Harrison: Referees should be fined for bad calls

[Achie D]

You gotta love this man...

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08281/917954-66.stm

Steelers Notebook: Harrison: Referees should be fined for bad calls
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Linebacker James Harrison hails from Kent State, the same college as Jack Lambert, and the two share the same view of quarterbacks -- and perhaps referees.

The Steelers received a 15-yard penalty at a crucial time in the fourth quarter when Harrison was called for roughing Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard Sunday night. The Jaguars led, 21-20, at the time and the penalty occurred as Garrard threw a 5-yard completion on third-and-7 at his 17.

Harrison said he disagreed with the official's call because Garrard was in the process of throwing when he hit him, and he pulled back as the two hit the ground so not as to drive the quarterback into the grass.

"It was the most unbelievable penalty I've ever seen in my life," Harrison said. "If they're going to go and send me a letter saying they're going to fine me for unnecessary-whatever he called, I believe that is not a penalty. And when it comes down to it these refs should start getting fined for making bad calls."

The 15-yard penalty gave the Jaguars a first down at their 37, but the Steelers' defense held, forced a punt and their offense mounted what would be the winning drive from its 20 with 6:33 left.

"I pulled off of him, I held myself from hitting the ground on top of him and this dude threw a flag," Harrison said. "Right as he was releasing the ball, I was hitting him. I don't see how he could call a flag on that, man, it's ridiculous.

"I didn't even take a step. As far as I'm concerned, he could have pumped the ball and if I'd have stopped and not continued through I would have looked like a fool."

[Super Dave]

That's Damn Straight Silverback.

[Jer]

"I didn't even take a step. As far as I'm concerned, he could have pumped the ball and if I'd have stopped and not continued through I would have looked like a fool."

This is the very point of the matter. Keep hitting the QB's James...Just keep hitting the pansies.

[Milkman Dan]

How can you not love that guy?

[Turbo Pig]

I almost got tossed out of my house when that flag came out....

[Super Dave]

The referees reaction & antics when we called the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Nate for showing the ball to the JAX bench reveals to me he does not have the proper judicial temperament to be a referee on any level.

[Stryker]

The referees reaction & antics when we called the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Nate for showing the ball to the JAX bench reveals to me he does not have the proper judicial temperament to be a referee on any level.

Nate's call was valid after the taunting call earlier in the game for talking. Nate pretended to give the ball to the Jags on the sideline. I yelled as soon as he did it knowing he would draw the flag.

Harrison did nothing wrong. His hit was well within the rules.

[Super Dave]

Nate's call was valid after the taunting call earlier in the game for talking. Nate pretended to give the ball to the Jags on the sideline. I yelled as soon as he did it knowing he would draw the flag.



I didn't question the call.

I pointed out the Officials reaction to it, completely unprofessional, the man became unglued on National TV.

[Illinistlrfan]

Nate's call was valid after the taunting call earlier in the game for talking. Nate pretended to give the ball to the Jags on the sideline. I yelled as soon as he did it knowing he would draw the flag.

Harrison did nothing wrong. His hit was well within the rules.

Actually a coach on the Jax sideline was yelling or motioning that he did not keep possession. I actually think Nate was showing him the ball in order to say "Look, I caught the ball, here it is"

[bearcatsno69]

Nate's call was valid after the taunting call earlier in the game for talking. Nate pretended to give the ball to the Jags on the sideline. I yelled as soon as he did it knowing he would draw the flag.

Completely agree. I don't know what said by each player, but thought that this was a tacky version of evening up the calls by the refs. If Nate would have tossed the rock to someone over there, that would have been a no-brainer. Showing the ball is pretty he had to have told someone over there they were #1.

Harrison did nothing wrong. His hit was well within the rules.

This was such horseshit. Guys like Ben and garrard are gonna pump fake. This rule is gonna cause a lot of people to hold up and miss a sack opportunity when the freeze up.


IS FOOTBALL A CONTACT SPORT??????

[OFTT]

Actually a coach on the Jax sideline was yelling or motioning that he did not keep possession. I actually think Nate was showing him the ball in order to say "Look, I caught the ball, here it is"

That is EXACTLY what happened ... if anybody goes back and watches that play again, it'll be obvious ... a guy/coach on the Jax sideline was waving his arms no catch / incomplete, and Nate simply showed him the ball.

[Turbo Pig]

In fairness... The unsportsmanlike on Brian Williams was weak too... But I commented on how unprofessional the ref's reaction was while I was watching the game

[thatrain]

Whoever said James was going to make it rain on Madison Avenue was spot on.

[DerbyCityBNGfan]

Harrison's penalty was BS. I expect his fine will be minimal as a result of how bad it was. Jax, Cle, Balt, Cincy, Philly, NE, and any other teams' fans that hate us would admit that.

Washington's penalty was 'ticky-tacky'. The official's reaction was a bit childish/womanly in how emotional it was, but I will give him a little slack. From what I could tell, it was extremely chippy between the receivers and Jax Db's. I was thinking he was just waiting to flag Nate, and overreacted when he finally got his chance. Luckily, the play preceding the call was for a first down, and we still got the job done despite the call.


I think Harrison has a good point. There was a play last night (NO vs Minny) where Hochuli and his crew completely missed a facemask call and the play resulted in a fumble that went the other way. Sean Payton got the Norv Turner treatment..."Sorry, coach. We messed that one up."
These refs need to be held fiscally accountable the same way players and coaches are...well, players and coaches outside of Boston, that is.

[Wig]

The problem is, a ref is going to struggle keeping track of his assignment on every play. The players simply move too fast to see every little thing.

However I do believe there is a "shock and awe" effect when Ben drops back. I think even the refs get so used to his doing amazing things that they sort of ignore a bunch of knocks he takes that they'd flag for Manning, Brady or even Palmer.

I'd say Ben has been hit late at least 4 or 5 times this year and that's just the games that have been nationally televised so I could see them.

[Vader]

IF the refs can't get the call right they need to expand instant replay into other areas. IF these bozos can't get the call right then get them OFF the field and let the IR do it... pathetic.

[Blitzburghv5]

In about 10 yrs this game of NFL football is going to be unwatchable--that is, if youve grown up during the era of Ronnie Lott, Donnie Shell, Steve Atwater, Carl Eller, Jack Lambert and Earl Campbell. There will come a time when the league will mandate a protection zone for the quarterback. No body shots whatsoever. No tackling of the QB. Arm wrapping will be permitted or flags adorning the belt area as in flag football. Players who make an outstanding play will not be allowed to interact with any member of the oppositions sideline (opposition mute rule). This game is being destroyed before my eyes. You cant hit with your helmet, you cant grab and restrain a player by the pads (horsecollar rule). Violent collisions will be penalized with the cost of extra yardage and a personal fine. Its a mans game.....a physical game and there are times men will get hurt.

This game is slowly migrating from FOOTBALL to PUSSBALL.

[thatrain]

Regarding the missed facemask, There's 22 players on the field and 6 or 7 officials. They are going to miss some calls. It's easy to see it in slow motion, but in real time it's easy to miss. You can't hold them fiscally responsible for calls they missed.

Some calls need to be reviewable. Roughing, grounding, etc should definately be reviewable.

[Jer]

The officiating crews are just aweful. I'm not so much concerned about the missed calls as I am the bullshit calls they make. The pass interference on Ike Taylor was horseshit, and it basically gave the Jaguars a TD. James Harrison's roughing the passer call gave that Offense new life. The other bullshit calls were the taunting penalty on the Jags FS turned CB...he said something...who fucking cares. He didn't stand over him or point a finger or anything like that. It was Bullshit.

These Refs are making calls that can change teh course of a game or win the game for some lucky team as Houchuli has done this season. I agree with Harrison that the Refs should be fined for blatantly missed calls.

[SteelerinMD]

I am waiting for Mike Peria(SP?) or whatever the head of officials name is. He usually is on NFL Network at some point during the week to look at the controversial calls and give the official point.

I even think the Suggs call was down right disgusting. Worse then Harrison's, not to mention after the whistle for an offensive penalty the OL throw him to the ground after he removed the eye lash from Collins eye.

[blitz]

Regarding the missed facemask, There's 22 players on the field and 6 or 7 officials. They are going to miss some calls. It's easy to see it in slow motion, but in real time it's easy to miss. You can't hold them fiscally responsible for calls they missed.

Some calls need to be reviewable. Roughing, grounding, etc should definately be reviewable.

why not just and a ref. make it easier for them to see more of the field.

[Andymisiu]

Football is going way WAY too fucking soft! Harrison did not go at the legs or head of Garrard. The penalty was bullshit. How do refs expect 240pd men to stop on a dime going full speed ahead. It's bullshit and we need to get this public! the refs are controlling the outcomes of too many games this year for all teams.

[steelhawk]

My fear is that players will let up for fear of getting a penalty. By the way did the turd from the Browns get a fine for his late hit on Ben that wasn't flagged? I don't remember if anything ever came about it.