OT: Superbowl
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.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:20 AM ^
I only saw one replay but it did look somewhat dirty, it looked like he did punch the dude.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 AM ^
It looked to a be an open handed punch/shove while the player was getting up. The play was all but over and Harrison took a cheap shot at the Cardinal player. Not as severe as Madden made it out to be, but penalty worthy none the less.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:00 AM ^
But that is where I have a problem with it. If you call that a punch, then what do you call a safety coming up to make a tackle and planting the runner into the ground.(not leading with helmet) Is that a "body blow" as it would be waaaay more high impact than what Harrison did. Please don't come back with, but it was unnecessary etc etc; because stanger things have happened when a player was released from a block too early. What if the kick was returnable? Harrsion doesn't know that with his back to the ball? What if he doesn't give him a last good shove and the player makes the tackle and causes a fumble?
Football is a violent sport. Its not like Harrison gave him a salad shooter. That is just dirty. Harrison was being forcefull, that is what the game is about.
Man, I must be a loser getting all fired up about this......... don't answer that!
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 AM ^
The guy was on his hands and knees, with his back to Harrison, and Harrison gave him an open-handed blow to the back of the head. This is not the same as planting a ball-carrier. If Harrison had merely shoved the guy back to the ground, I'd agree with you.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 AM ^
one hand rather than both. One hand to the chest/head looks like a punch and two hands is a shove/push. That is were, I believe, most peole have a problem.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:24 AM ^
Here is the best clip I can find....sorry for it being terribly bush league, but there is no blow to the back of the head. It is his back or shoulder. The reason I post this is because after you said the head, I was like, "shoot, if that is the case that is bad". But he didn't hit him in the head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG9GXtr9rpY
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 AM ^
on this one R66.
He was on it from whistle to whistle, that's how it should be. I think people think it was excessive because there was no return on the play. (Lineman openhanded punch/shove on every play).
I haven't seen a replay of it though, so maybe I'll change my mind when I do.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:18 AM ^
Howeva, this is the SUPERBOWL, the pinnacle of the game! If you put your hands on your knees and bow your head during a play that is live, you deserve to get hit. I just can't feel sorry for the guy.
Thanks Rush n attack, glad to see I am not the only one thinking this.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^
I'm pretty sure he was on his hands and knees in the process of getting up, not sitting out the play. Regardless, there has to be a line of what contact is appropriate and what contact isn't - Super Bowl or no. IMO, an open-handed punch to the back of the head isn't.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:25 AM ^
Do you have a problem with the "back of the head", or the "on the ground" part?
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
Whether it was dirty or not (I tend to think that it was borderline), you DO NOT make that dumb of a play at the end of close game with your team trying to protect a victory. The Steelers were in front, but Arizona was trying to box them in near the goal line, and the worst thing that can happen is to take a bad penalty and back your team up even more. Harrison deserves the penalty for at least being an idiot.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:24 AM ^
I did not get to see a good view of the holding call in the end zone.
Was that legit? It looked to me like the lineman just got bowled right over.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:25 AM ^
he tackled the guy because he knew he was beat and if the guy got by it would be bad for Ben.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:26 AM ^
IMO, it was legit.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 AM ^
It was a clear hold. I'm not sure that he would have gotten to Rothliesberger (sp) - and no, I will not call him Ben - but it was a good call.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:37 AM ^
was easier to spell.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 AM ^
You guys realize the penalty did end up costing the Steelers a grand total of about 1/2 a yard right???
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:32 AM ^
Yeah, it was 3 inches.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 AM ^
Yeah, but the reason I brought it up was because a bunch of arm-chair QB's in my office were saying how barberic the penatly was. I am just on the side of the fence that unless he jump kicked and then put him in the Tombstone Piledriver that it was within the rules. But John Madden and the officials thought otherwise.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 AM ^
But I think the point is that if it would've happened "before" the ball was in the air (the change of possession), the Cardinals would've maintained possession.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^
That is true. But still, you basically doom your team to half the distance to the goal line, which still was a dumb penalty to take in that situation. But yeah, I doubt it meant much in the overall scheme of the game how that extra 1/2 yard played out.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 AM ^
what made me furious was the way the refs took turns polishing rothlisbergers dick piece with their tongues. Ben shoved to the ground by a rapidly charging blitz? Roughing the passer. Clear as day intentional grounding? No flags.
Then Warner gets killed on a blitz by Harrison, no roughing the passer THERE. hmm. Also is claimed twice to lose fumbles etc etc etc and no flags or offical review.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^
I thought there were a few favorable calls for the Stillers. But we could say that about every game ever played I guess.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 PM ^
The penalty wasn't as bad as they made it out to be. Didn't look like back of the head strike, it was on his upper back. Also, it wasn't really a punch because it was open handed. It was sort of half punch/ half push. Kinda weird.