British
15 years ago
Sounds like a close call.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/3342/questionable-call-illegal-contact-on-harris 

Todays topic comes from Sunday nights Chicago-Green Bay game. Jeff of Naperville, Ill., wrote that it was appalling to see the game nearly decided on an illegal contact call against Packers cornerback Al Harris in the fourth quarter.

Indeed, officials whistled Harris for illegal contact against receiver Devin Hester on a third-down play at the Packers 40-yard line with 8:39 remaining in the game. Green Bay held a 13-12 lead at the time, and quarterback Jay Cutlers pass to receiver Earl Bennett had fallen incomplete. (In fact, cornerback Charles Woodson made a diving tip to alter its trajectory.) Its highly unlikely the Bears would have attempted a 57-yard field goal, and they almost certainly would have punted.

This type of call is especially frustrating, knowing it happened away from the play. When you watch the replay, it doesnt look like Cutler considered throwing to Hester. (Maybe he should have. After the contact, Hester was wide open.)

I scoured the NFL rule book to see what applied to this play. Heres what the rules allow (Section 4, Article 1 if youre interested):

Within five yards of the line of scrimmage, a defensive player may chuck an eligible receiver in front of him. The defender is allowed to maintain continuous and unbroken contact within the five-yard zone, so long as the receiver has not moved beyond a point that is even with the defender.

When you watch the replay, you see Harris lightly shove Hester just as he crossed the 35-yard line. At that point, its a judgment call by the official to determine Hesters distance from the line of scrimmage. Even though Harris contact was a routine chuck for a cornerback passing off the receiver in zone coverage, the power of the contact is not part of the rule.

But lets say you disagree that Hester was past the 5-yard marker, or you believe it was too close to call. There is another part of this rule that I cant say I was aware of (Section 4, Article 2):

Within the five-yard zone, if the player who receives the snap remains in the pocket with the ball, a defender may not make original contact in the back of a receiver, nor may he maintain contact after the receiver has moved beyond a point that is even with the defender.

When you watch the replay, Harris definitely shoves Hester on the back of his right shoulder. It wasnt hard and it didnt really knock Hester off his route. But if you want to make a strict interpretation of this rule, you can say Harris made original contact in the back of a receiver, an illegal play even if it occurs within the 5-yard radius.

I cant read the mind of the officials who made the call. But in retrospect, you can produce a rule to match the call. I acknowledge that similar plays go uncalled all the time. But was it in error? Im not sure we can make that argument. Whether the rule should be in place is another debate entirely.



Added

tags for attribution purposes. --NSD


UserPostedImage
Brettizzle
15 years ago
No way, that should never be called. If Harris was a few yards back then I would understand. But at that point in the game and where the contact happened that should never be called. If it was a corner that doesn't have a history of being aggressive then the flag would not have been thrown.
Jermichael Finley

We will be in Indianapolis

bozz_2006
15 years ago
only he didn't "make original contact in the back of a receiver". Harris jammed him in the front of Hester's right shoulder with his right hand, and the side of Hester's right shoulder with his left hand. I don't see how that is open to interpretation; he most certainly did not make original contact in Hester's back in any way, shape, or form
UserPostedImage
dfosterf
15 years ago

only he didn't jam him in the back of the shoulder.

"bozz_2006" wrote:




Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and daughter.

bozz_2006
15 years ago
thanks for illustrating that foster, but still, what he's proposing isn't even a stretch. it's a flat out load of bullshit. I live in the twin cities, and I haven't talked to a single vikings fan who thought that was a legit penalty.
UserPostedImage
dfosterf
15 years ago
I find him infuriating at times.

This would be one of those.

I bet his relatives are some of those judges deciding the Williams' wall cases.
Patlee22
15 years ago
Yeah, it's BS. Barely any contact and to have it be called in a rivarly game is a little nitpicky. Again, this kind of stuff that usually seems to get us in crucial moments.
blank
Yerko
15 years ago
The fact that someone even went into the rule book for this is beyond me. I watched the game with my father, a die-hard Chicago fan and he even said what the hell is that ref calling?

Horrible call, end of story.
UserPostedImage
PackFanWithTwins
15 years ago
That article doesn't even deserved to be printed on a piece of toilet paper. The chuck was no were near having initial contact on Hester's back. The only logical explanation is that the Ref couldn't tell how far from the LOS the check happened because of Hester being lined up off the ball to start. And Hester's play acting after the contact, because he wasn't even an actual option for that pass.
The world needs ditch diggers too Danny!!!
gbguy20
15 years ago
regardless of whether that call was "legit" (it was ridiculous either way and should have never been called), the bears should have been flagged immediately after they snapped the ball for illegal formation. The refs fucked up bad and nearly cost us the game. There's no place for calls like that and honestly that ref deserves a good talking to and a swift kick in the ass.
BAD EMAIL because the address couldn ot be found, or is unable to receive mail.
Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (9h) : Will there be a tracker on the ball or something?
Zero2Cool (13h) : uh oh
Martha Careful (13h) : Too bad camera's can't spot the ball as well.
Mucky Tundra (15h) : So will the chain gang be gone completely or will they still be around as a backup or whatever?
Zero2Cool (15h) : The method for measuring first downs in the NFL will switch from chain gangs to camera-based technology in 2025, the league announced.
Martha Careful (18h) : A big step in the right direction. Just put in the college system is very very good.
Zero2Cool (21h) : NFL has passed a rule that allows both teams to possess the ball in OT during the regular season
Zero2Cool (21h) : Touchbacks on kickoffs will now bring the ball to the 35-yard line.
beast (31-Mar) : It might of gotten more popular recently, but braiding hair (even men) in certain cultures goes back for centuries.
Martha Careful (30-Mar) : Is men braiding their hair a new style thing? Watching the NCAA men's tournament many players have done
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Ha. Well, it'd be nice for folks to reset their own password. Via validated email 😏
beast (29-Mar) : Monopoly was supposed to be an educational game, that show how evil capitalism was and how we should avoid it
beast (29-Mar) : Lol, I was thinking username would be better, as then I wouldn't have to keep an email up to date lol 😂
beast (29-Mar) : Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (29-Mar) : sure is
Zero2Cool (29-Mar) : Monopoly is a rip off of The Landlord's Game
wpr (27-Mar) : 28 days until the draft
earthquake (27-Mar) : Which seemed strange to my 9 year old self, that you could be a fan for a team other than the one you play for
earthquake (27-Mar) : Nothing eventful happened, other than it being clear that he was a bengals fan
earthquake (27-Mar) : And we went and hung out with him one afternoon, I must have been 9 or so
earthquake (27-Mar) : That’s wild, when I was a kid my friend lived in the same apartment complex in De Pere
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : Only career highspot was a 200 yard rushing game while playing for the Cardinals
Mucky Tundra (27-Mar) : He is a former Packer. Drafted out of Northern Illinois. Didn't do much in GB.
dfosterf (26-Mar) : Despicable
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : Former NFL. I think Packers too
Zero2Cool (26-Mar) : NFL RB Leshon Johnson has been charged in a massive dog fighting operation, with the FBI seizing over 190 Pit Bulls
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Some real irony of a QB as short as Wilson playing for the Giants
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Giants country, let's be the tall beings of lore!
Mucky Tundra (26-Mar) : Russell Wilson signs with the Giants.
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : I was thinking email because I think it'll make folks keep it up todate lol
wpr (25-Mar) : I don't think there is a significant difference. I use a user name for many. Others email.
Martha Careful (25-Mar) : email
Zero2Cool (25-Mar) : would it be better to use EMAIL or USERNAME to log into a site?
wpr (25-Mar) : Thanks Zero
Zero2Cool (24-Mar) : New forum has the ability to Thank a post now.
beast (24-Mar) : And the only time they have won the Championship in an even year, was the first time they did, in 2006.
beast (24-Mar) : Since 2007, there have been 10 odd numbered years, Wisconsin Women have won the Championship in 7 of those 10 odd numbered years.
buckeyepackfan (24-Mar) : Congratulations Lady Badger Hockey Team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!
Zero2Cool (23-Mar) : I don't think it's completed yet. it was just announced last month, right?
dhazer (23-Mar) : did netflix ever release the Packers documentary
Zero2Cool (21-Mar) : And it is glorious!
beast (21-Mar) : Unsigned FA QB Rodgers is supposedly in the Steelers building
Martha Careful (19-Mar) : But I don't own a car! So can I still use it in my apartment?
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : btw, new site auto updates
Zero2Cool (19-Mar) : Woohoo!
TheKanataThrilla (19-Mar) : Oops I guess I should have updated the site before posting
TheKanataThrilla (19-Mar) : Jeremy Fowler @JFowlerESPN · Follow Source: Free agent WR/return specialist Mecole Hardman is signing with the #Packers on a one-year deal.
Zero2Cool (18-Mar) : Former Packers wide receiver Bob Long, who stayed in Wisconsin after playing days, dies at age 83
Martha Careful (17-Mar) : PFOW, Pati O'Furniture
wpr (17-Mar) : Thanks dfosterf. Been a while since I heard the song.
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2024 Packers Schedule
Friday, Sep 6 @ 7:15 PM
Eagles
Sunday, Sep 15 @ 12:00 PM
COLTS
Sunday, Sep 22 @ 12:00 PM
Titans
Sunday, Sep 29 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Sunday, Oct 6 @ 3:25 PM
Rams
Sunday, Oct 13 @ 12:00 PM
CARDINALS
Sunday, Oct 20 @ 12:00 PM
TEXANS
Sunday, Oct 27 @ 12:00 PM
Jaguars
Sunday, Nov 3 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Sunday, Nov 17 @ 12:00 PM
Bears
Sunday, Nov 24 @ 3:25 PM
49ERS
Thursday, Nov 28 @ 7:20 PM
DOLPHINS
Thursday, Dec 5 @ 7:15 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 15 @ 7:20 PM
Seahawks
Monday, Dec 23 @ 7:15 PM
SAINTS
Sunday, Dec 29 @ 3:25 PM
Vikings
Sunday, Jan 5 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Jan 12 @ 3:30 PM
Eagles
Recent Topics
15h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

16h / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

31-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

30-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

29-Mar / Random Babble / wpr

28-Mar / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / dfosterf

28-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

26-Mar / Random Babble / Mucky Tundra

25-Mar / Random Babble / Martha Careful

24-Mar / Random Babble / packerfanoutwest

24-Mar / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

21-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

19-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

19-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Mar / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.