Personally, I have a problem with any official, other than the Referee assessing an intentional grounding penalty. The wing officials can be helpful in assisting the Referee by advising that there was, was not a receiver in the area, a receiver may have cut one way and the pass went another, a receiver fell down, etc. but the key to judging intentional grounding is the intent of the passer as it relates to the circumstances surrounding his passing. Only th Referee is in a position to make that assessment.
Given the circumstances you were presented with, your enforcement sounds fine.
Had YOU considered the pass intentionally grounded, you may have given the defender a bit more leeay for his original contact with the passer, but "driving hime into the ground" certainly merits a flag regardless.
|