NEW ORLEANS — A judge has dismissed the last of three federal lawsuits targeting Roger Goodell and other NFL officials over officiating at January’s NFC title game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints.
That leaves one state court lawsuit pending over game officials’ failure to call a blatant penalty at a crucial point, helping the Rams advance to the Super Bowl.
Officials failed to call interference or roughness penalties when a Los Angeles Rams player leveled a Saints receiver with a helmet-to-helmet hit at a crucial point in the final minutes of regulation time. The Rams won the Jan. 20 game in overtime.
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan’s ruling Tuesday rejected arguments that people who bought tickets to the game are entitled to damage payments. Ticket purchasers who filed the suit say the NFL broke a legal promise that the game would be played fairly.
Related federal lawsuits were dismissed earlier this year. The Louisiana state court suit survives and could result in Goodell being questioned about the game under oath.