Are these really penalties?

[NinjaPirateFunk]

or is it just the whinings of homers who technically are fans of the biggest chokers ever? i'm not trying to talk smack, i really think that's what it is. for one, i have a nice high quality monitor, and extremely good eye sight. but i don't see a facemask on the right. i see a blur that looks more like a hand underneath a facemask than a grasp on a mask. and it's a picture, we all know hands touch facemasks all the time. no one throws flags because of a picture, and not because they touched the facemask, they throw them because of the yanking or prolonged gripping. the highlighted portion of the picture on the right really shows us nothing.

and on the left, is he really getting mauled, or could it just be a pass rusher in that split second where he's still making physical contact with the defender while getting past him? that happens all the time-rarely do offensive linemen just let a guy go in untouched. we don't know if he's holding him, or if the rush just pushed through him and this picture was taken in a misleading position.

i'm just not shocked. first someone starts a petition thinking the pats were cheated, while the pats are known as cheaters. and now someone is complaining about calls based on what look like camera phone pictures that look like they've been motion blurred in photoshop. the most surprising part is that the pats got away with holding and had refs hold off of flags almost all season.

i tried to keep this civil and realistic enough but if it's too smack-ish, move it, it's cool. but i figured i'd put it here. i just saw the sig someone had and it got me thinking and would like to hear what others think.

[RealBronco]

or is it just the whinings of homers who technically are fans of the biggest chokers ever? i'm not trying to talk smack, i really think that's what it is. for one, i have a nice high quality monitor, and extremely good eye sight. but i don't see a facemask on the right. i see a blur that looks more like a hand underneath a facemask than a grasp on a mask. and it's a picture, we all know hands touch facemasks all the time. no one throws flags because of a picture, and not because they touched the facemask, they throw them because of the yanking or prolonged gripping. the highlighted portion of the picture on the right really shows us nothing.

and on the left, is he really getting mauled, or could it just be a pass rusher in that split second where he's still making physical contact with the defender while getting past him? that happens all the time-rarely do offensive linemen just let a guy go in untouched. we don't know if he's holding him, or if the rush just pushed through him and this picture was taken in a misleading position.

i'm just not shocked. first someone starts a petition thinking the pats were cheated, while the pats are known as cheaters. and now someone is complaining about calls based on what look like camera phone pictures that look like they've been motion blurred in photoshop. the most surprising part is that the pats got away with holding and had refs hold off of flags almost all season.

i tried to keep this civil and realistic enough but if it's too smack-ish, move it, it's cool. but i figured i'd put it here. i just saw the sig someone had and it got me thinking and would like to hear what others think.

I don't see any penalties.

Since when is "mauling" illegal in the NFL? I know HOLDING is...but it's obvious that O'Hara is NOT holding the defender.

Also it's even more obvious that the other guy's hand is UNDERNEATH the facemask....which is not a penalty.

This reject that is clearly fishing for an excuse as to why his perf*ct team lost.

But right there that's just good pass protection....well, not even really that. I'm assuming that's the amazing play that Eli somehow managed to get out of.

IF there had been holding or a facemask, Eli would not have had to flail around in order to get out of that...

Besides, it's clear that the Patri*t defender is getting by O'Hara...you can see his arm all kinds of outstretched passed O'Hara.

geez.

[CinnaMunMun]

O'Hara is definitely not commiting a penalty. He has his hands inside and isn't blocking in the back, nor is it dirty. If anything, O'Hara is getting beat and he is doing all he can by keeping the pocket slightly open.

I also don't think it is a facemask on the right. The defender's helmet is squarely on his head with no twisting of neck either, both signs of a facemask.

Just an amazing play sadly for the Pats.

[Lorcust]

The Ref is probably like...

"Whatever, he's going to get sacked anywa..... "

[RealBronco]

Also, since the referee IS looking straight at them, if there were any penalties, he would have been quick to throw the flag and stop the play.

Especially something like a facemask.

[91bronco]

The Ref is probably like...

"Whatever, he's going to get sacked anywa..... "

hahahahahaha that was hilarious! Thanks

[91bronco]

On a serious note, haven't people heard the saying a penalty could be called on every play?

The Patriots lost fair and square. I'm sure there were missed calls during the game- both ways.

laughing my a$$ off at people starting a petition saying the cheaters were cheated

[jetrazor74]

There's a thread about this in the smack forum. In case anyone wants to look at it as well.

Here's what I had to say:

Looking at the whole thing, even from their so-called 'evidence', I don't ever see a hold or a facemask.

The 'white glove under the fasemask?' a chin strap, you can clearly see the glove on the neck, which is not illegal.

Holding? In each case, the arms of the blockers are straight in front of them. It's hard to get a holding call when your arms are straight out in front unless you tackle the guy.

It's too bad that guy spent so much time putting together a nice little slide show which basically shows nothing conclusive.

In case you didn't bother to read this the first time I posted it.



Arms straight in front of you is NOT holding unless you take the defender to the ground, and a hand on the neck is NOT a face mask.

Now a punch to the face? That's a penalty.

Stop back by anytime you need another lesson in football rules, PCE.

[Tellway]

No, they are not really penalties. Check out the last sack against the patriots on their last series. The Defensive player was just driving past the O lineman, it looks the same way...not holding.

Keep in mind, the patri*t nation has taken the ultimate fall from grace. From the good classy guys of the league all the way to the bottom rung as the dirtbag cheaters...

Therefore, expect a lot of strange things from these guys while they go through it...

[saltybuggah]

for those fans that point at this and go oooooohhhhhhh aaaaaaaahhhhh this is why we lost, all ive got to say is this


shut up, its a game that is played out on the field. the refs didnt blow the play dead and they let the players play.

2nd thing .....

someone really needs to come up with a way where you can take this photo and imprint it onto a roll of toilet paper, tissue paper, or paper towels so the pats fans can wipe their own arses with it, dry the tears they flow, and clean up the doo doo stains they left on the floor from rockin back and forth on the carpet too long in shock.

3rd thing ...... i wonder who took that snapshot did billy boy have someone take it and if so does he have the matching signal the giants coaches sent in to complete the set