Pitt at Cincy Wild Card Game

[RickKY]

An opposing view...


2015 POSTSEASON, COMMENTARY, FOLLOW-UP, NEWS
Parry playoff crew displays shock and awe in calling a strict game
by Mark Schultz • January 10, 2016 • 13 Comments

snip>>>>
(Porter was on-field with the medical staff during an injury timeout, which escalated with back-and-forth chirping, leading the Bengals defense to swarm around him. Porter was no saint in all of this, but his actions were not quite enough to draw a penalty.)
<<<<snip

I beg to differ.  Porter is not a trainer, nor an offensive coach, hence there is no reason for Porter to be checking on Brown' injury status.  Porter was not near Brown anyway, and instead was antagonizing Benglas players.  Porter should not have been on the field, and should not ahve been talking to Bengals players.  I believe the NFL rule states the referee can grant permission for Porter to be on the field, but I seriously doubt the white hat did so in this case, else he is out of line given what is known about these two teams' history.  Porter's actions were a foul that should have been flagged before Adam Jones' response drew a flag from officials.

[goodgrr]

In relation to the Shazier/Bernard hit...

Watch this week's officiating video http://media02.nfl.info/NFL/Media/2015/Video19/Officiating_Media_Video_01-15-16.mp4?_=1

According to Blandino, it isn't spearing because they were moving in different directions (excluding heading straight for each other).  That's a new one on me.

So I looked up the rule and it says...

"ARTICLE 8. INITIATING CONTACT WITH THE CROWN OF THE HELMET
It is a foul if a runner or tackler initiates forcible contact by delivering a blow with the top/crown of his helmet against an opponent when both players are clearly outside the tackle box (an area extending from tackle to tackle and from three yards beyond the line of scrimmage to the offensive team’s end line). Incidental contact by the helmet of a runner or tackler against an opponent shall not be a foul.

Note: The tackle box no longer exists once the ball leaves the tackle box.

Penalty: Loss of 15 yards. If the foul is by the defense, it is also an automatic first down. The player may be disqualified if the action is flagrant."

Not sure where to find the NFL ARs, however that would seem more than just an interpretation to add an "AND" with a whole extra condition.

[BrendanP]

Yeah, hopefully they'll fix the catch rule, and let's hope they never adopt the single most controversial rule the NCAA has ever passed either.

[Kalle]

Yeah, hopefully they'll fix the catch rule, and let's hope they never adopt the single most controversial rule the NCAA has ever passed either.

Bah, I think the substitution rule show in the 50's and 60's were much more controversial than any rule change passed in the 2000's.

[goodgrr]

In relation to the Shazier/Bernard hit...

Not sure where to find the NFL ARs, however that would seem more than just an interpretation to add an "AND" with a whole extra condition.

Spoke to an active NFL official who tells me "you wont find it in the rule. It is an 'interpretation' from Dean."

[Rulesman]

Spoke to an active NFL official who tells me "you wont find it in the rule. It is an 'interpretation' from Dean."

...the same guy who has never officiated a game. 

[goodgrr]

Spoke to an active NFL official who tells me "you wont find it in the rule. It is an 'interpretation' from Dean."

Looks like they've seen sense and will amend the interpretation....

http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/21984/ryan-shazier-giovani-bernard-steelers-bengals-nfl-hit-now-illegal-playoffs