Spartan

Well, for those who don't support this warning from officials, always take comfort in the likelihood they will not call it in the Super Bowl!

Forgive me, but please don't condescend me (how long I've been folowing the 49ers is relevant... how exactly?); the opening flag against the 49ers for 'illegal formation' surely counts as a ticky-tack call. I am fully aware that ticky-tack calls will be less prevalent in marquee games than regular season ones, but you're synopsis is a tacit allusion that the rules substantially change in the playoffs. What - players know they can violate the rules in an arbitrary manner, knowing there it is more likely they won't get flagged? Carey Williams' shove of the official would have been a ticky-tack call?? I don't think so. By 'implicit' you're trying to state that the front offices support this in 'closed circles'? The play in question is hardly a ticky-tack scenario, and Jim Harbaugh explicitly - not implicitly - said that "a hold is a hold, no matter what circumstances they fall under. Again - because Jones is blowing by everybody through the middle doesn't negate what I see as a clear double-hold in the same lane. How often do we see a run unimpeded up the middle like that with no, shall we say, advantage? Your'e absolutely wrong - I've seen plenty of arguments by the book on that last play, and not just out of SF. James

OK. Albeit I appreciate the discerning response, I see no logic that because Miller didn't realize Jones was past him somehow invalidates a hold, among your other points with your analysis (Miller reacted a certain way because he knew it was a legal block - a legal block but pushing up and backwards because your opponent is bear-hugging you from behind?). Moreover, why is it so 'obvious' I would see things differently? My OP was not reflective of angry partisanship. I disagree; the second photo without doubt shows Miller's jersey being pulled from the blocker on his left (the right from our view of the still), with the other blocker pushing him from behind his right shoulder into the 'puller'. As the action ensued, as Jones bolted by everybody, Miller is being bear hugged from behind; his body mechanics are merely involuntary reactions. You didn't see that amid your observations? A bear hug from behind! Not holding? Quoting the aspect which I found in the rulebook that may pertain to this, Miller was not knocked to the ground. But was it a 'close line' play? I was just curious because the rulebook issue might shed light on the possibility that the refs know more than most fans, thus maybe they were right. But I am not convinced. I don't expect sympathy, though - every team goes through this. It's like a 'natural law'. But I don't agree with the generalized 'this happened and this happened so it offsets'. This was particularly inordinate. The final safety was why paranoid crazies have some ground for their 'conspiracy theories'. That's ridiculous, but the fact remains the refs - professionals no less - didn't call the multiple holds the Ravens committed on purpose; it's safe to assume that John Harbaugh & Co. slyly knew the penalties would not stop the clock. However, it's just as safe to assume they didn't know the penalties wouldn't be called, hence the strategy not only worked, they didn't lose 10 yds on the subsequent free kick. Paradoxical, isn't it? They gain a strategic advantage which constitutes purposely committing multiple penalties (playing it 'fair' would have afforded the punter less time in the end zone, probably). With the non-call on Carey Williams - shoving a ref harshly and not even being called for it, let alone being ejected - and the non-call on the safety makes certain people conjure in their heads 'there are bigger forces at work'. To me, that's absurd, but it's far more than just another couple of bad mistakes which occur in every game. The silver lining for 49er fans is that, coupled with Denver, they look the strongest on paper for this year. But the wide parity the league intended to manifest with the salary cap as of nearly two decades ago has worked tremendously. Thanks for your contribution, the Lions fan, I do remember that game (the 45-28 one?), after which Lions fans rightly brought up the paltry officiating regarding some no calls on clear holds by the Saints OL. I'll look for the specific one you mentioned. However, I recall that the league admitted to an officiating error regarding a Drew Brees fumble - to which the Lions scored after picking up the apparent fumble (an inadvertant whistle came in before the fumble was picked up, to be exact). But - and this is no consolation to Lions fans - the league acknowledged and apologized. Not so with the Super bowl controversies (goodness, the late hit on Flacco, the dangerous helmet-to-helmet smack on Crabtree on 3rd down on that final ill-fated drive, who actually caught the ball before fumbling it out of bounds; should have been 4th down from the 3 yd line). Maybe it's a little different with special teams. Glad this wasn't completely aberrational. Looking forward to the upcoming season. We'll have fun discussing the contemporary stuff. Anyway, thanks James

Thanks badger. Of course, if not for egregious officiating, an NFC playoff contender should have gone through Lambeau last year. Sorry, can of worms. I'll add some more that I have: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000135279/Can-t-Miss-Play-Jacoby-Jones-sets-record-with-kickoff-return Above, at 13 seconds into the 2nd half at around the 30yd line, the action of Ayanbadejo and Miller is at most reflecting the issue in question. He's dragging Miller from behind, so to speak, from the 30 to the 40yd line or so. It is just incomprehensible that this would be 'legal'. Thanks, James

Hey everyone. I was wondering if some of you guys could add your 2 cents here: As a 49er fan, my angst and disappointment has given way to curiosity on an academic level. Two controversial plays which stick out - indeed, two of which did not favor the 49ers - are the opening TD to begin the 2nd half, and the final safety which the Ravens intentionally took. OK. When Jacoby Jones sprinted up the middle for a TD (I think it was brilliant if he improvised, within a nano-second was going to down the ball deep in the end zone but instead bolted out, hence throwing the 49er special team players just enough off-guard to give him a slight element of surprise), Bruce Miller (a 248 lb. LB/TE/FB throughout his playing years) of the 49ers was bear-hugged (or 'sandwiched', if you will) by two Ravens - Brendan Ayanbadejo (no. 51) and Albert McClellan (no. 50). McClellan let go (but only after an apparent infraction), but Ayanbadejo held onto that hug on Miller from behind and pushed him continuously for some 10yds; it's so overt, and I'll never tire of reiterating how Miller was right in Jacoby Jones' lane when Jones shot up the middle for the opening 2nd half TD. Would Miller have stopped Jones if he had not been so thoroughly ganged up on and pushed out of Jones' path? Probably not, as they were there to block him, but what is just as likely is Jones would have not so open a lane. Look, I'll stop there, as it's now beyond anti-climactic. Now, is it possible there is a loophole here, similar to the infamous 'tuck rule'? According to the rule-book, Rule 12, Section 1, Article 3, under Blocking Notes 1 - When a defensive player is held by an offensive player during the folowing situations, Offensive holding will not be called... (h) if the action is part of a double-team block in close line play; Exception: Holding will be called if the opponent is blocked to the ground by one or both of the offensive players. Is it possible the Raven staff - if the above applies to the Miller play in question - knew this and it was a display of sagacity, of which John Harbaugh certainly possesses plenty of? And if so, did the officiating crew see this obviously questionable sandwiching play yet discern this all in real time? Thus are the majority (near unanimity) wrong and the refs did get it right? Which takes me to the safety at the end: It is obvious the Ravens delibertaley multiple-tackled the charging 49ers on this last play by the Ravens; now, it is certain the Raven staff didn't know, for whatever inexplicable reason, the officials would not call these incontrovertible holds, but they knew the loophole that the penalties which should have been called would not - according to the rules - have stopped the clock (would the Ravens have been penalized 10 yds on the ensuing free kick after the safety?), hence it was excellent strategy. Now, I don't intend to re-hash any 'controversies' over the game played half a year ago. I am curious about the merit of these two specifics. Thanks, and glad to be here! James

Hey everyone. I was introduced to this terrific site by one boozeking88, who noticed my 'emotional' posts on the Ravens Boards; I am indeed a 49er fan (the Broncos 1A), and while I agree 'trolling' on others' sites hardly constitutes the act of a protagonist, I felt compelled to respond to a thread centering on the 'Fortywhiners who can't accept the loss' in Super Bowl XLVII. It's common amid such sports scenarios regarding the fans - the winners and losers angle their own 'realities' when counter-arguing. I am asking for grief if I search through various blogs, but what reads to my chagrin is, when simply expressing displeasure over certain controversies, it is retorted with 'you mad 'bro', 'booh hoo, poor baby', and - my favorite - 'nothing you say or do will change the fact that the Ravens are the champs'. Please believe me, and albeit that is surely not menat not to be taken literally by the aggregate critic, I never attempted to 'change anything'. But my sour grapes have withered away greatly, giving way to an enthusiastic feeling over the prospects of both the 49ers and Broncos. It seems elucidating as it is civil on these boards, with superior NFL knowledge, etc., to learn from! I live in New York City, and just love the NFL Sundays with a diverse crowd. The place I most often frequent is most commonly patronized by Eagles, Patriots, and Bills fans (other than the ubiquitous Giants and Jets fans). Looking forward to perusing and discussing things, James