[rlmorel]

Ahh. I should post the graphic here (fully for humor, not to belittle anyone, including myself):

Most everyone here thinks Wes is a decent hard-nosed guy and had no intention to hurt someone. The hit was, if the receiver had touched the ball first, not a "dirty" one, it would have been well within the guidelines of hitting.

Orange Hoof, I could have been less snarky in my response to you. What I should have said was the wording was typical League Referee Speak, carefully parsed to never admit anything. He said something like "nearly simultaneous" to make sure he didn't have to say it was a missed call, which, heck, wasn't the point anyway.

This Pats fan will be fully rooting for the Broncos in another week and a half.

[LearnsFromMistakes]

Really? gonna let it go this easy? not gonna die on this hill?

I kinda have to stay away from this stuff, cause I can get sucked in pretty quick. I told a friend at work that, had I been Harbaugh when they were flagged for that ‘late hit’ before the guy was out of bounds, I wouldn’t have let it go. I would have thrown the challenge flag costing my team a time-out. But I would have made the ref come over to ask me what I was challenging, and said ‘the spot’. Then make him go watch the replay under the hood. Just knowing that he had to watch the completely legal play cost my team 15 yards would have been worth it to me...

One of many reasons I am not a coach.

[OrangeHoof]

Agreed the NFL acts like the Obama administration in their parsing of rules to fit the agenda and, trust me, I’ve had more than my share of beefs about the “official explanation”, particularly when Example A seems to contradict Rule B particularly in instance of Rule C but, oh well, life goes on. **shrug**

Quasi-apology accepted. Were jerseys reversed, I’d probably see it differently.

And while we’re at this, can we PLEASE get rid of the “he gave him an ouchie so there must be a flag and a fine*” rule? (* - unless the hit came from a Steeler, then it’s only a fine). It’s his job to hit the guy and knock the ball loose. If you’re a DB today, you really have to presume half your salary is going to taxes and the other half is going to the league.