Super Bowl Thread

[Demi]

Exciting? Maybe 6 years ago. Nothing exciting about him now except the stupid crap he says.

[glg]

Can we all agree that Phil Simms is a moron? He was arguing against the intentional safety (before it happened) on the basis that it would make the lead a FG. There was going to be less than 10 seconds left, you moron, a FG wasn't going to come into play. Maybe if SF had gone after the punter quicker there would have been a couple more seconds, but all that would have meant was there would have been time for a Hail Mary attempt after Ginn went down.

[NextQuestion]

Hate McKinnie and Birk...good for Bolden and Smith

[PurpleMustReign]

Can we all agree that Phil Simms is a moron? He was arguing against the intentional safety (before it happened) on the basis that it would make the lead a FG. There was going to be less than 10 seconds left, you moron, a FG wasn't going to come into play. Maybe if SF had gone after the punter quicker there would have been a couple more seconds, but all that would have meant was there would have been time for a Hail Mary attempt after Ginn went down.

I can sort of understand it. I think he was mostly worried about the fair catch-FG rule that makes no sense. If Cook shanks the free kick, SF has a realistic shot at that.

[PurpleMustReign]

How about, can we agree that Jim Harbaugh is a whiny #### who complains and throws a tantrum every time the call doesn't go his way? To me, the last play had incidental contact, plus Crabtree pushed the defender more than the defender held him. I have almost never seen a flag thrown in that case.
With that said, I think the referees "let them play" a little too much yesterday. Ther was a lof of contact all game from both teams, and the "chippy" plays where they pushed each other well after the play was over got old, IMO.
For the most part, though, I thought the officials did a decent job.

[Mothman]

I can sort of understand it. I think he was mostly worried about the fair catch-FG rule that makes no sense. If Cook shanks the free kick, SF has a realistic shot at that.

A good return could have set up a FG too and Ginn had already had a good return in the game to set up a score. Of course, a relatively long return might have run the clock out. How much time was left? 12 seconds?

I think the Ravens made the right choice.

Regarding the controversial non-call: it seemed to me that Crabtree ran his route right into the receiver, inviting the contact, which is not the way to run that route. He was pushing off, the defender was holding and with that much contact going on, the official simply wasn't going to throw the flag in that situation. I thought it was a good non-call.

Congrats to Birk, Flacco, Rice, Boldin and the Ravens. Hopefully, the NFL's first purple-clad team will win it all next season.

It was another very entertaining Super Bowl!

[Grashopa]

Jones should have been Super Bowl MVP
whos with me?

Edit: Moved title down to message

[Knoxx]

Good non-call.

But man, the whining and pleading for a penalty on EVERY single play has gone beyond the point of just being annoying. It's not only pass plays any more, and it's not just the players. The coaches and even the trainers on the sidelines were ranting, waiving their arms, and pointing at somebody on the other team on every play.

How many of those demonstrations do you think ever result in a flag being thrown, 5 to 10 seconds after a play has been completed?? The NFL needs to implement a rule similar to the flopping rule, that if a player or anyone on a team's sideline appeals for a penalty, then THAT should be penalty. It's gotten bad enough that it's ruining the game.

I agree right now this behavior is only promoting poor sportsmanship

[glg]

A good return could have set up a FG too and Ginn had already had a good return in the game to set up a score. Of course, a relatively long return might have run the clock out. How much time was left? 12 seconds?

It was 12 seconds at the time of the punt snap, down to 4 by the time the punter ran off some clock. It was also about 30 yards difference in punt spot and no rush on the free kick. Had they punted from the end zone, the return Ginn got would have had the ball easily within range for a shot at the end zone.

Regarding the controversial non-call: it seemed to me that Crabtree ran his route right into the receiver, inviting the contact, which is not the way to run that route. He was pushing off, the defender was holding and with that much contact going on, the official simply wasn't going to throw the flag in that situation. I thought it was a good non-call.

I'm not sure how I can disagree more. What this non-call did is tell defenses that in the playoffs or Super Bowl, they can interfere. The defender is immediately holding Crabtree. You can see from some of the angles him quite clearly grabbing on to Crabtree's jersey. He is also making contact well past 5 yards. Crabtree pushes off as a result of this, not independently. I think the officials were scared to make the call. If they make a good call, they're fine, if they make a bad call, they're villified, if they make no call, they get a pass for "swallowing the whistle". They went for the easy answer of no call.

The rules do not change because it's an important play. What this no-call did was tell defenders they should at least try some minor pass interference on any such play because a flag won't be thrown.

[NextQuestion]

Crabtree was mugged.

[CalVike]

I agree right now this behavior is only promoting poor sportsmanship

He is what he is. He took a disaster of a team coached by Mike Singletary and reached the Super Bowl in year 2. I will excuse his personality for the winning.

[indianation65]

No call? How about a running into the kicker bs call on the Ravens giving SF 3 points on a second field goal attempt. That 3 points affected the end of the game as much as the non-catchable no call throw.

...wisdom

[Mothman]

I'm not sure how I can disagree more. What this non-call did is tell defenses that in the playoffs or Super Bowl, they can interfere. The defender is immediately holding Crabtree. You can see from some of the angles him quite clearly grabbing on to Crabtree's jersey. He is also making contact well past 5 yards. Crabtree pushes off as a result of this, not independently. I think the officials were scared to make the call. If they make a good call, they're fine, if they make a bad call, they're villified, if they make no call, they get a pass for "swallowing the whistle". They went for the easy answer of no call.

The rules do not change because it's an important play. What this no-call did was tell defenders they should at least try some minor pass interference on any such play because a flag won't be thrown.

I understand what you're saying and I agree that Smith was clearly holding Crabtree's jersey on the play. The reason I think it was a good non-call is because Crabtree never sold the route. He played it like he was trying to draw the penalty or get open by pushing off the defender. In that crucial situation, with the Super Bowl on the line, he came off the line slowly, turned and engaged the defender. He didn't commit to or sell the route and I think that's why he didn't get the call. Instead, he put his hands on Smith at the same time Smith was grabbing at him. Smith held, Crabtree pushed off and there was contact beyond five yards because neither could disengage by that point. If the official had throw the flag, he would have rewarded Crabtree's effort to draw a penalty or get open by pushing off.

[Just Me]

No call? How about a running into the kicker bs call on the Ravens giving SF 3 points on a second field goal attempt. That 3 points affected the end of the game as much as the non-catchable no call throw.

...wisdom

Huh? I'm trying to figure out if you're advocating for the personal foul call there, but it sounds as though you thought it shouldn't have been called at all It definitely should have been called and you could argue it should have been a personal foul (although I thought the refs got it right). A PF would have given SF a first down and another shot at a touchdown rather than settling for the FG.

[indianation65]

The SF field goal miss and second attempt happened earlier in the game. That was a bad call against the Ravens. Regardless, penalties and missed penalties happen every play in every game...no doubt! Well, except a kneel down at the end of a game, maybe.

...wisdom