"Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and vice president of football administration Russ Ball contacted the NFL about the mechanics of instant replay after the regular season game against the Atlanta Falcons, according to coach Mike McCarthy.

The replay system was scrutinized following the Packers 20-17 loss because of a critical on-the-field ruling that saw tight end Tony Gonzalez convert a fourth-and-3 late in the second quarter. Gonzalez caught a four-yard touchdown five plays later with 12 seconds left in the first half to give Atlanta a 10-3 lead.

Gonzalez's conversion was ruled a catch, though replays showed the ball may have hit the ground. However, the replays inside the Georgia Dome were more than a play behind the live action.

McCarthy didn't challenge the play or call a time out. He said his coaching staff never saw a replay before the ball was snapped on the next play.

"Like anything involving decision-making, it's about information," McCarthy said. "When you have information, you have to make a decision, whether it's a particular instance of challenging a play, is it blind information, meaning you're going off of what you see live or the emotion of the moment. Or the situation. Or the information that you're able to receive from the replay, your coaches up top, or if someone gets a really good look at it on the sideline.

"Really, the Tony Gonzalez play, being fourth-and-3, having no information, calling a timeout there would have been the right option. But as we discussed after the game, there was really no information that he did not catch the ball.""