01-11-2016, 12:56 PM
(01-11-2016, 12:30 PM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Obviously.
But Brown was just playing the game.
Push the boundaries. Figure out what the refs will flag, and get your opponents to do that.
That was the entire strategy behind bringing Joey Porter out there. It's the reason they had a back up linebacker threaten Burfict after our first game. It's the reason Burfict gets flagged but Shazier doesn't.
You have to understand the refs. If a player that everyone thinks is dirty does a dirty thing, it's flagged. If a player with no previous flags or fines (Shazier) does a dirty thing, maybe he didn't mean to do that.
If a player that yells and pushes people yells and pushes a person, it's flagged. If a coach who doesn't typically do these things walks onto the field, maybe he was just worried about his friend, Brown.
If the refs would actually learn what a penalty is and call it consistently, there would be no need to acting.
But in a subjective world where reputation precedes intention, and intention determines punishment, it's all about convincing the refs that everything you do is accidental and everything your opponent does is malicious.
I hate the Steelers more than any team in the entire world. But they are extraordinary actors.
Intent doesn't matter in this game. A penalty is a penalty is a penalty. It doesn't matter if Shazier intended to harm Benard, what matters is that outside of the tackle box neither side can dip their head and lead with the crown of the helmet and deliver it forcibly onto the body. Especially to the head and neck area.
Just like the intent of Burfict isn't important either. He struck the head and neck area of a defenseless receiver. Now it could be argued that Burfict's was "incidental" since contact may have been unavoidable, and he didn't lead with his helmet or even launch into the WR. However, I don't really have a problem with the call. I don't like it, but was fine with it. Jones' penalty was BS though and I am not fine with that one, there is a rule that prohibits coaches from coming onto the field without express permission from the ref. Even with permission there is a rule that an opposing coach can't use abusive language toward the opposing players. Taunting is also a penalty and that is exactly what Porter was doing by being in OUR huddle. It isn't like we were right next to Brown, we were huddled far enough that Porter just being in the huddle should have been flagged.
