Questionable Officiating Outshines the Cardinals and Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII
by Hawkwind on Feb 2, 2009 11:43 AM MST
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PrintIn a game when the National Football League puts it's two best teams on the biggest stage in front of the Nation and the world, a third team stepped into the spotlight. Officiating is a thankless job that rarely receives anything but criticism but it can't be denied that the officials were the focal point for a large part of Super Bowl XLIII. By the end of the game there were 18 accepted penalties for 162 yards and another two penalties for 20 yards were declined. The most called penalty was holding as it accounted for 7 penalties for 70 yards, but what sticks out the most in my minds are two calls/moves that weren't made late in the fourth quarter.
Santonio Holmes Uses the Ball as a 
Prop: The NFL has a simple and clearly defined rule that players can not use the ball as a prop when celebrating. Doing so after a touchdown results in an automatic 15 yard penalty on the subsequent kickoff. If we can assume the same type of return, the Cardinals would have started their final drive from their 38 yard line instead of their own 23. With :30 seconds on the clock 15 yards is a significant amount of yardage, especially considering that the Cardinals got across midfield with :15 seconds left. Again if we tack on 15 yards, they'd have been inside the Steelers 30 and they'd be in range for a couple of legit shots into the end zone.
Final Play Not Reviewed At All: On a play that ends one teams season and crowns a champion, why did the officials not take a second look at a very close play? With :15 seconds on the clock and the Cardinals out of timeouts, Warner drops to pass and immediately feels pressure. He shuffles in the pocket and loads up for a deep pass, but LaMarr Woodley gets his hand on the Warner's arm and knocks the ball loose. The play was ruled a fumble and the Steelers took possession with just a few second left on the clock. I don't know if the play would have been overturned, but there's no doubt in my mind that if that play was outside of two minutes, Ken Whisenhunt would have challenged the call. If a play is that close in a game of this magnitude, why not take a second look?
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Before I get blasted by Steelers fans, I'm not blaming the officiating for the outcome of the game or saying that they're the reason the Cardinals lost. I'm simply saying that in a game that was obviously called very tight, they missed some huge calls as well. What did you think of the officials last night? Would you rather them call the plays by the book or let guys play in game of this magnitude?
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Dansby roughing the pass call
was also a horrid call.
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I can not believe that they called Dansby...
But didn’t call the multiple hits on Warner. If they’re going to call a tight game like that, it needs to be used that tightly for the rest of the game. There were two monster hits on Warner that were not nearly the magnitude of the Dansby push that were never flagged.
so was the one where Q elbowed the steeler on the cards sideline, and the steeler hit him back, followed by aggression by EVERYONE on the cards bench. I will admit, the number of unnecessary roughness penalties was ridiculous, but they went both ways.
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 3, 2009 6:34 AM MST up reply actions
Cards And Steelers Outshined Officiating
Have to disagree with your title. I think this game will be remembered for the great play on both sides of the ball and the back and forth finish, not the officiating. On the two moments you bring up- Not sure what constitutes a prop (spiking the ball, no, putting the ball, yes) but you may certainly have a point here that I haven’t seen anywhere else. The fumble was reviewed according to Pereira, just didn’t call for a buzz down to the field:
"We confirmed it was a fumble," said Pereira. "The replay assistant in the replay booth saw it was clearly a fumble. The ball got knocked loose and was rolling in his hand before it started forward. He has to have total control."
I agree that the officiating was tight and I don’t like seeing that many yards in penalties being called, but I thought both teams actually did a decent job overcoming calls. The Cards D only giving up a field goal on the 3 PF drive kept them in the game, and the Steelers coming back from the two holds late in the game.
Would have to agree.
The game itself definitely outshone any questionable calls.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
If you taped the game
Go back and look at Fitzgerald’s first TD. He did not control the ball all the way through the catch. I blame the Steelers staff for not challenging that one, but I believe it was a gift.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
He was also
being interfered with.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
it was a good game...
despite the outcome of the game, it still was a very good game. i’m not sure whether or not the calls or reviews would’ve made a difference in the game, but the 100 yard interception i think was the difference in the game. congratulations to the Steelers for winning, but the Cardinals still had an amazing postseason. i cant wait for next year.
Phoenix Coyotes! Arizona Cardinals! Phoenix Suns! and the Arizona Diamondbacks!
by phoenixcoyotes17 on Feb 2, 2009 12:37 PM MST reply actions
Harrison should have been ejected
I know it was called for a PF, but he hit the Cardinals player, and then when the guy started to get up pushed him again to the ground.
How that was not an ejectable PF I do not know.
I agree
100%
I’m disgusted someone in his position (role model, AP Defensive player of the year, linebacker) would do something like that.
by stalkingbamby on Feb 2, 2009 1:46 PM MST up reply actions
that's what I was going to say.
If any call was blown the most, it was that one. There should be no excuse for standing above a player, taunting him, and then pushing him down each time he tries to get up. There’s no place for that in professional sports.
On with the (good) youth movement!
Harrison is well "known to the police", as they say...
The guy is always just a step away from incarceration. Holmes too for that matter. Steelers owe their success in the game to the criminal element.
OMFG you are a flat out liar...
could you be any more bitter about being wrong??? You are a disgusting fan. You should be ashamed of yourself and your behavior. How can you make a statement like that? ’Harrison and Holmes are known to the police and a step away from incarceration"?? Are you a cop?
Cards fans beware. This guy RE used to be a regular at Behind The Steel Curtain and used to call himself a Steeler fan. However, he made several racist comments about Tomlin and how we would never get anywhere with him at the helm. So once the Cards made the Superbowl, he headed over here and is ‘now a Cards’ fan. For two years, he has preached how bad Tomlin and Ben are. I came on here to talk about the officiating and how bad it truly was, and lo and behold, here he is, spreading his crap over here. Pathetic. Please, do not for a second believe that this idiot is anything close to an actual Cardinals fan.
As for the officiating, I agree it was bad, but I do think it went both ways.
As for Holmes, he wasn’t necessarily celebrating, as much as he was honoring LeBron James. Still, I understand thats a penalty, albeit a lame one, but I’m guessing since it was such a small gesture, it wasn’t seen.
I’m in the minority too, as I didn’t think the Harrison thing was any big deal, guys maul each other in sp teams all the time.
The roughing the holder play was bizarre and lame.
The roughing the passer play on Zona was lame, but that has been called consistently in today’s NFL. The hit was a full second after Ben threw the ball, and it was tough to tell if Dansby pulled up or not.
The holding penalty that gave Zona a safety was iffy at best.
But the biggest has got to be the lack of a review at the end of the game? What legit fan wants to end on a play like that? It wouldn’t have been overturned, but still, it should have been reviewed. The infamous ‘Tuck Rule’ states that the ball has to come back down to the belt area before it can be ruled a fumble and thats what happened. But for crying out loud, take the extra two minutes and officially review it.
RE is a known entity around these parts
Came in around mid-season to talk MVP and the awesomeness factor of Bret Favre. I thought he was a Giants fan as that was the next team on the schedule. ::shrugs::
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
Harrison
I am clearly in the minority among both Cards and Steelers fans, but I didn’t even think the Harrison play warranted a flag. He blocked the guy to the ground, then gave him an open-handed jab to the shoulder pads to make sure he stayed down. That might have been a bit excessive, but it was hardly the “punch” that people are calling it. Then, when the Cardinal player finally started to get up, Harrison shoved him in the chest and knocked him to the ground. The play was still going on at that point, so in my mind, that’s just a block. That’s the point of the play that caused the flags to come out. After that, he continued trying to block him as the play was ending, possibly taking it a few seconds past the whistle. I saw this as a very minor issue, and was surprised that it was flagged. I am amazed that so many saw it as a reason for ejection, as I didn’t catch Madden bringing it up until I re-watched the tape.
I am clearly missing something on this play, as I can’t even find a Steeler fan to agree with me. I was watching the game in a room of Steeler fans, and they thought I was an idiot when I questioned the penalty. Can someone help me out here? What am I missing due to my Steelers bias?
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
http://mvn.com/pittsburghlumberco
by MBandi on Feb 2, 2009 2:20 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Count me in the minority
The Harrison play is not uncommon in football. A blocker for a return team gets his man down and then repeatedly blocks him when he tries getting up. It happens all the time. And I’d also agree that there certainly was no punch thrown, although he did jab him like you said. I figured that in a tightly called game, the jab was considered excessive. What are we missing?
sorry guys. can't agree.
it was excessive because his open hand to the chest was almost at the throat and was excessive. his punch in the back was a punch in the back. there is a difference between football moves and fighting moves and those were the latter. yes this is a man’s game. but those moves were unsportsmanlike and uncalled for. he really could have injured someone. besides, he wouldn’t tried that punk sh!t on dockett or wilson. the fire department would have had to have been called to use the jaws of life to cut their hands off his throat. what a b!tch move that was praying on the weak like that. try that on someone who would fight back and it never would have happened. that’s not physical football, its pussy football.
Any contact with the chest is near the throat. Those two body parts are right next to each other. In my opinion, that’s not really relevant.
The punch in the back was more like a stiff arm to the shoulder pads.
I would guess that the probability of someone being injured by being shoved to the ground is pretty low.
The identity of the opposing player is irrelevant. This isn’t the church Turkey Bowl, where the adults aren’t allowed to tackle the kids. It is competitive football. If you are on the field, you might get hit by someone.
I can see where the officials might have seen this happen live on the field and feel the need to throw a flag. They look over and see a guy getting tossed to the ground away from the play, it looks bad. But for anyone to still be upset about it the next day, after being able to see the replay multiple times, really baffles me.
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
http://mvn.com/pittsburghlumberco
I agree with you and I am an Eagles fan.
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 3, 2009 6:41 AM MST up reply actions
your absolutely right Mbandi – for pete’s sake – its a mans game – its football. if you can’t handle it go watch baseball or something.
it was clean – now if i was a Cards fan i’d be all up in the review booth not reviewing the final play of the game.
Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider
by J2 on Feb 2, 2009 2:51 PM MST up reply actions
I agree with you 100%. Hitting a guy in the shoulder pads when a play is still occuring doesn’t warrant a penalty or an expulsion. In highschool if I pancake blocked someone I would sit on him until the play was over, and it was completely legal.
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 3, 2009 6:40 AM MST up reply actions
The Cardinals Player Hit Harrison in the Family Jewels
Full Disclosure: I am a steelers fan
I agree with the penalty called on this play, but I certainly don’t think that Harrison should have been ejected.
You Cards fans seem to be very happy to ignore the fact that the Cardinals player hit James Harrison right in the groin before he tried to get up … this is probably why Harrison pushed him over again.
I don't see that
in ANY of the replays…
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Hawkwind
I sent you an e-mail you might want to look at.
Jim Sorgi runs a 4.6 40. That's all I've got to say about that.
Bullsh*t officiating throughout the 2008 season, and again in the championship game. Shameful. Perhaps they are relying too much on instant replay to correct their knee jerk decisions. We all deserve better than this and should not accept the NFL’s proud defense of their officiating.
Change is GOOD.
Cards will get officiating respect next season.
The Cards have been nobodies for the last 62 years. Up until now they had not earned the respect of the officials. Everyone and their mommas know that we are mistreated the most by the whistle blowers. Once a team proves they have earned it, the will get the benefit of the whistle more. I guarantee A-dub gets fewer personal fouls called because of how we rallied in this SB. Plus, the refs couldn’t let us win. Barack predicted the Steelers barely squeeking by and so it had to happen. Think I’m crazy? Think back to 9/11. That’s the year the Pats won. I didn’t believe in conspiracy theories either until I got in the military and saw it first hand in action.
Yet
the Yankees still lost the 2001 World Series….
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
this is funny
Barack predicted the Steelers barely squeeking by and so it had to happen. Think I’m crazy? Think back to 9/11. That’s the year the Pats won. I didn’t believe in conspiracy theories either until I got in the military and saw it first hand in action.
I’m just happy “they” used the Steelers winning the Superbowl to achieve their evil plans.
Shit’s hooked up.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
Maybe if Fransisco wasn’t on his knees staring at Harrison with sex in his eyes, he wouldn’t have been treated like a Bia
If you can't beat the Steelers, join our bandwagon
by 6Pack and going for Lucky Number 7 :) on Feb 2, 2009 3:12 PM MST reply actions
Maybe if you weren't trolling,
you’d get a response.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Officiating was Fine
(I am a Steelers fan)
The officiating in this game was fine. It wasn’t perfect,but all Super Bowl winners EVER have had to overcome bad calls. This year was no exception. What were the bad calls?
The roughing the passer call was nonsense, but this was probably outweighed by the holding call that led to a safety. Those were the two most egregious calls in the game, and neither determined the outcome. The roughing the passer was very borderline, and the holding call looked more like the Steeler player just got run over.
There were two similar non-calls. First, on the Harrison runback, Larry Fitzgerald was an illegal tackler,since he stepped out of bounds. No call. And of course, the ball was used as a prop by Holmes. Both calls would have led to subtle field position changes on the ensuing drives. It’s hard to say that either call would have changed the outcome.
And finally, there’s the last play. Yes, it should have been reviewed, but there is no way that it would get overturned. Watch the replay, Warner clearly loses control before his arm starts moving forward, and it is only the defender’s hit that causes the ball to go forward. The right call was made, so arguing about it is ridiculous.
Anyway, it was a good game, and I am sorry that both teams couldn’t come away with a lombardi.
there was no call on the harrison
run back because the TD counted, officially erasing the tackle. If they had ruled him down at the 1inch line, they would have had to call the penalty then and then the half wouldn’t have been over, Pitt would have had one more play and probably kicked it.
Yeah.
At the point the ballcarrier is ruled to have broken the plane of the goal line, the illegal tackle becomes irrelevant and ignored.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Don't worry Cards fans
And don’t despair or you will turn into the Sea Chickens. Your team showed the world that they are a force to be reckoned with. I know the Cards picked many new fans last night. You have a great team and will be back to the SB. Do not blame this loss on the refs; it will diminish the class and grit your team showed. Take heart in the fact that your team will learn from their mistakes and be even better for it. Do not wallow in self-pity. The Sea Chickens did, and they ended up being humiliated in Pittsburgh. Fortunately Whiz is a man of integrity and class so he won’t let that happen in his locker room. Again, congratulations on a great season, and I will be rooting for you against anyone but my Steelers.
What you might want to look at
was the final TD by Holmes. If you can get a field level view, see if his right foot ever touches the endzone. I cant find a decent shot of it but I remember watching last night and thinking he might not have ever got it down.
This is a good shot of it, though you can’t see the ball. A couple of the field level replays from NBC showed his toe clearly touched the turf.
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
http://mvn.com/pittsburghlumberco
At the time
I thought he dragged his toes, but upon watching the replays today, it doesn’t look like he dragged them WHILE he had possession of the ball — only before. Not sure there’s enough there to overturn the call on the field.
Still, woulda coulda shoulda.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Another problem is,
his shoes were the same color as the turf in that end zone. (Since it was the Steelers’ side of the field) So it’s tough to get a definite answer when seen from the other angle (showing the ball)…
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
His feet were down....
….regardless of how much I wished they weren’t. Karma payback for Nate Poole’s TD to keep the Vikings out of the playoffs I suppose.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
Are you sure?
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Yup, you're right.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
we have a fanpost over on BGN that has a very good rare view of this. I personally do not believe his foot was down.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2009/2/2/745183/santoenio-holmes
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 3, 2009 9:26 AM MST up reply actions
Hard to say.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
You can see that his toe is down in this shot.
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
http://mvn.com/pittsburghlumberco
Yet, once again,
you can’t see whether he has the ball.
Of COURSE he had his toes down at SOME point before the catch.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
good shot
of course these things happen so fast its nearly impossible to see in real time. The angle replay I got was field level and it appeared his right foot was airborne. Only saw it once and it was almost as fast as the play itself. Bottom line though, the game’s over and the Steelers won. Was a hell of a good game regardless and I guess we shouldn’t diminish it with this type of discussion anyway.
officiating
if you’’re to bring up missed sportsmanlike calls by the officials,than you need to include the one that involved kurt warner removing his helmet,or do we turn a blind eye to that one seeing your a cardnial fan.
Care to
present pictorial or video evidence of whatever it is you’re talking about??
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Don't have any evidence, but...
It was after Warner’s first fumble that was overturned by the challenge. When they called it a fumble, Warner removed his helmet to protest. It was when the camera caught him saying “I was throwing that.”
Don’t really think it’s worth debating, just like I don’t think the Holmes celebration is worth debating. The only difference between the two was that the Holmes no-call occurred at a more critical point in the game. Neither of these incidents should still be talked about two days after the game, in my opinion.
Anyway, just wanted to specify which play bhella was referring to.
Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
http://mvn.com/pittsburghlumberco
Non-issue.
It was ruled (initially) a fumble, so the QB taking off his helmet would be expected. (When the offense goes to sit down). The real difference between this and Holmes (besides the fact that this isn’t a penalty and Holmes’ celebration was, in my obviously biased opinion) is that the Steelers ended up winning the game. If they lose, that probably gets discussed. (At least a little)
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Using the ball as a salt shaker? of all the things to make excuses for, not getting a 15 yard penalty for a guy celebrating after scoring the game winning TD is the lamest. I am SURE the play WAS REVIEWED by the official in the press box, who saw that it was clearly a fumble and Kurt Warner was just trying to dump the ball off when he was going down to avoid a sack. You guys were lucky not to have intentional grounding called on the other play that was reviewed, when Warner threw the ball AFTER he was hit.
Have you taken
the Cardinals’ side in ANYTHING here? Geez…. Iggles fan, bitter often?
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Actually, if you must know, I came over here to see if you guys were talking about Holmes Final TD catch, because his right foot wasn’t down. There is a fanpost about it on Bleedinggreennation. I do not think Holmes’ foot was down for that TD catch, the reviews either didn’t see conclusive evidence or didn’t look hard enough.
I just think the things you guys are bitching about are bogus. Sorry for posting actual opinion on a blog asshole.
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 3, 2009 9:13 AM MST up reply actions
sorry, calling you an asshole was over the top. I apologize.
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 3, 2009 9:14 AM MST up reply actions
Yeah, just a bit.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
I apologized right after I said it, no need to be snide about it.
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 4, 2009 7:04 AM MST up reply actions
I wasn't being snide.
I was grinning as I said that.
Sorry, it’s hard to tell over the tubes of the intarwebs. ;-)
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
Eagles fan
goes wahh wahh wahh
You play to win the game!
by Simms-McConkey on Feb 3, 2009 8:34 AM MST up reply actions
Here’s another possible officiating error: http://njfrogman.blogspot.com/2009/02/video-stills-super-bowl-xliii-terry.html
I hadn’t noticed it at the time, but apparently, Dansby’s INT came with 2:03 remaining in the first half. A change in possession stops the clock, yet the official time was allowed to run down to the 2 minute warning — meaning Warner & Co. were screwed out of a play, possibly changing the playcalling before the Harrison pick & TD.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
with all due respect, Warner made a horrible throw there. And the “what if” you are presenting is a HUGE “what if”
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 3, 2009 9:22 AM MST up reply actions
Nobody is blaming anyone but Kurt for the interception.
But like I mentioned, having an extra play there before the two minute warning might have changed the playcalling, so who knows what might have happened?
Heck, maybe because of a different formation Harrison still gets the INT but gets tackled before the end zone. Who knows? It’s all over now, of course.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
yeah, but you could also say what if a butterfly flew in front of Weisenhunt before he called the play and made him feel all happy inside. With all the good feelings Weisenhunt would have definitely called a different play!
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 4, 2009 7:03 AM MST up reply actions
And in your example, if the ref specifically put that butterfly in front of Whisenhunt's face,
or specifically kept it from flying in front of his face, wouldn’t that at least warrant a question?
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
tiresome
Steeler fan here. It was a great Super Bowl. I’m thrilled (and relieved) my team pulled it out, and I have nothing but respect for the Cards — wouldn’t surprise me at all if they make a deep run in the playoffs again next year. I’ve also enjoyed reading the commentary on this site, which seems spirited but informed and wholly rational, to the extent that anyone talking about a team they love can be rational.
But I have to say that the whining about the refs is really, really tiresome, especially because, as Hawkwind points out, this game was not decided by the refs. Every football game has loads of calls – and non-calls - that can go either way. They usually even out over the course of the game, and certainly did in this one. Fans - Steeler fans too, I admit — have a tendency to get outraged over any tiny possiblity that their team didn’t get a call, yet manage to ignore the many times when their team DOES get a favorable call.
Yes, the roughing the passer call was a bit dicey, but what about holding call on the Steeler center that caused the safety? Equally dicey. Etc. etc. Santonio clearly made that catch — they showed it from about 19 angles, and it’s not really that tough a call — but if you want to question that, how closely do you want the replay guys to look at Fitz’s first TD catch? Etc. etc.
Very occasionally there’s a call so egregiously bad, and so ill-timed, that it actually changes the result of a game — the San Diego/Bronco game, for example — but, as I said, to a very large degree these close calls even out, and that’s certainly what happened in this game.
BTW, those of you keep claiming that somehow the league “favors” the Steelers, and that we get all the calls, I suggest you watch a season or two of Steeler games…you might start w/ last year’s playoff game against Jacksonville, then this year’s regular season game against S.D., then watch the about 5,000 times Harrison was pulled down by the neck with no holding penalty called — heck, watch the 6 games in a row this year when NO HOLDING of any kind was call against our opponents — a then say with a straight face that league favors us. I’m certainly not claiming that the league is somehow AGAINST us — we certainly get our good calls too — just saying that it goes both ways.
Anyway, again, great game. Let’s do it again next year!
I don’t understand what they consider holding in the league anymore. i think with all the speed rushers in the league, the refs have eased up on the arm extended around the neck thing.
by Clyde Simmons on Feb 3, 2009 9:19 AM MST up reply actions
Mental note: put “questionable” & “officiating” in story title, worth 50+ responses every time!
Harrison’s Play: aside from the appearance that Francisco was giving Harrison a hummer, the play was legal up to the shove which was “excessive” considering the active play was 45+ yards down field. A personal foul is warranted. The thing I found most shocking about was John Madden, who coached some of the “dirtiest” football players ever, commented that Harrison should be ejected for that. Madden has spoken and the masses will follow.
Wilson’s Punter Plow: Was he off balance from getting through the line? Sure. Could he have fallen and slide into Berger? Sure. 5-yard penalty. Did he keep going “trying” to regain his balance? Yes, 15-yard penalty, shame on you Adrian. Does Berger still owe you money from last year? Ejection worthy…for creaming a kicker? Really?
Fitz’s Questionable TD: I figured Steelers fans would have a good understanding of how briefly “established control” of the football needs to be to warrant a TD call from Jerhame Urban’s TD from last year’s game. It doesn’t take much and Fitz had ample time and control.
Holmes TD: Awesome catch and toe tap. Nothing more, nothing less. MVP worthy, obviously.
Safety Induced Holding: If Hartwig and just flopped on his backs with his arms flailing, it would have been a no-call. With arms wrapped around the torso and sweet nothings being whispered in the defender’s ear, that was holding. I like safeties. :-P Would love to see someone drop-kick the free kick sometime though.
Now back to my original points…
Excessive Celebration: I bring this up because 15-yards on the ensuing kick-off would have been huge. The salt shaker antics are not really “excessive” in my mind (and why the penalty wasn’t thown) BUT compare that to some of shenanigans that Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, and Steve Smith have done over the years with the ball as a prop and it falls within the range of precedence.
Kurt’s Fumble: I would just like to have had upstairs buzz the field to review. I hate that every fumble comes with a obligatory booth review, but in the Super Bowl it needs to be used. That was one of quickest kneel downs I’d ever seen so I just have to go “Hmmmmmmmm?”.
“We confirmed it was a fumble,” said Pereira. “The replay assistant in the replay booth saw it was clearly a fumble. The ball got knocked loose and was rolling in his hand before it started forward. He has to have total control.”
Hell, if the booth can determine that in 30 seconds on that play why does it seem to take FOREVER the rest season’s worth of reviews?
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
A few thoughts
I understand why Harrison was flagged. I’m sure it looked excessive when the officials saw the play live. But should it really be considered excessive because it was so far away from the play? If we field that punt and return it back near the line of scrimmage, I would be upset if Harrison had quit blocking.
As deflating as the safety was, it was the right call. Just because Hartwig was run over doesn’t give him the right to tackle the defender.
That same logic applies to the roughing the holder penalty. Just because he bowled over the blocker and lost his balance doesn’t mean it’s legal for him to continue stumbling for five yards and run over the holder. Not saying it was ejection-worthy (that would be absurd). Just saying it’s an obvious penalty.
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1) Madden is a blithering idiot. He does manage to make an actual insightful comment now and then, but for the most part he’s just an unbearable, cliche spouting gasbag. His verdict that Harrison should be tossed is typical Madden B.S. Please, please, let him retire soon.
2) I wasn’t suggesting that Fitz’s TD catch shouldn’t stand. I absolutely think it SHOULD stand. But several commenters where going on about Holmes’s grab, and I just wanted to point out the futility of ragging the refs for something like that.
3) You can say the hold was obvious, I can say the guy was getting run over and got his arms entangled. There have been a hundred worse holds on Harrison this year that weren’t called. But that’s the way they called it, and I’m not crying about it, and if we had lost, I still wouldn’t be crying about it. I’d be crying about how the Steelers can’t score a frickin touchdown from the 2 yard line.
4) The “salt shaker.” As you yourself say, it wasn’t excessive. Do you really believe at that point in the game they should have called a penalty on something like that?
5) Maybe the reason it took such a short time to review the fumble is that is was so completely obvious that is WAS a fumble. Go back and look at it. It’s just not really an issue.
Hey, my team has lost games, and I’ve bitched about the refs. It’s natural and rather satisfying to bitch about the refs when you lose. But you’ve got to put it in perspective…. 99% of time the refs don’t decide the game, and they certainly didn’t decide this one. I know you get that, Hawkwind, but your headline (“Outshines….”) doesn’t do you service.
I was adjective deficient yesterday from sleep deprivation
But if “outshine” generates conversation and traffic, then I’m all for it! A case that blogging is journalism at it’s finest.
At least I did change my original title of “Questionable Officiating Shits on the Cardinals and Steelers Paid Off Pereira to Win Super Bowl XLIII” ::sardonic grin::
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
My Final Two Cents
Our offense did it’s job, but the defense just wasn’t able to come through in those last two minutes. The real fault falls on our backs and the scheme’s Clancy Pendergast were calling.
Here’s what we learned from the number one team in Super Bowl History:
1) Play 60 minutes of football – Offense. I know I’m stealing that from Tomlin, but honestly that last “fumble” could have been avoided if your five man front would have been putting up effort against a three man rush. When I looked three guys were standing around and Warner was in trouble pretty fast. If it would have been INT’d, or even missed I’d have rather have seen that than Warner getting pressure from a three man rush.
2) Play 60 minutes of football – Defensive backs. Not to say they were slacking, but how do you not double the main guy that the ball is going to every single time for a game winning drive. Then when he gets to the end zone you have him all by himself and three guys saying “I thought you had him”. I was grinding my teeth waiting for the INT on that drive. We’ve done such a great job this post season, but it just wasn’t happening when we really needed it: T-minus two minutes.
Lessons learned from the school of hard knocks.
We knew how to play 57:25 of football, we learned the hard way what can happen in those other 2:35.
Defensive backs. Not to say they were slacking, but how do you not double the main guy that the ball is going to every single time for a game winning drive. Then when he gets to the end zone you have him all by himself and three guys saying "I thought you had him".
Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles said that all through January. Great receivers find a way to get open. I just wish DRC was more of presence in the second half.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
I'll concede your point, Hawk, because other teams must have said the same about Fitz...
But the Cardinals hardly threw consecutive passes to anyone on the team on a drive. The Cardinals are known for spreading the ball around. So when you see a trend emerging, such as keep throwing it to the fastest guy on the team, if you aren’t doubling him you start.
When it got to the end zone throws, they doubled and seemed like went to zone for the final play that he caught the TD on. But did you notice how bunched they were and how there was no one in similar coverage to what they did to Fitz when he was in the end zone? They can go to zone, but they still needed to have DRC locked up tight with that guy.
I agree, I just wish DRC would have made a pick, or Rolle would have come away with that pop up.
couple of things
The no call on Fitz’s tackle was correct. The play was ruled a TD, therefore erasing the tackle. If they had ruled he was down at the one inch line, they would have had to call the penalty, and give the steelers the ball for one more play, which probably would have resulted in a FG.
Also, not that it really matters, but Holmes said he was doing the talcum powder thing that LeBron does, not a salt shaker. He was paying tribute to James. I guess they are buddies.
Somewhat unrelated question, but...
…theoretically, could the refs call intentional grounding and roughing the passer on the same play?
Just out of curiosity. Would it mean offsetting fouls, and a down replay?
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
I don't see how they could
Unless the QB got hit by a second defensive player after he released the ball.
"How'd you beat me? You have the street smarts of a cartoon princess!"
-The Guild
Well,
the guys at Football Outsiders were mentioning that on the Dansby BS “touching the quarterback” penalty, at first they thought the flag was for intentional grounding.
That’s what got me wondering.
"Of course, it’s downright frightening to imagine how two Adam Dunns would turn the double play." - Joe Posnanski
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