It is also important to point out -- the penalty was not called because he tackled Taylor low. The penalty was called because he CUT #26 in his attempt to get to Taylor. The rules specifically say that a Defender (which Hasslebeck was at this point) cannot Cut a BLOCKER (which #26 was) belowe the knees. That was the penalty that was called.
I personally feel that penalty was very weak as it was not Hasslebecks intention to take out the blocker, he was going for Taylor. But by a strict interpretation of the rules, he did break the Cut rule when he dove in front of #26.
Very true. And I agree, if only in the interest of fairness because I lodged the exact same complaint both times that call went against Randal El on nearly identical plays (interception, trying to go low to make a tackle but needing to get through a blocker to do so). Really the way they're applying that rule on the "block" only and disregarding the attempt to tackle seems to me specifically to hose the former offensive team after a turn over. Offensive players always go for the low blocks because they usually don't know how to tackle "properly" and stand up tackles are risky to their shoulders and elbows which you really want to protect on your skill players.
But that's the rule as written this year, when they put greater emphasis on eliminating the cut block, and the call in the SB was consistent with how it's been applied all season, which is really one of my few demands of the refs in the SB. Interpret the rules the same as in the regular season, I hate refs in any sport that have the idea of putting the whistles away in the post season and "just let them play". Any rule good enough to be called in week 12 is good enough to be called in the SB.