Super Bowl Penalty Flags
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 21:33
As thrilling as Super Bowl XLIII was, there were still many situations that raised my ire and/or incredulity both as part of the game and in its coverage. So instead of handing out game balls (which are well-deserved by the likes of Santonio Holmes and Larry Fitzgerald), I’ve decided to throw out penalty flags (sadly deserved elseswhere).
Incidentally, several of my penalty flags have to deal with the actual game penalties.
The Officiating Crew – 5 Yards for Delay of Game
As a fan, you want to see the Super Bowl, of all games, decided on by the players on the field, not by the referees. Unfortunately, this officiating crew seemed determined to make the game about themselves. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of legitimate penalties, such as the egregious holding calls by both teams. But in the Super Bowl, the refs should let any borderline penalty go. Beyond the actual yardage gained or lost, too many penalties take both teams out of their rhythm. The Karlos Dansby roughing the passer penalty was a horrible call. Dansby was already in his motion when the ball was thrown, and he didn’t spear or drive Ben Roethlisbuger into the ground. What a joke. Nice job, refs.
The funny thing is, the officials were terrible with their non-calls, too. What was with not having a booth review of Warner’s fumble at the end of the game? This is the Super Bowl, for goodness sake. A play that critical at the juncture of the game deserves to be reviewed, no matter how sure you are of the outcome. I’m not saying that the play would have been overturned, but it should have at least been looked at. Nearly indisputable calls are reviewed by the booth all season, why not in the most important game of them all?
James Harrison – Ejection for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Hard to believe that Harrison do something that would detract from his legacy after completing one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history, but he did. A shoving match I could accept. Perhaps even a jab thrown to an opposing player who was standing and in a position to defend himself–still not the right thing to do, but something that happens. However, Harrison’s act of complete thuggery sucker punching Aaron Francisco while he was down on the ground was absolutely disgusting and warranted ejection, not a mere fifteen-yard penalty.
Of course, in not assessing a stiffer punishment, the refs dropped the ball here, too.
NFL – 10 Yards for Holding
Running into the holder? Every now and then some bizarre situation crops into a game in which the officiating crew makes some ruling nobody has ever heard of before. Running into the holder was one of those for me. I can honestly say I’ve never seen that in a game.
Don’t get me wrong, it does make sense that running into the holder is a penalty. The holder is prone and defenseless, much like the kicker. But 15 yards and a personal foul? Come on! Running into the kicker is only a five-yarder. I can’t blame the referees for this one, since they made the call according to the rule book. The problem is with the NFL’s rule itself. There should be two separate penalties: running into the holder, warranting five yards; and roughing the holder, deserving of the fifteen yards of a personal foul. In other words, the same split that there is between running into and roughing the kicker. And what happened in the Super Bowl was definitely a case of “running”, not “roughing”.
NBC – 15 Yards for Just Plain Stupidity
Since the lack of intelligence of the so-called pundits has already been touched upon on Deep Into Sports, I will limit my comments to other manifestations of stupidity, such as your on-screen graphics. Whose brilliant idea was it to flash yellow when switching between the down/yards-to-go info and “Super Bowl XLIII” in the game status bar? Maybe this would have been acceptable if it weren’t for the fact that this was the SAME PLACE that you put the yellow penalty alert! Every time I saw the yellow flash I thought the refs had thrown another penalty flag. Any other color would have worked, or none at all, but you had to pick yellow. Brilliant.
Also, nice job in the first quarter with the play clock running out way before the play. Everyone with whom I watched the game was wondering what the heck was going on. It’s one thing to be a split-second off–synching can be an issue–but you were off by several seconds. Good work–way to bring your A-game to the big-game.
Feel free to toss your red challenge flags.
Gairzo
says:
February 5th, 2009 at 6:08 am
The Dansby call, like 3/4 of simliar late hit calls are just poorly judged plays. They already give QBs every conceivable benefit of every conceivable doubt. It was a horrible call–as was not an immediate review of the games final play.
I tried to look for what preceded Harrison's punch and saw nothing he could use as an excuse. Stupid, yes. Warranting an ejection? Madden thought so. I don't know.
If I had time, I could edit a montage of plays–in playoffs, too–during which Harrison was literally choked to the ground and holding wasn't called. On one hand you correctly lambast the referees for poor execution, yet you say they shouldn't decide the game. You eject Harrison, it's the defensive equivalent of ejecting Fitzgerasld.
Roughing the holder under the "defenseless" player rule was the correct call.
I threw a flag for the Rothlisberger touchdown that was over turned. Just as we pointed out that the NFL has a different dictionary when it comes to terms like "violent and unecessary" use of the helmet to ram, butt, or spear an opponent, the NFL brass and the Refs do not understand what the term "indisputable visual evidence" means.
Very simply it means any human being with a three digit IQ can look at a play and say, "Yep that's a fumble" or, "He dragged his foot, he was in." The first time you hear yourself think, "I don't know, his foot, might be on the white line." STOP LOOKING AT THE PLAY! The visual evidence is disputable.
There was not one shot NBC showed where Rothlisbergers knee "indisputably" touched the ground. Was it close? Very. But any "too close to call" play, by the NFL's definition, must be upheld.
In trying to get calls right, the NFL is losing credibility fast. You know I spit black and sneeze gold, but it wasn't until a friend sent me a still shot where I indisputably saw Santonio's right foot touching the turf that I was convinced he really caught the winning touchdown..
It all boils down to the NFL not wanting full-time, union-repped officials. That's why Goodell fines players 50K for criticizing the refs. The Big Boys don't want to let go of the cash to insure, consistent, intelligent officiating.
Gairzo
says:
February 5th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Setting the record straight on the last play's official protocol: The booth officials job is to first determine if the call is correct. If he believes there is a question he will buzz the on field official and have him view the replay and make the final call.
Al Michaels alluded to the play being looked at but did not clarify that process. Hence the confusion.
The Booth Guy didn't buzz the Ref because the visual evidence was indisputable.
Woodley knocked the ball loose before Warner cocked his arm BACK. Whether or not, the ball was touching his hand going forward is a moot point.
The Ref's followed proper procedure. Michaels should have given the audience more details. The call was correct.
Nate Barlow
says:
February 5th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
NFL officiating is a joke. I acknowledge it's not an easy job, but the integrity of the game demands better refereeing.
Again, I'm not arguing that there shouldn't be a penalty for running into the holder–there should, he is defenseless–but there was no intent in that play in the Super Bowl. The defender was going for the block and came down upon the holder. That should not be a personal foul/automatic first down. If the defender was gunning for him–absolutely. But he wasn't. Terrible rule.
Punching a player on the ground is not a boarderline call. That's blatant, over-the-top and well beyond unnecessary roughness. I don't want the refs to decide the game, but that warrants something more than a 15-yard personal foul call. The next step up is ejection. Maybe the league needs a punishment level in between? Egregious holds should be called. Doesn't make it right, but everybody knows that there is holding not being called on pretty much every play in the NFL. Something needs to be done about consistency without ridiculous proliferation.
I actually was sure Holmes was in bounds watching it live. Fantastic catch.
Goodell should stop fining for criticizing refs and start fining refs for blowing calls.
Yeah, I know the booth official's job is to make the call on reviewing. However, I've frequently seen plays so obviously right that I was astounded that the booth called a review. That they didn't take extra time here, in the most important game of the year, even if they were sure, is just another example of inconsistency.
vito
says:
February 7th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Ya the guy spewing out black and gold should be happy the officials forgot their spectacles. If you DVR'd the game perhaps you could stop the video with the angle that shows Bens knee on the ground before the pigskin crosses the end zone line, you know that white line on the TV. Oh, by the way while your reviewing the film maybe you could explain to R. Goodell what chop blocking really is by showing him the Cards E. James helmet was in the stomach of the Steelers player, hmmmm, I thought below the knee was a chop block. What a shame. The Cards were driving, and on the Steelers 30 yard line, perhaps a three point field goal, or even a touchdown was possible against that vaunted defense that gave up how many yards??? Could that one penalty have made a difference in a drive? Not a chance say Mr Black and Gold! Ya I'm with you, along with all the other horrific calls. They didn't really matter as long as you wear those colors.
I had a guy tell me the Cards weren't as disciplined as the Steelers were, hhmmm?? Maybe he should have said "The Ref's weren't as disciplined as the Cards! Why do we have to keep watching the Steelers get the calls in the Superbowls? I can't see black and gold yet, do you? Maybe I'll get some of those black and white striped glasses.
Gairzo
says:
February 7th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Yo Vito,
Yo Vito,
Take a Midol, dude.
Let me try to navigate through your verbal jungle and refute you point by point.
My issue with the Rothlisberger touchdown and NFL "review procedure" is this: I'll use Ben's knee being down as a good example…The visual evidence I saw was disputable. You're a Cardinal fan, so you see it different. I respect that.
My point–a valid one–was the word indisputable means inarguable,l undebatable, without dispute. The call made on that play didn't meet that standard, at least to my eyes. Doesn't matter. Tomlin didn't go for it and Arizona stopped them. If your offense can't gain a yard for a touchdown in a Super Bowl, you deserve what you get.
On the chop block…According to the NFL rule book, the position of the players head is relevant only in a clip. A chop block refers to a defensive player blocking an offensive linemen below the waist while that lineman is engaged with another defensive player. James’ impetus did bring him across the opposing player's legs. The call was correct…
We agree on Warner shredding the vaunted Steeler defense–after the fourth quarter had begun and the Steelers went into a lame Cover 2. Prior to that ill-conceived strategy, Fitzgerald had one catch for 12 yards. Warner passed for 224 yards in the final stanza because LeBeau made a serious error going to a version of the "prevent defense. The defense did not disguise their intentions as well, either.
And Kurt Warner is one of the games best-ever big game QBs. Give him and Haley credit for recognizing the Steelers change of defense and damn near winning the contest.
On penalty calls in general. If I were a venomous, Steeler hatin' fanatic like you, I could "spew" about the cheap holding call for a safety. Rothlisberger had let go of the ball as the player was coming down. I've already commented on the "pussification" of the quarterbacks and receivers. Dansby did not rough Ben.
Great teams–like the Steelers–overcome adversity and are successful because they are resilient, resourceful, and prepared.
The Steelers squandered a 13 point lead that should have been 17-20. The Black and Gold had six plays inside the Arizona 5 in two possession and didn’t gain a yeard. They could have folded. They almost did.
After Fitzgerald’s touchdown, the Steelers could have succumbed to the pressure. They didn’t. Arizona’s defense folded like a cheap accordion.
After a holding call, the Steelers had to go 88 yards to get the winning touchdown.
If you were a true fan of the sport, you would put the blame where it belongs—on the Cardinal’s defense the allowed those yards without a fight. Whisenhut obviously agrees; he canned Clancy Pendergast yesterday.
If you had respect for the game, you would give credit to a superb big game quarterback like Big Ben and clutch player like Santonio Holmes.
Instead, you want to bitch and moan lik a…well, a…. ah forget it, we have females who post on this site who do respect the game.
I’ll just say…Final score 27-23. Quit your cryin’
How’s that Midol workin’ for you?
Gairzo
says:
February 7th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
CORRECTION:
"A chop block refers to a defensive player blocking an offensive linemen below the waist while that lineman is engaged with another defensive player."
SHOULD READ:
A chop block refers to an OFFENSIVE player blocking a defensive player below the waist while that DEFENSIVE player is BEING BLOCKED BY, (engaged with), another OFFENSIVE player.
Apologies for the typos. When I'm in a hurry or pissed off, I don't proof carefully enough.