What's next, forcefields? The "Brady Rule" comes to the forefront

by MaPatsFan on Oct 5, 2009 9:58 PM EDT in News Comment 35 comments

This past Sunday's 27-21 win against the Baltimore Ravens was great for this Patriots fan to watch. There were tons of things that required nitroglycerin pills, but there were also things to be proud of. I won't go through the list of positives and negatives (I already droned on and on in my game recap), but some of the most controversial points were 2 roughing the passer calls against Tom Brady. With 3:35 left in the first quarter, DE Haloti Ngata's hand "grazed" Brady's helmet and he was called for 15 yards. The second was handed out to Terrell Suggs for being near Brady's knees.

First and foremost, whether or not you think the rule itself is bogus is irrelevant. It's a rule on the books, everyone knows about it, and it's up to the coaches to make sure players know how to play within the bounds of that rule. That's coaching and need I remind you, these guys make millions; if they can't keep track of the rules, they should find something else to do.

The thought that Brady gets preferential treatment is, at the same time, both correct and ludicrous. It's correct in that high paid players, especially quarterbacks, make this game exciting and no one can argue that Brady is one of the top players in the NFL. The game is simply not that fun to watch with players like Brady not playing it. Don't like it? Too bad. It's ludicrous because Brady get's blamed for this rule, hence everyone will raise a stink when it gets called around him. Vince Wilfork made a good, solid hit on Buffalo's Trent Edwards in Game #1. I was PO'd, but that's the way the game's being called. Deal with it.

Whether or not you agree with a rule means little. The application of the rule is what can be argued. Heck, we played horrible in our SB matchup against the Giants. However, call holding on Giants' offensive players when we had Manning in our grasp and he never makes that throw to Tyree. Oh well. Every team benefits from penalty calling at one time or another. It's the same logic that keeps the NFL's totally ludicrous overtime structure in place - it eventually goes your way.

Poll

Were the RtR calls valid?

Both Ngata and Suggs RtP valid

223 votes

Ngata RtR valid, Suggs RtP NOT valid

73 votes

Ngata RtR NOT valid, Suggs RtP valid

99 votes

Both Ngata and Suggs RtP NOT valid

294 votes

689 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Where's the mention of the Mike Wright RTP call against the Patriots

for his hand-grazing of Flacco’s helmet?

Are the Ravens penalties considered ‘controversial’ because Harbaugh, Lewis, Reed and Suggs complained to the national media in the locker room after the game? I don’t understand this at all.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 5, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Glaring omission on my part

Mike Wright just accepted it and moved on. Apparently, others need an explanation for their loss.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Oct 5, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good answer

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 5, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ngata went for the ball and as Brady’s throwing arm came through it grabbed Ngata’s arm and Brady actually pulled Ngatas’ hand into the side of his face mask. I TIVO slow mo’d it. Makes me sick.

Also, Suggs never touched him? How is that a foul? He knifed betweeen an O-lineman and Brady and missed both. Killer.

Your guy didn’t catch the reviewed pass. He pulled it up from his knees to his arms as he lay on the ground. TIVO’s slo-mo’d again.

You guys totally got the calls. It was almost comical. Every third and long for you we just waited for the flag. Just like 2 years ago when we were nailed with 2 pass interference calls on your “winning” drive. Total bullshit and takes the fun out of the game. It’s obvious official bias and ruins the game. We see it at Pitt. and then have to face the same shit against the golden boy.

Nice win for you and it’s over now. We can only hope to see you in the playoffs so we can get screwed again.

by raven on Oct 5, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

so let me get this strait

your tivo is better then the million dollar replay system the refs and coaches have at their disposal.

don’t blame refs for your loss. if this game had been a blow out then yes i could see it. but new england was getting just as many questionable calls it just doesn’t seem like it because they weren’t doing them in crucial periods, ie. third downs. Ravens still had plenty of opertunities to win this game. they blew them all.

: "Rip? Oh, he was funny, man. He said, ‘Boston? Dang man, Boston?’ I said, ‘Hey, you got to go with the flow.’"—F Rasheed Wallace, on the reaction of former Detroit teammate Rip Hamilton to his signing with the Celtics

by NEFOOL on Oct 5, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

9 penalties either way... (not counting rejected penalties)

but of course it’s a conspiracy. Haha.

by Comedic.Sans on Oct 6, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As for the 'Tom Brady' rule

As far as I know, it’s meant to penalise defenders lunging towards QBs when they’re on a downward trajectory. It doesn’t say that they have to hit the QB; it just says they’re not allowed to lunge or dive at the QB’s knees. Was Suggs diving forward? Yes. Was it in the vicinity of Brady’s legs? Yes. Was it enough of a lunge to look like an attempted tackle? Maybe. To a referee in the heat of the movement from three feet away? Probably.

You’re allowed to not like the rule – hell, after Wilfork’s penalty for what looked like a perfect tackle in Week 1, I’m not a fan of it myself. But Suggs (instinctively, I’m sure) did something that the rules say he’s not allowed to do.

by Comedic.Sans on Oct 6, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

unbelievable

Suggs never touched TB? .. what ? . do you want him to break TB knees to validate the call .. I was watching the game with a bunch of people at work (no less than 30) and all of them jumped and took a sigh of reliefe when they saw the play .. it looked like he was diving for his knees and TB avoided it by jumping over him… hones .. it looked bad … watch it in regular speed … not slow motion .. we know he did’t hit TB now … but when it happened . it really looked bad …
besides .. the PATS got thier share of thses penalties calls too .. its not one sided calls man … and in 2007 … you shouldnt even mention that … remember the TO calls from the Fat Rex … you always say nice win .. i will never blame the refs … but you cant stop yourself from going back to the refs crab … but when i go defeated since 1994 to a team .. maybe I can understand the frustration .. i will give you that

by DeepThreat2u on Oct 6, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about the late hit on flacco when he was drilled back into his O-lineman (who went to the hospital)..you man was so late and someone actually got hurt BUT no call. of course. but, come within 2 feet of Brady looking mean and your flagged. worst officiating crew I have ever seen for a big game.

I think your site is great and your bloggers are well worth reading but I have lost respect for for the Pats because they are the NFL darlings and the NFL needs the Pats/Pitt market for great playoff ratings. We’ll never get a fair shake. It was amazing that the Chargers could almost overcome the biased officiating last night in Pitt.

by raven on Oct 5, 2009 10:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm a Giants fan

and I actually prefer the Ravens to the Pats, but this is kinda ridiculous. In week 1 the Pats very nearly got f-ed over by 2 bad P.I. calls. They overcame them and won. If Mark Clayton holds onto that last pass, this is a non-issue. And I remember 2 years ago the Pats played a game that had the most lopsided officiating I’ve ever seen against the Colts (in the Colts favor). Pats won that one too. Bad reffing sucks, but I think in the long run it balances out for every team.

"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09

by cjmulrain on Oct 5, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NFL darlings???

Go turn on ESPN and watch the Packers-Vikings. That’s some sickening slurping love-fest going on for Lord Favre and the Vikings.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 5, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1,000,000

by cjmulrain on Oct 5, 2009 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best defense in the league, best offense in the league, best hands and oh..oh...ohhh... Favre is awesome

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 5, 2009 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gag reflex coming again

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Oct 6, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please don't

I’ll be happy if I never, ever, evvvvvvvvver hear about St. Favre again. Rodgers puts up the same stats, while getting sacked 8 or so times by a rampant Jared Allen and co, and gets absolutely stiffed while the commentary team is still waxing lyrical about Favre. Ugh.

by Comedic.Sans on Oct 6, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

We can all agree on that!!

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Oct 6, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

i was so turned off by the comments that I switched the tv and watched “Bored to death” on HBO … i am pissed off at the Green Bay Packers for losing to that old fart .. i am plain sick of him and the media kissing his a..s … pethetic

by DeepThreat2u on Oct 6, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

there was no penalty on that play

Really. Not a late hit at all (they have been showing that clip, on account of the injury to Gaither), not a single analyst, reporter, or talking head has even suggested it as even a questionable late hit. Flacco was jerked around because he was hit from the Patriots defender from the front, and from Gaither in his back. Nowhere near his head or legs. Now you’re just looking for things to get angry about and blame the loss on.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 5, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And how would you know?!?!

not a single analyst, reporter, or talking head has even suggested it as even a questionable late hit

Oh, ’cause you read about a thousand stories a day putting up our links.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Oct 5, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol, thanks for clarifying

i forgot to put that in there

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 5, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

She can find a needle in a haystack

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Oct 6, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maaaaaaaaaaaaaaan

next time when we sack Flacco … will make sure none of your players around and will sweep and clean the carpet around him … and tell you players not to hit his back with thier heads and will lay him nice and gently and read a bed story for him … is that better?

by DeepThreat2u on Oct 6, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

John Harbaugh is sending the tape in for review

to show that Brady got preferential treatment. Maybe the officials will discover who the heck Matt Light was supposedly holding when they threw that flag too.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 6, 2009 7:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Both calls correct with current rules IMO

but I will give the Ravens this: I didn’t like Brady appealing to the refs, just like I’m no fan of wide receivers appealing for PI flags on pretty much every missed pass.

by hythlodaeus on Oct 6, 2009 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and Favre got a holding call for his receiver last night when he threw a pick

Happens all the time

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Oct 6, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

Doesn’t make it any nicer

by hythlodaeus on Oct 6, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And every lineman when someone jumps offsides...

and every player on the field when there’s a fumble recovery underneath a pile of bodies, etc etc. Hard to penalise Brady for something everyone does

by Comedic.Sans on Oct 6, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't believe I said anything about penalties

I just said I don’t like appealing to the refs for flags.

by hythlodaeus on Oct 7, 2009 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Effectively the same response by the player, though

Spot something that’s potentially beneficial for your team, point it out and scream at the ref about it. Happens a dozen times a game, any game. It’s just more obvious when WRs cry out for a flag or a QB stands up in the pocket and points them out kindly for the ref (hah!).

I don’t particularly like appealing for it, either, but it’s a natural reaction to seeing something go against your side on the field. And I HATED seeing Favre call for, and get, a call for defensive pass interference on a non-event when he threw for all intents and purposes an interception in the end zone. Gag.

by Comedic.Sans on Oct 7, 2009 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Suggs clearly deserved that flag and maybe more

I really don’t see where the controversy is. I just watched the game again and Suggs should never charge at a QB with his helmet down aiming below the waist. I mean, are you fucking kidding me? See the play again. If Brady hadn’t moved out of the way it would have been exactly like the injury JP Losman suffered at the hands of Wilfork a few years ago. I think people are being ridiculous to make this into something, look at the play again and just think what would have happened if Brady hadn’t moved out of the way. Clear flag and IMHO it deserves at least a call from the commish about charging with the helmet down.

by bbismyhero on Oct 6, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The controversy from Ravens-oriented fans seems to be either of three things...

1) “The referees are biased against Baltimore because… x, y, z conspiracy theories”;
2) “It shouldn’t be a flag because he didn’t/barely touched Brady”; or
3) “I don’t like the rule, and it’s unfair that it only got called against the Ravens because…”

by Comedic.Sans on Oct 7, 2009 4:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Harbaugh's complaint about the bad spots too

Harbaugh said the refs gave them bad spots on key plays, one of which being the fake field-goal in which the Ravens got shafted by the Patriots getting the first down which allowed them to play the down over.

Funny thing though when I was watching last night, early in the game the commentator made the remark, “The Ravens got a generous spot there.” It was on some play on the Baltimore drive after the Patriots’ field goal.

I don’t get the controversy either. When Brady got hit the first time, the defender’s hand hit Brady’s helmet and the referee came out and called what it was – illegal contact to the head. Hate the rule all you want, but the ref has to call it. Plus, the call against Mike Wright was just as ticky-tack as that one.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Oct 7, 2009 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fake-field goal ball-spot

Definitely falls under my category 1) “The referee’s spot of the ball is biased against Baltimore because they love Brady/ love the Pats/ are bought off/ hate Baltimore/ were abducted and gang-probed by evil aliens who are in a joint operation with the US Air Force, Microsoft and the Fox Network to punish the Baltimore Ravens in a way that will increase the sales of Froot-Loops to North American customers.”

by Comedic.Sans on Oct 7, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs