Smith scores strange TD in game

SEATTLE — Steve Smith sulked along the sideline, frustrated with the Carolina Panthers' lack of production in the NFC championship game.

Then he did something about it.

Or did he?

With the Panthers trailing 17-0, Smith, a former Ute, returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks. But the officials threw a flag that seemingly negated the score for what appeared to be a block in the back by linebacker Vinny Ciurciu.

The crowd erupted at the sight of the flag and the Panthers started marching back to the site of the infraction. Even Smith, who normally marks each touchdown with a creative celebration, thought the play didn't count and casually tossed the ball to the officials.

Yet when the referees huddled at midfield, and Panthers coach John Fox angrily alternated staring down Ciurciu and the officials, they wavered on whether there had actually been a penalty.

Then head referee Ed Hochuli turned on his microphone to announce the decision.

"During the return . . . ," he began, before he was interrupted by the other officials.

They huddled again, with the crowd growing more antsy with each passing second. Hochuli then returned to midfield and announced there was no penalty.

The Panthers celebrated. The crowd erupted in a chorus of boos.

It was yet another questionable call in a postseason full of officiating errors.

Just last week, officials in Indianapolis incorrectly overturned a Troy Polamalu interception in the Pittsburgh Steelers' win over the Colts. The NFL acknowledged the officials erred.

Before Smith's score, he was seen growing increasingly impatient with the Panthers' offensive problems. The NFL's leading receiver was shut out of the first quarter while Seattle's defense shadowed him with as many as four defenders. Jake Delhomme was intercepted twice and Smith was livid when Delhomme wasn't throwing his way.

He was stalking around on the sideline, when Fox approached him to calm him down.

Moments later, he scored on the punt return.