Someone explain to me

Yeah, I made a mistake. Earlier I said that the rule did apply, but it turns out that it actually shouldn't have, which is why Fox was going crazy and pointing to his shoulder. Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8(g) of the Official NFL Playing Rules states that "…using any part of a player's helmet (including the top/crown and forehead/hairline parts) or facemask to butt, spear or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily; although such violent or unnecessary use of the helmet and facemask is impermissible against any opponent, game officials will give special attention in administering this rule to protecting those players who are in virtually defenseless postures (e.g., a receiver catching or attempting to catch a pass … )."

Defenseless postures are: "a quarterback in the act of throwing; a wide receiver in the act of catching; a punt returner in the act of catching; a player who is down (spearing); a running back who is in the grasp of a defender and has lost his forward momentum or has stopped; and, new this season, a quarterback on change of possession (fumble/interception)."


So it would only be a penalty on McCree if he had used his helmet, which he didn't. That said, I don't think the officials were trying to screw us. I think the collision was so violent that they simply thought McCree used his helmet, but they screwed up and got it wrong.

 

Thanks, Collin. The way the announcers talked about it, it made it sound like this was an entirely separate rule from the leading-with-the-helmet rule.

 

I had the impression live that the hit was late too. The ball was gone, and then he popped him, just for the sake of getting the monster hit. I know that wasn't what was called, but it will influence their judgement. I don't know. I never saw a replay. (I was there.) I just remembering saying, Oh good, its overthrown, and then Oh, what a hit. Later.

 

I think the announcers were refugees from New Orleans who rode on a bus from the Charlotte Coliseum and found their way to the booth.

 

I didn't tape the game, but to my recollection from TV, it was not a late hit. And in replay you could see McCree clearly hits with his shoulder pad, not his helmet.

 

pardon me, but isn't the game being played between Carolina and NO called 'football'?

That was a BS flag.

 

that wasn't the only one.

 

lol..i was just staying within the topic

 

It wasn't late. It can't be late when Conwell's second foot hadn't even hit the ground, but it was unnecessary. I'm glad McCree sent the message since Conwell had been burning our asses all day, but I'm pretty sure McCree knew just before hitting him that the pass wasn't going to be caught. I think that probably also played into the official's decision, although it shouldn't have.

 

We're playing basketball apparently.