Then why even have the rule if the refs can just be arbitrary about it? Why don't they throw a fit every time there's a holding call?
His defense of holding is spoken like someone who wants to get away with holding all of the time. Not surprising as a former Ute player.
It was an especially egregious defensive hold. Bottom line. Get over it. It should be called whether it is the winning play of the game or seemingly insignificant to the entire game.