Well...20k Fine For Harrison [Archive]

View Full Version : Well...20k Fine For Harrison

Ski_Alta

10-07-2008, 08:57 PM

per fox sports douchebag jay glazer

First it was Saints coach Sean Payton. Then it was Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Now a player has been fined for making negative comments about the NFL's officiating.

The league offical has slapped Steelers' All-Pro linebacker James Harrison with a $20,000 fine for comments he made following last Monday night's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, FOXSports.com has learned.

Harrison, a 2007 Pro Bowler, was flagged for a questionable roughing-the-passer penalty when he hit Jaguars quarterback David Garrard after the QB threw the ball.

"Ridiculous call," Harrison said of the penalty. "You don't make a call like that. Unless (the official) might have money on it."

Harrison's $20,000 fine falls in between those of Payton, who was docked $15,000, and Jones, who was fined $25,000.

Pittsburgh-Pride

10-07-2008, 09:05 PM

Who didn't see this coming? Horrible call, no doubt.

He's lucky it was only 20 K. Not even a year after the little NBA problem with officiating and then you state that the refs are possibly on the take? Yeah, your going to get a fine.

markymarc

10-07-2008, 09:08 PM

Ski_Alta

10-07-2008, 09:17 PM

Ski_Alta

10-07-2008, 09:19 PM

LetMePlay

10-07-2008, 09:21 PM

If I had the spare cash I would pay it for him.

Ski_Alta

10-07-2008, 09:23 PM

hahahaha

i was totally thinking that before the fine was announced, it'd be a great way to be remembered to be sure. 5k, i was going to seriously consider it.lol

NC_Steel

10-07-2008, 09:25 PM

Damn I wasn't expecting that much of a fine. But hey the players and coaches know you can't say a damn word about the officials even if you are correct. I hope a lighter pocket makes Harrison really pissed off for the Bungles game. Will we ever see the day where officials get docked pay for screwing up? I realize they get graded after each game and lose out by not getting playoff games, but man I really think it's time to start hitting them in the pocketbook for screwing up regular season games. The most frustrating thing to me is the fact that officials are not even close to being consistent with protecting NFL QBs. Either start being more consistent or don't call anything.

The problem with trying to fine the refs would be that they are NOT full-time employees.

A fine could very well be most or all of their paycheck for the particular game they called.

No, I'm not lobbying for the refs to become full-time employees because we have seen what a debacle that creates by looking at the MLB and their struggles with the umpires at points.

Although, it would be nice to have to have some consistency in how the penalties are called, the refs ARE graded, which I assume is the only thing the NFL can do to penalize them. I will say that I don't believe that's an adequate punishment, but what the hell else can the league do?

Vindrow

10-07-2008, 09:29 PM

Don't blame Harrison for saying what he did, hell the officiating has been horrible for the past few years and the NFL needs to step up and do something about it...whatever that may be.

Pittsburgh-Pride

10-07-2008, 09:35 PM

true the call was horrible, but the problem and the reason for the huge amount would probably have to be attributed to this...

"You don't make a call like that. Unless (the official) might have money on it."

lol, honestly you can't say that lol.

It's one thing to state that it was a horrible call and that things need to change. It's another thing to imply that a ref is on the take. That's taking it to another level.

Like I said, it was a horrible call and I do believe things need to change, but to accuse a person of being on the take is a little extreme and a fine should be expected. I don't care if that player is a Steeler, Raven, Cowboy or Bear.

Doc

10-07-2008, 09:39 PM

Not that it made me sad, but the Ravens got jobbed by a similar call..

BermudaSteel

10-07-2008, 09:41 PM

Goodell and his goons need to show me where this money is going...

Obviously there's no "freedom of speech in the NFL".

Dgenx321

10-07-2008, 09:52 PM

Goodell and his goons need to show me where this money is going...

Obviously there's no "freedom of speech in the NFL".

He works for an employer ala the NFL.

Go up to your boss and tell him to "Fuck off!"

As you are walking out the door ask where your freedom of speech is...

THE flafan

10-07-2008, 09:56 PM

Anyone else find it interesting that he didn't get fined for the alleged terrible hit on the Chocolate Dough Boy...

Jer

10-07-2008, 09:57 PM

He works for an employer ala the NFL.

Go up to your boss and tell him to "**** off!"

As you are walking out the door ask where your freedom of speech is...

Harrison didn't tell Roger Goodell to fuck off. He merely stated that the janitors are on the take.

Dgenx321

10-07-2008, 10:02 PM

Ok, tell your boss that he is on crack. Even if he isn't.

Same effect...

Far51

10-07-2008, 10:35 PM

the NFL is gonna continue to sweep the mistakes they do under the rug, at 1t i tough Godell was cleaning up the NFL when he was suspended those who should be but his handling of Spy Gate was pathatic, the refereees have sucked for years, they are trying to make this a flag football league, tough players have to soften up or they are in danger of late hits etc.....

Why not remove having a DL anda refereee count 10 steebols until a guy can rush.

Fuck, what was Silberback supposed to do on that play?

Evveryone is allowed to trample over Roethlisberger and no one gets fined (Rogers should of been fined at least 25,000).

mightyguru

10-07-2008, 10:44 PM

How much did the hair-brained official on crack get fined for that call?

Smooth Criminal

10-07-2008, 11:32 PM

We should start a donation for him. That call was ridiculous and the league needs to do something about all the bullshit calls there have been in the league this season. How many games have we seen changed by bad calls already?

Smooth Criminal

10-07-2008, 11:35 PM

Not that it made me sad, but the Ravens got jobbed by a similar call..

Not even similar. Suggs only got one arm on Collins and Collins never even left his feet. Hell Suggs still had a blocker on him when he got to Collins.

That call was easily the worst roughing the passer call I have ever seen. And it cost the Ravens the game.

JohnnyO

10-07-2008, 11:38 PM

The problem with trying to fine the refs would be that they are NOT full-time employees.
A fine could very well be most or all of their paycheck for the particular game they called.
Too effin' bad. If I screw up my job, I don't get paid.

Thorndike

10-08-2008, 12:03 AM

Can we set up a fund to help Harrison pay this fine? I would definately chip in since it was painfully obvious that we were getting jobbed in the fourth quarter the other night.

SteelrzGirl

10-08-2008, 12:14 AM

I got a few bucks to chip in. Id chip in for Harrison's fine before Id even acknowledge Burress' little pissant shit.

FAB802

10-08-2008, 12:19 AM

I got a few bucks to chip in. Id chip in for Harrison's fine before Id even acknowledge Burress' little pissant shit.

You just don't want to piss him off so he won't break into your bathroom and smash your cell phone.

SteelrzGirl

10-08-2008, 12:21 AM

I could pass without witnessing pissed of Harrison up close, lol

StuartSteelerFan

10-08-2008, 12:29 AM

Will we ever see the day where officials get docked pay for screwing up?

Not like it matters... most of those guys are high-falootin' lawyers and CEOs and shit. It's not like they're counting on their referee gig to put food on the table. And frankly, that's part of the problem. The reason the NFL doesn't have true professional officials is precisely because if they did, those officials would unionize, and we'd be even MORE screwed than we are now, because even the current "grading" system would be thrown out in the first round of negotiations with the league. Unfortunately, we have to put up with these hacks working as "contractors" because it's the only way the league can retain some control over poor officiating.

xxsxx

10-08-2008, 12:30 AM

The truth can be expensive.

Chicoman

10-08-2008, 01:05 AM

Not that it made me sad, but the Ravens got jobbed by a similar call..

Yeah I saw that call against Suggs & that was FUCKING BULLSHIT TOO!

The more football I watch the more skeptical I become and I am beginning to wonder if the NFL Officiating is rigged to keep games competitive and maintain viewer interest.

Mud Dog

10-08-2008, 01:20 AM

Ok maybe not fine the officials for bad calls but I think they each group should be forced to meet every week with a league official to review the tape of their game. Players do it to see where they screwed up why not refs. Maybe they would all be on the same page then as to what is a good call and a stupid call.

SCSteeler4Life

10-08-2008, 01:38 AM

What's bad was the cheap shot on Ben by Rodgers in the Stains game and no fine. That is the NFL just trying to cover it's sorry officials asses.

StuartSteelerFan

10-08-2008, 01:59 AM

Ok maybe not fine the officials for bad calls but I think they each group should be forced to meet every week with a league official to review the tape of their game.

This is precisely what's done for every game, every week. The officiating crew is graded by VP of Officiating Mike Pereira's staff each week (here (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/20/AR2008092002057_pf.html)'s a good article on the process). This grading can result in changes to the assignments that an officiating crew gets, which typically means that poor-performing crews will not get to officiate playoff games (and therefore, fewer paydays per season). The way the contract is structured between the NFL and the officials allows the league to simply refuse to renew a contract with a particular (poorly performing) official the next year, as opposed to having to fire them for cause which would be the case if the official was a league employee (and presumably a union member).

Unfortunately, despite the weekly coverage of the increasingly terrible calls around the league, none of these crews seem to be getting any better at their jobs. Having dedicated, professional referees can have certain drawbacks, but I don't think the current system of "weekend warrior" officials puts enough stress on these guys ensuring they're doing the best job possible.

Iron95

10-08-2008, 03:11 AM

I think the refs are doing exactly what the NFL wants them to do.
There are games every week that HAVE to be "fixed".
There is just no other explanation for that many one sided, terrible calls that change the outcome of a game.
It is just too obvious.

Super Dave

10-08-2008, 07:47 AM

Ron Winters crew has already generated 35K in fine monies for the league this year, at this rate they will have earned the league over 100K for the season, that pays their salary.

The NFL isn't stupid.

Achie D

10-08-2008, 07:58 AM

If I had the spare cash I would pay it for him.

Let's strike up a fund - The "@#$%ing Zebras Make Bad Calls" fund. What are they going to do - fine us?

Milkman Dan

10-08-2008, 09:16 AM

They will probably come up with some sort of rule that players cannot accept monetary donations from fans or some crap. Then, on top of that, you'll have the government stepping in wanting their 'share' of it, too.

t-man

10-08-2008, 10:31 AM

Ok, tell your boss that he is on crack. Even if he isn't.

Same effect...

Your analogy is flawed. The Refs are employees of the NFL too. They, however, are exempt from discipline when they screw up in front of the entire fan base. Try THAT at your job (Get up and completely screw up a presentation) and see how long YOU last. As to someone mentioning that you screwed the pooch on your presentation, I doubt THEY are going to get fired for it.

If you're going to use an analogy, at least pick one that makes sense.

Joe