What bothers me is not the illegal contact call -- in the blazing fast action of the instant, that is an easy mistake to make, particularly from 20 yards downfield. (Frankly, as fast as these plays move, I'm amazed the officials see as much as they do.) What bothers me is the failure to make the illegal formation call, which had nothing to do with the speed of the play and which the official standing right there had ample time to notice.

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Mike Pereira: penalty should not have been called.  

Man, you deserve like +8 for this. Just scrolled through this thread and bursted out in laughter again. I don't know what it is, but for some reason, it sure is freakin funny.

Mike Pereira NFL VP in charge of officiating admits it at this link:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/09/18/pereira-discusses-murphy-non-touchdown-and-other-week-one-calls/ 


Pereira acknowledged that the illegal contact call against Packers cornerback Al Harris was erroneous, since it came right at the edge of the five-yard buffer within which that one chuck is permitted. The problem, as Pereira candidly admitted, is that the official calling illegal contact often is 25 yards away from the line of scrimmage, making it difficult to know where exactly the five-yard zone ends.

Pereira also addressed concerns raised by host Rich Eisen regarding the fact that the five-yard penalty resulting from illegal contact triggers an automatic first down.

"[I]f you make it not an automatic first down," Pereira said, "the big concern is that if the offense gets into a situation that maybe they're [facing] third and 12 or third and 15, now maybe if you're a defense now maybe you're gonna take license to contact."





So even NFL officials make mistakes.

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yep.

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How bout the fact that the Bears receiver should have been called for illegal formation?

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merged; existing topic, existing link--fine line, due to new thread had a better title

What is with the moderator saying that that call wass legit?!!!???!!???!??!!!!!!

The league admitted that the call was bad see the link.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d812adc0c/Official-Review-Week-1-bonus-coverage 


Why moderator do you oppose the league's admitted mistake and call the penalty legitimate??!!

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C'mon dfosterf!!

Why are you for the penalty on Al Harris????

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I guess some re-reading might be in order there, California--

Perhaps some INITIAL reading, I should say.

Now I know why the 2nd thread was created.

Starting with, "....according to Seifert"

This can be a tough crowd.

I'm taking up morning drinking.

:thumbleft: