Game's third team upstaged Steelers, Hawks

ESPN ^ | 2/6/06 | Michael Smith

[kevkrom]

Nonsense. Cooler heads will prevail, and all anyone will remember in five years -- other than that the Steelers won -- will be Parker's 75-yard TD run and the Randel-El to Ward TD pass.

[sinkspur]

and I used to think you were somewhat intelligent. I must have been thinking of someone else.

Well, if you don't think Dungee's son's suicide was a distraction to the entire Colts' team, along with the fact that Indianapolis hadn't played an actual game for a month, then you're not all that intelligent yourself.

[beyond the sea]

And how about that punter of theirs?

That goon kept giving the Steelers breaks by repeatedly kicking the ball into the end zone.

Then, at least once, he kicked a line drive to be returned. He was a bum last night............... thanks.

[sinkspur]

"Stormed in" would be the appropriate term.

The Steelers played well in December and January. They sucked the rest of the season, and in February.

[discostu]

The Steelers have received onslaught's of bad calls before and nobody rioted. Remember the players have to call the coin flip before the throw now because of a bad call that cost the Steelers a game, one in a series that year that functionally cost the Steelers a playoff birth, no riots.

[beyond the sea]

You're right. The game was pretty lame as a work of art goes. Sometimes you get stinkers like that when the personalities of coaches and players mesh in a strange way.

And to think that I stupidly posted right before the game.....

"This game is going to be an epic." ---- GAG

;-)

[discostu]

You might have a point if Dungy didn't have a long history of under coaching in the playoffs. Their playoff loss this year wasn't significantly different in their performance than their playoff loss last year, or the year before, or for the Bucs while Dungy was in Tampa. Some coaches just aren't playoff coaches, and while I like Dungy, and respect him, and felt a certain kinship with him because I lost a good friend the same day his son died, he has established himself as not a playoff coach.

[beyond the sea]

On the fumbled pass by the Seahawks receiver that was ruled not a fumble, IT WAS A FUMBLE! The Steelers would have recovered if the OFFICIALS hadn't blown the whistle to stop the play.

----

Yep, that was a real bad call.

[beyond the sea]

I also found it interesting that the refs picked up the flag on the apparent helmet to helmet contact on a pass play against the Seahawks defense

well then, Seattle got another break there then, right? That looked like a penalty should be assessed to me.

The Steelers had about five calls seemingly go against them, and Seattle had maybe about the same or more. All this whining about the refs is lamentable.

****

I'll say one thing............. offensive "holding" (linemen) should be redefined in the rule book ........ and they should also allow the defensive backs and others to hit the receivers until the ball is in the air ........ like they were permitted before Mel Blount and a couple others' overwhelming play turned rules on pass reception into a ticky tack activity.

And..... now that I'm thinking, an easy way to SEE and call a TD is to just write into the rules that a player who possesses the ball must have his armpits above or over the goal line. I can see it now ...... The Armpit Rule.

Armpits, you say? Yes, the armpits are easy to see from most camera angles. This sticking out your arms with the ball in your hands is bogus.

[frogjerk]

And..... now that I'm thinking, an easy way to SEE and call a TD is to just write into the rules that a player who possesses the ball must have his armpits above or over the goal line. I can see it now ...... The Armpit Rule.

So I guess the "two feet inbounds" rule goes out the window?

[beyond the sea]

There were a few good plays, and that was good enough to beat a team that wasn't given a snowball's chance in hell to pull through

Now, now! An overstatement..... the Seahawks were only 4 point underdogs.

[kevkrom]

they should also allow the defensive backs and others to hit the receivers until the ball is in the air

I don't mind the "5-yard rule", but it needs to be consistent, i.e., no defensive pass interference unless it's more than 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. I've seen way too many times where a DB or LB gets flagged when making their otherwise legal "chuck" just because the QB releases on a fast 3-step drop.

I'd also like to see more emphasis on allowing defenders the right to their own position -- if a receiver changes his route and comes back through the defender, it should be offensive pass interference. Too many teams are intentionally underthrowing receivers to pick up cheap pass interference calls because the defender is playing the receiver correctly.

[cardinal4]

Man, I have never seen this much whining after a loss. Were there bad calls? Probably. Did they affect the outcome of the game? No. Dropped passes, missed field goals and dismal clock management affected the game. In addition, as I posted on an earlier thread, SEA didnt utitlize the league MVP. Quit whining and get them next year, sheesh..

[beyond the sea]

Enjoy the win, but XL will always be the "Yeah, but" Super Bowl because of Bill Leavy and crew.

my butt.

;-)

[kevkrom]

You might have a point if Dungy didn't have a long history of under coaching in the playoffs. Their playoff loss this year wasn't significantly different in their performance than their playoff loss last year, or the year before, or for the Bucs while Dungy was in Tampa. Some coaches just aren't playoff coaches

And that really used to be the knock on Cowher, as well -- that his coaching style didn't work in the playoffs. He was more flexible this year, and the results showed. Hopefully, Dungy will learn, and we'll see a PIT/IND AFC championship game next year that is a lot less ugly than the conference semi was this year.

[beyond the sea]

If it had been the Steelers who recieved this onslaught of bad calls, there would of be drunken riots in the streets of Detriot and all of pittsburgh would look like the gaza strip this morning.

LOL ......... maybe.

The Gaza Strip District.

Hey Petronski, where are the Pittsburghers to see this one?

*****

http://www.neighborsinthestrip.com/

[joyspring777]

This article is a crap diatribe designed to bring publicty to the writer.

It does the NFL a complete disservice.

At least he mentions the most oft argued play (Rothlesberger's touchdown) was a touchdown. It matters NOT where one is when you hit the ground. It is IF and on ly IF the nose of the ball breaks the plane of the white line that is the end zone, not the color beyond, and NOT where you are when you hit the ground!

The nose broke the plane in the air, and R was hit back, then reextended his arms and the ball well over the line.

Fact is, in the air, he crossed and was pushed back. If a running back jumps in the air, breaks the plane, and then is hit in mid air back on the 3 yard line...it is still a touchdown...as it matters not where you land!

The Seahawk receiver obtained an advantage by pushing off the Steeler defender. Penalty. You have to create your OWN separation, you cannot use a player to establish it. If he had NOT pushed off...he would not have gotten to that pass.

This writer is bum! and I would bet he has NOT OFFICIATED in his life.

I have worked three sports (not football, and not professional level, though definitely competitively in softball and volleyball).

[joyspring777]

The holding call was legit. You could see 53 for Pittsburgh being held coming around the outside, and he still almost got to Hasselbeck.

You gotta call that. The OL was beat, and he held. His fault, not the officials.

We all could see it on the replay. Most guys were probably looking at each other and hollering.

[beyond the sea]

no..... that armpit thing is just for the goal line.

;-)

[joyspring777]

Cheese with your Whine?

It does not have to move the DB. The receiver used the push off to get separation...can't do that. He would not have gotten to the ball without using the defender as a goal post push off either.