. That led to a wild final few minutes, including Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt's missed 46-yard field-goal attempt.

On the play that was overturned, Polamalu made a diving catch of Manning's pass, tumbled with it in his hands and got up to run. As he did, he fumbled and recovered the ball. Colts coach Tony Dungy challenged, and Morelli ruled Polamalu had not completed the catch.

Shortly after the game, Morelli said, "I had the defender catching the ball. Before he got up, he hit it with his leg with his other leg still on the ground. Therefore, he did not complete the catch. And then he lost the ball. It came out, and so we made the play an incomplete pass."

Had the call stood, the Steelers would have had the ball at their own 48 with an 11-point lead.

"The definition of a catch — or in this case an interception — states that in the process of making a catch a player must maintain possession of the ball after he contacts the ground," Pereira said. "The rule regarding the performing of an act common to the game applies when there is contact with a defensive player and the ball comes loose, which did not happen here."

On Sunday, Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter said, "I know they wanted Indy to win this game; the whole world loves Peyton Manning. But come on, man, don't take the game away from us like that."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello had no comment on Porter's statement.

Report: Jets hire Mangini

NEW YORK — Eric Mangini, the New England Patriots' defensive coordinator, has accepted an offer to become the next New York Jets coach, a person familiar with the situation said.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made by the team.

Mangini, who turns 35 Thursday, becomes the youngest head coach in the league. He replaces Herman Edwards, who left for Kansas City after five seasons.

Notes

• Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, an ex-UW Huskies offensive coordinator, reportedly is the leading candidate to coach the St. Louis Rams, over Ron Rivera and Cam Cameron.

• Colts coach Dungy plans to return but left open the possibility of retirement after a season marked by the death of his son, James, 18.

"I really don't know how I'll react the next few days," Dungy said. "I think I'll be back. But it will really be the first time I've had to think about it."

• Jim Bates stepped down as Packers defensive coordinator after getting passed over for the Green Bay coaching job. Bates decided to leave after several discussions with new coach Mike McCarthy.

• Oakland interviewed Rod Marinelli, Tampa Bay's defensive-line coach, for its coaching job.

• Fired Oakland coach Norv Turner reportedly is close to becoming the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.

• Ron Jessie, a former Pro Bowl wide receiver who played 11 seasons in the league, died Friday at 57 after having a heart attack in his Huntington Beach, Calif., home, said his son, Brandon.