Couple things, I've still somehow managed to completely miss any video of the punching. Is there a link to it? (I saw him mauling a player, but I guess I missed the punch part of it... I'm not saying it didn't happen, but I'd like to see it, since it keeps being brought up.) The Holder is kneeling, defenseless... you really don't see a difference? You want to add MORE subjective calling to the refs, by having them grade the level of a hit? When the penalty happened, I actually was hoping they'd decline and take the points. (I know, I'm nuts, but my superstitious self was almost vindicated when Roethlisberger nearly threw a pick.) The late hit; I'm not 100% certain of the rules, but I think the refs were going with the 'he went outside the tackles on the opposite side, before coming back to make the throw.' If that isn't how the rules work, then yeah.... bad no call, but wouldn't really matter, because of the personal foul. So, you've been watching for 2 decades, and you didn't realize that offensive players grab the face mask 90% of the time when they stiff arm?
I've never seen a poster bring more embarrassment to himself/herself in a thread than DaDakota has done in this one. WOW.
Harrison didn't punch anybody: And everything he did was perfectly legal in punt blocking (though the 'palm-punch' was a little much).
I'm not exactly sure why you think I'd say anything otherwise? The Steelers won because mostly because defense wins championships, and because Roethlisberger for some reason is an amazingly clutch QB. They were down by 3 and needed to score, and Ben got the job done, capping it off with an amazing throw to Holmes where only he had a shot at it. Holmes and Harrison should have both been MVPs for certain, but you have got to admire the clutch abilities of Ben Roethlisberger.
Why this guy was not ejected from the game for what he did was beyond my imagination. I bet all the loyal steeler fans did not see this at all ...
You can eject Harrison after that play, and I don't think the outcome changes much. The Steeler D gave up a long TD, and Woodley made the play to end the game. If you think that it is okay to run over a holder on his knees after the ball is through the uprights, then you think its a bad call. Again, it had no impact on the game since the Steelers made that FG, and only settled for a FG after the penalty. Fitz's first TD catch - the ball hits the ground. Watch the replay. Warner took his helmet off on the field to argue that one of his fumbles was actually an incomplete pass. If you think Farrior should have gotten a 15YD penalty, then so should Warner. The Cardinals were awarded 2 points and the possesion of the ball on a penalty. Tough to say they got jobbed in a game where a penalty flag gave them a chance to take the lead. Not that it wasn't the right call (although Warren Sapp said it was a bad call on the NFL Network). On Harrison's 100 YD INT TD, Larry Fitz runs out of bounds and then comes back in bounds to make the tackle. Thats illegal, but no flag thrown. Didn't have an impact on the game, but the refs failed to throw the flag.
For the trillionth time, it was all legal. Stuff like that happens all the time in punt blocking. Harrison only got the flag for the arm motion that looked like a punt.
Why anyone would think that even be deserving of a penalty is beyond my imagination. No injury, no punch, nothing against the guy's head or knees. No risk of injury to the guy, beyond is ego. He flat out dominated him; being better/more physical than the other guys wins football games. That was a terrible call. If there is a travesty, it is the 2 points given up, because of the yardage lost after the punt on this play.
You are conflicting yourself. If his action was legal , how come he got flagged for it. I have seen people pushing, shoving during punt or kick return, but never seen a wrestling match like this away from the center of action.
You are contradicting yourself. If this was something that he should be ejected for, how come he didn't get ejected?
Harrison should have let the guy get up and start running down field before he blocked him. Its totally uncalled for to block a guy to the ground, and then knock him over again once he gets up. And to top it off, he used his open hand on the guys back to press him down towards the ground...I'm suprised he wasn't taken off in handcuffs right there.
The swinging harm motion. It wasn't a punch, but that part was still uncalled for. Therefore, he got the flag, AND NOT the ejection.
It's because Madden was spewing bull**** as usual about this during the telecast, something about him deserving of an objection.
Thats not illegal that I know of. He can't run out of bounds and come back inbounds and be first to touch the ball. I'd say good no call on the non existing penalty.
Don't tell any of that to the conspiracy theorists. My favorites in this thread are juicystream with his moronic "heavily in their favor" comment and The Cat's tirade earlier that completely ignored anything that went against the Steelers. Might I add: you forgot Farrior's third quarter sack that was originally ruled a fumble then challenged and overturned resulting in an incompletion. From John Clayton's column: "The "tuck rule" mandates that the ball has to come to the passer's belt buckle before coming out in order for it to be ruled a fumble. How can that happen when Warner is falling as he was hit with the ball held high in the air? If it looks like a fumble, it should be a fumble." What I don't get is: okay, so it's overturned and ruled an incomplete pass. Care to explain who he was throwing the ball to? If anything, rule it intentional grounding -- you shouldn't just be allowed to flick the ball at your o-lineman's feet with their back turned to you as you're getting sacked. Also, Mike Gandy was luckily to have 'only' been flagged for three holds against Harrison. He was that outmatched and got away with a lot more than they flagged him for.
I think you're right; I think the penalty in that situation is if he doesn't attempt to immediately come back onto the field. (I have no idea if he did or didn't.)
