Comments on: Non-call on key play cuts both ways for Niners

By: kpmom

kpmom — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:30:03 +0000

As a non-biased bystander (neither a Ravens or a 49ers fan), people need to stop arguing that they didn’t call holding on the safety play. They didn’t need to call holding. The penalty for a holding call in the endzone is a safety . . . and the 49ers got a safety. The refs didn’t do anything wrong there. With or without an actual flag being thrown, the outcome would still have been the same. A safety. I think people are just pissed about it because the Ravens used a penalty to their advantage. But there is no rule that says you can’t do that. It was actually a very strategic play that helped shed some time off the clock, and I commend them for thinking of it. Honestly, it was a genius play.

By: ynotred

ynotred — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:40:20 +0000

One thing you can be sure of after every NFL playoff game, the losing teams fans will blame the officials.

By: dirtydrew

dirtydrew — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:06:19 +0000

The non call is only good if it is used equally. The call on 3rd and 9 for the Ravens winning drive kept that drive alive. If your going to swallow the whistle, do it for both teams. And the Bowman play was within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. Not relevant.

By: growuppeterpan

growuppeterpan — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:48:10 +0000

The biggest non call was the blatant helmet-to-helmet contact on a defenseless receiver on third down the play before. This rule is ridiculous, if the receiver would have stayed on the ground the flag goes up every time. This Boger ref crew will not, and should not, ever have the privilege of refereeing a marquee game again.

By: footballchic777

footballchic777 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:47:15 +0000

I made that correlation to my husband when it happened that this is what Bowman did to White against the Falcons.

By: matthewcarlson1

matthewcarlson1 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:03:53 +0000

They couldn’t run with kap, after his last big run the ravens were spying him with two guys every play. Him running isn’t a sure thing, its a backup plan.

By: westclaims

westclaims — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:01:27 +0000

This was the first super bowl I didn’t watch since I was a little kid. I suspected it would be swayed, and it was. Once Ray Ray said he was retiring, it wasn’t hard to figure out. And from what I read, I can see the Niners got the short end of it. I’m a Cards fan, NOT a Niners fan. And, I can’t stand Jim Harbaugh, but it sure sounds like this was rigged. A 34-31 finish down to the wire? What a surprise. And even a power blackout added for some additional drama?. Give me a break. I had a good day yesterday. Did some yard work, hung out with my dogs, a little bbq in the afternoon, it was great.

By: rdrdrs58

rdrdrs58 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:00:47 +0000

It evens out in the end… what about the non-call on the hit Flacco took out of bounds… and what about that terrible running into the kicker call on the missed Akers field goal? the guy didn’t even touch him and Akers fell.

By: sandersmarcus10

sandersmarcus10 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:46:03 +0000

Lol “no-call” both were holding and fighting for the ball which was OVER THROWN! And why would you call that play, should have spread them out and had the QB run it in. And what was the WR doing he acted like he didnt know what was going on til the last second come on he im sure knows how to run a fade BY NOW!

By: inallsincerity

inallsincerity — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:18:52 +0000

A good no-call by the refs. However, I find it hard to believe that Rodney Harrison, of all people, thought there should have been a call made on that play. After the mugging of the Rams WRs when the Pats won their first SB??? Not to mention Spygate and the videotaping of the Rams red-zone looks, Rodney’s gotta lotta nerve!

By: rpiotr01

rpiotr01 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:27:40 +0000

The DB and Crabtree were grabbing eachother and Crabtree could have gotten an offensive hands to the face penalty. When both guys are fighting like that they’re not going to call it. If the WR shows he’s only going for the ball it makes it a little easier for the ref to throw the flag. He wanted to fight it out, so that’s how they called it.

Good no call in that situation.

By: Patskrieg dot com

Patskrieg dot com — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:25:52 +0000

I’m not saying I would have called this, but did anyone else hear Phil Simms explanation?

The line of scrimmage was the 5 yard line. The contact occurred in the end zone and Simms on cue says “well that’s within 5 yards.” Worst broadcaster in the game who goes out of his way to be wrong every week.

By: theytukrjobs

theytukrjobs — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:24:32 +0000

Not to defend the officials, but this is just the way games go. 1st quarter of a regular season game and ABSOLUTELY that is called. But I’d say at the end of a playoff game that particular hold normally won’t get called. It isn’t like the refs threw a ton of flags on the 9ers all night or anything.

I think when coaches have a right to be mad is when the refs throw a bad flag on a play, not when they hold a flag. I remember Vikes losing to the Saints in NFC Champ game and on 3rd and long in OT they threw a PI on Chad Greenway, putting the Saints in FG range rather than forcing a 4th and long outside of range. When they showed the replay the Vikings player doesn’t appear to even touch the receiver, let alone interfere, and let along interfere enough to warrant a flag. AND the ball was uncatchable.

Now that is a bad call. But what happened in this game was a ref holding a flag in a game situation that they normally don’t hold the flag in, probably for fear of making a bad call.

By: itguy76

itguy76 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:17:43 +0000

I’m not sure he would have caught it, but I don’t know how you can not call such an obvious hold on a critical play. Yes Crabtree was pushing off, but it was only becuase he was trying to get lose. I didn’t see the ATL game so I can’t speak for that one. You can’t just let the defender do what he wants knowing it will be a non-call in a close game. There seems to be way too much contact between defenders and recievers all year, I think we saw less interceptions because defenders were more worried about the man and less about the ball.

By: oldbyrd

oldbyrd — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:12:36 +0000

Know what gets me? You can criticize The Pope, The president, and anybody else but, you can’t criticize officials? Most of them are hacks and fixtures and stink at what they do because they are not younger enough to absorb the speed of the game. Its a shame that such an important game has to be won by either side while at the hands of morons. Try fining me. I have no stake in the game I’m an Eagles Fan.

By: righthereisay

righthereisay — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:11:22 +0000

Ravens earned this one…with that said, is it or isn’t it holding? If it is, call it. Shouldn’t be “well, not in this situation.” I mean, I’ve seen holding calls that were much less holding that that one.

Is there some rule in the book that says call the hold, unless it is the end of a Super Bowl and could change the games outcome?

By: eepobee

eepobee — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:10:54 +0000

Is anyone here smart enough to actually look at the 2 plays instead of just ignorantly claiming they were the same? Florio clearly has the viewing acumen of a 5 year old and cant make the distinction. Bowman hit White within 5 yards, didn’t hold, and went for the ball and knocked it down. That is the complete opposite of what smith did. He held, interfered, and had no idea where the ball was. If u think those were even similar plays than u must think every play is the same, ur a dolt, and u should stop posing as an expert in an area u know nothing about!

By: dlionfan

dlionfan — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:02:41 +0000

1st no holding call on the safety because holding in the endzone = a safety, so no point in calling it when the ball carrier takes the safety. 2nd 49ers had plenty of illegal contact calls that were not called. in the 1st half cullver put his arm across smith which prevented smith from making a catch that would have easily been a td if smith made the catch. balt had to punt after that, so really balt. should have been up another td anyways & that was right in front of a ref too. Calls went both was in the game; but in the end the ravens are the better team & I don’t like the ravens or 49ers, so this is not a biased opinion.

By: raiderrob21

raiderrob21 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:57:46 +0000

I was a great non call. The refs let them play all game. Thats what we want as fans of the game. We have complained so much over the last few years how there have been too many flags and its turning to the no fun league. The ravens got screwed many times throughout the game on non calls.

By: FinFan68

FinFan68 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:52:17 +0000

I don’t understand the “let them play” mentality at the end of many games. The refs should not decide the outcome but if there is a blatant violation it should be called. The officials were not good and missed several calls on both teams. Things happen fast and the officials can miss it but that hold was quite obvious. The play call was bad and failure to pick up the free blitzer were just as responsible as the uncalled hold.

By: getyourownname

getyourownname — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:51:18 +0000

It’s amazing that some fans keep complaining about holding on the safety. The holding was probably intentional, and if so was result of great coaching and situational awareness.

If holding is called, the penalty is – a safety. No time gets put back on the clock. Ravens have to kickoff from the 20 with 4 seconds left, just like they did.

Sine the penalty is the same, the kicking team SHOULD hold. This is just smart football and shows situational awareness. To do otherwise is not smart football.

By: nard100

nard100 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:47:35 +0000

Am I the only person who wondered why Moss’s number wasn’t called for the last play for a jump ball?

By: richcranium2112

richcranium2112 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:40:38 +0000

If you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

Jimmy Harbaugh is the biggest Forty-Whiner!!

By: bordner

bordner — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:38:07 +0000

What about the blatant hold on the punt/safety?? Anyone see that? The Raven blocker is behind the 49er with his arms wrapped around the guy and close to lifting him off the ground.
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Wouldn’t the result of a holding call there also have been a safety? Which is what Baltimore was trying to do anyway? The game would have ended the same way. Maybe a few more seconds on the clock.

By: Ram

Ram — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:33:08 +0000

Whining Whiner Harbaugh at it again. Acting like a poor sport when this game had many questionable calls all night on both sides. Jim is a good coach who needs to learn to be humble in victories and losses. Niners should be happy that they were in this game. The 30+ minute power outage killed the Ravens’ momentum. The Ravens probably blowout the 9ers if that doesn’t occur.

By: amoses74

amoses74 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:31:29 +0000

4th down…… if you are the corner and Crabtree puts a move on you, you start to stumble slightly, You have 2 choices. A. let him go by you and if the pass is a good one and Crabtree catches it you lose or B. grab the guy to slow him down, and hope the refs dont see or call it. EASY choice for him….. grab him. Worst case you have given the 49ers 1st and goal or let them score with a little under 2mins left. Best case you win the super bowl.

By: whatjusthapped

whatjusthapped — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:29:30 +0000

I think Jim Harbaugh’s sideline antics are so over the top that it pains the officials to give the 49ers the benefit of the doubt.

So to my way of thinking, it is the head coach’s fault. You can’t throw a yellow flag for being a douche bag otherwise the 49ers would lead the league in penalties.

By: amoses74

amoses74 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:26:46 +0000

Ive never really felt like the NFL was fixed….. but there are so many examples over the years of non calls, or phantom calls, starts to make you wonder.

If the Refs call the holding in the endzone on the intentional safety I think there is a rule that would have allowed time put back on the clock from the point of the hold. Then that free kick and good return would have have a few seconds left on the clock for a hailmary or a really long FG attempt. Either way the rules should be enforced correctly.

By: bwilson124

bwilson124 — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:26:38 +0000

Why do a lot of guys here keep complaining about the non call on the safety? Even if they call holding (which they could and should have), the play still continues to the end. They don’t put the time back on the clock, and award the 2 points anyway. So basically, that didn’t make one bit of difference since it wouldn’t have put the time back.

By: cudahatestheravens

cudahatestheravens — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:26:16 +0000

You can say whatever you like but the ball was in the air and the d-back has both arms wrapped around Crabtree. He has no chance to get to the corner to catch the ball…it was not an overthrow but thrown correctly to the back pylon. Should have been first and goal.