Several weeks ago, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis blew a gasket regarding the perception that the officials protect the quarterbacks excessively.
Tonight, the officials excessively protected Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
On a first down play from the Baltimore 26 late in the first half, Flacco faked a handoff to running back Ray Rice, and then got rid of the ball quickly as he was being smothered by two Browns. The problem? Jason Trusnik of the Browns hit Flacco low.
Specifically, he hit Flacco at the bottom of the shoulders-to-knees strike zone, and despite the protests of Jon Gruden — who paid inadvertent homage to Emmitt by saying an “interpretator” is necessary for an understanding of some of the rule — it was a good call in light of the current contents of the rule book.
Let’s see if Lewis has anything to say about it after the game.
I’m a Ravens fan and I think that rule is awful, even though it benefited (but not really) my team tonight.
Umm. The score is 0-0 at the half. Tough to say they really benefited…
I don’t really like the rule, but it’s there, and as long as it’s called consistently, then I don’t have a huge problem with it.
that was a crap call
trusnik was falling down and flacco ended up being hit by the other guy at the same time for a high-low type hit. but trusnik really couldnt have done much about it since he was pushed down. luckily flacco sucks
“I’m a Ravens fan and I think that rule is awful, even though it benefited (but not really) my team tonight.”
It not an awful rule if it keeps guys like Flacco from getting a knee blown out and missing a season – possibly a career.
the rule says nothing about the knee.
The rule actually say no hits below the hemline!!!
Yeah, Gruden deserved an extension. “Interpretator???” C’mon, man!
Terrible rule, from another Ravens fan.
This is a depressing game.
The bandwagon is on blocks for now.
Does it really matter? Brady Quinn can’t throw the ball more than 5 yards down the field. Ravens will pull away in the second half.
It was a good call… except that he didn’t hit him below the knee, he hit him above the knee. Only slightly, but still above.
“The bandwagon is on blocks for now.”
Bengalfan stole the wheels.
It looked like Trusnik was pushed, or blocked into Flacco. Should have been a non-call IMO.
The fifth provision of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12 (roughing the passer) says that: “A rushing defender is prohibited from forcibly hitting in the knee area or below a passer who has one or both feet on the ground, even if the initial contact is above the knee. It is not a foul if the defender is blocked (or fouled) into the passer and has no opportunity to avoid him.”
The other point to make is that guy actually hit Flacco in the legs solid, whereas Brady was grazed by Terrell Suggs on the side of one leg.
If they’re going to have that awful rule, they should only throw the flag when it looks intentionally malicious. That wasn’t true on the Brady hit or on tonight’s hit.
Better call the “Interpretator”…. hey, didn’t he hit a wall in Daytona or something?
Quinn is a little puss too, throwing below the knee shots on suggs after he gets intercepted…
NOW I’m done.
Meh… I don’t think it’s a terrible rule… maybe all players should be protected at the knees. But the real problem is that the Ravens only scored one offensive touchdown, AGAINST THE BROWNS. Come on, guys. You’re better than this.
I don’t think the call was bad, but this game was rather pathetic, especially in the first half.
Uh, the difference between the Flacco call and the Brady call against Suggs was Flacco was actually hit below the knee. He didn’t get lightly brushed by the linebacker then turn to the ref to make a whack-off motion to the ref and then get a flag thrown. I don’t like the rule either, but if it is going to remain a rule then enforce it consistently.
They have got to change this rule after the season
With all of the typos and grammatical errors on PFT, you’re really making fun of an announcer for misspeaking? Really?
It was the CORRECT call, he did exactly what the rule says not to.
It’s NOTHING like the call against the Pats earlier this season when Suggs barely grazed Brady’s upper leg, and Brady motioned for the flag and got it.
It’s a HORRIBLE rule, but this was correctly called, the Suggs-Brady one was not. The rule should be changed to only include hits with malicious intent.
Take a look at my login name and you’ll guess who I’m rooting for…and guess what:
That call against the hit on Flacco by the Brownies was absolutely bogus. Clean hit. Time to play some football and leave the skirts to Brady and Peyton. Proud to say I didn’t see Flacco jump up and start motioning for a flag.
So does that make us Ravens fans whiners if we call b.s. on awful officiating against our opponents? The officiating in the NFL is a disgrace. Florio keep your backhanded comments ready for the next time your Stealers can’t get the ball to cross the goalline.
Its Embarrassing said Ray Murder Lewis
I love how people refer to it as the Tom Brady rule, and make fun of Tom Brady because of the rule (like he is more of a pussy than any other QB, because the rule is named after him).
Obviously, instead of busting his ass rehabbing, he was actually hanging out with Goodell, trying to get him to make a rule to protect him.
The Competition Committee didnt want this rule, and the owners all voted against it, but Tom Brady is soooo much more important than the owners and the Competition Committee that Goodell decided to make the rule anyways.
Get over it, all of the owners were in favor of it, including the owner of your favorite team, including the owner of the Ravens, etc….. So stop bitching and moaning and whining whenever the rule hurts your team (for the record, the rules protecting the QB have hurt New England, more than helped, they lead the league in “roughing the passer” penalties….)