Unsportsmanlike? Penalties

Ok folks. I have to get something off my chest. But first, let me say congrats to all the UofM alum in the Superbowl that had a good game. Actually all who were involved played well and it was good to see.

Now on to why I wrote this. I have gotten into two arguments already this morning about the unsportsmanlike penalty to James Harrison last night. When I saw the first replay, I thought, "what did he do wrong?". Then I saw the second and heard Madden say, that "there was no room in football for something like that"...or along those lines. I say BS! Harrison did not close-fist punch anyone. He, to my knowledge, did not hit the player after the whistle. Somehow he was looked at as a macho-tough-guy-thug(according to co-workers) when all he was doing was blocking. I don't get it.

To give a little validation to my opinion, I played ball at a small college and started on the O-line for two years. If at anytime during a pass play a defender who was rushing fell, I would two/one-handedly, forcefully shove him into the ground. If he tried to get up, I would shove him again with force. THIS IS FOOTBALL. How was that a penalty on Harrison...assuming the conduct happened before the whistle?(which is what I interpreted) I did not record the game as I was at a party so if the whistle had blown, then disregard this, but the Youtube clip I watched looked like all players were still getting after it long after the initial "unsportsmanlike" activity.

Thanks for letting me vent! If I am wrong, please tell me so I can apoplogize to all my co-workers for being an arrogant jerk about the game of football.