After surviving yesterday’s 19-16 game over the Bills, there has to be a question posted this morning, and that is the one that seems to be popping up week after week – are the officials out for the Steelers – and more so James Harrison?
Sunday there was yet another 15-yard flag on Harrison, that being in the third quarter with the Steelers up 13-0 and totally outplaying the Bills.
Harrison was flagged for roughing the passer, and more so for “leading with the crown of his helmet” on Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
“It’s not going to change the way I play,” Harrison told The Associated Press. “There was nothing wrong about the play.”
Harrison was flagged last week for roughing the quarterback against Raiders QB Jason Campbell, but the NFL didn’t fine him. A few weeks back he was flagged and fined for a hit on Drew Brees.
The flag on Harrison Sunday totally changed the tempo and feel of the game. The Bills went on to score a few plays later to cut it to 13-7, and once again, the refs seemed to take the aggressive nature a bit out of the Steelers defense.
So it needs to be asked, are the officials at this point out to get Harrison and the Steelers? Last week it was a team record in penalties, and Sunday the team was hit with 10 flags for 107 yards.
It’s getting out of hand, but it seems like it’s just going to continue. So is it time for Mike Tomlin and Dan Rooney to address the situation? Or does it matter what those two say – as the league seems to have it out for Harrison, the new “Mr.Bad Boy” of the NFL.
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Jeff
November 29, 2010 at 11:19 am
Silver Back stands out on these hits I believe because he is one a few players who due to his build can generate tremendous power and speed in a short distance when closing in on a ball carrier/QB. He is definitely being marked by the league as you could see from how quick that flag came out. I really don’t know what the guy is supposed to do at this point?
DrGeorge
November 29, 2010 at 11:37 am
Right or wrong, the league office is now perceived as micromanaging the referees and by their after the fact reviews, in effect, penalizing players who hit hard — not just those who hit illegally. Goodell’s intent, to promote player safety, is commendable, but the unequal application of the rules is hurting the game. The NFL must better define what is an illegal hit in a way that does not penalize players for merely being physical. The credibility of the game hinges on impartial referees. On Sunday, even TV commentators and opposing coaches recognized that the Steelers are being targeted by the league. And that unfairness isn’t good for football.
Ben Dover
November 29, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Goodell’s intent, is not trying to promote player safety, nor are his intentions commendable, Roger Goodall is doing nothing more than playing hard-ball with the NFLPA in a contract year. That pig is trying to pressure the players into agreeing to an 18-game schedule. Ask anybody who ever worked in a union, during a contract management always comes down on the union membership in an attempt to create a mountain of grievances to use as leverage in negations. The on-field officials are useless twits and pawns for the NFL, you can’t even call them on-field officials any more, they are directors, calling penalties at key moments of the game to keep the close so that they don’t lose viewers. Goodall is ruining the NFL, and his demise would be a welcome relief.
DrGeorge
November 29, 2010 at 3:30 pm
An interesting thought, Mr. Dover, but the union connection is not clear. Would you please amend your comment and elaborate? Exactly how does targeting the Steelers for roughness translate into a bargaining edge in the upcoming NFLPA contract negotiations or create greater leverage for an 18 game schedule?
Intuitively, it would seem to give the union a bargaining chip instead, due to the widely perceived unfairness directed against James Harrison personally and the Steelers players collectively. But if you can clarify the alleged union-bashing motives behind Goodell’s actions, all Steelers fans and the National Labor Relations Board would love to hear it.
Jarrett
November 29, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I think what Dover is saying is that all teams and their players are being effected by the rule changes (thoughit seems Harrison and the Steelers more so). When the league and NFLPA sit down this off-season to work out a deal (hopefully). The comish will have another “chip” to play. As in “we are going to have an 18 game season, but we will cut back on the flags thrown”. Making it look like the league (owners) comprisedto get something that they wanted all along from the players (union).
DrGeorge
November 30, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I appreciate the thought, Jarrett, but it still doesn’t make sense as an NFL management strategy. Here’s why.
The players’ union must favor any rule that protects players and promotes safety, even if the penalities are excessive. Roughness penalties only affect 50% of the players adversely anyway; offensive players are rarely called for helmet to helmet, spearing, and roughness — the kind of penalties levied against Harrison. However, the union should (a) object to one player (Harrison) being singled-out as a whipping boy — the latest $25k fine for Harrison is both punitive and excessive, and (b)protest on Harrison’s behalf both the inconsistency of enforcement and the arbitrary interpretation of the rules (work rules) that result in unfair and unequal treatment and fines for Harrison (a money issue). The union will never object to the number of penalties levied in general, because the union always favors player safety.
So the power to enforce the rules stringently doesn’t translate into a ‘chip’ for Goodell; it doesn’t give NFL management any bargaining leverage. To use your example, the issue of an 18 game schedule is a major one for the players (they strongly oppose it because it affects hours worked, pay per hour, and greater risk of injury), but the union doesn’t care about the number of flags thrown, since that has no effect on money or hours worked and supposedly reduces injury.
Goodell’s vendetta against Harrison is not a strategy — it is a blunder. Instead of helping the NFL at the bargaining table, the Commissioner’s punishment of Harrison and the Steelers makes him look unreasoning and rigid and makes the players less likely to compromise, even before NFLPA negotiations start. Moreover, the public and knowledgable fans side with Harrison on this one, especially since it seems to have become a personal issue for Goodell. To that extent, Goodell is hurting himself, the NFL, and ultimately the game itself.
Joe
November 29, 2010 at 1:54 pm
There is no question that the league and officials are targeting James Harrison in particular and the Steelers in general. The official drew the flag, preparing to throw it before Fitzpatrick hit the ground. It is also not clear from the replay that Harrison actually led with his helmet. I believe that Steeler fans should draft and send a petition to the league addressing their unfair targeting of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was also called for 4 drive killing holding penalties while Buffalo didn’t receive a single holding call. You’re telling me that the Buffalo offensive line didn’t hold at all? 107 penalty yards to 20! Unbelieveable! We should also start a James Harrison defense fund!
Ron in Michigan
November 30, 2010 at 12:14 am
All too often the NFL execs decision’s are made for financial reasons. And for a very long time the NFL has been an exemplary business model. But, make no mistake, this fundamental “change” ( more stringent enforcement of existing rules ) has the potential to “change” their lofty perch.
Is anyone unaware that the Commissioner operates by fiat of the Owners? No, i didn’t think so. With the proposed 18 (and eventually 20) game schedule that is sure to be implemented, coupled with the potential increases in ownership contrbutions to the players’ pension’s, it’s clear to any discerning viewer , that the commissioner’s office (owners) are positioning themselves for the upcoming Labor Talks.
John Slocum
December 1, 2010 at 11:35 am
Don’t forget for one minute that the NFL is a business, and its getting more ruthless all the time.
Here’s what I think the bottom line is…
The league wants an 18 game season. They make more money, the networks make more money, and the fans pay more for tickets. The problem is that a 16 game season already takes its toll on NFL teams, so the only way to get to 18 games is to make the game “tamer”. They want to protect the marquee players so they can finish game 18 even if that means turning our game into a slightly agressive version of flag football.
They can talk all they want about making the game safer for players, but if they wanted to do that why not consider a 14 game season. The bottom line is that Goodell didn’t care about any of this until an 18 game season was a possibility.
So, Roger, go ahead and turn “our game” into a new game for the sake of money. Make it so the Tom Brady’s and Peyton Mannings of the world can stand without fear of being tackled and throw to receivers who don’t fear catching the ball anymore and watch the scores rise while good old fashioned smash mouth teams like the Steelers take it on the chin.
But just remember Mr. Goodell that if you change my game enough and raise my ticket prices at the same time, I may have to make a business decision too!