Rough year for the college guys...

[waltjp]

I didn't see the play so I won't comment on it. I am frustrated at times with the NFL's roughing calls. The calls are inconsistent from week to week and often times you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Witness the Kiwanuka play in the Giants/Titans game last weekend. Before anyone jumps on me as a homer let me state that I am not a Giants fan. Watching this play it's clear that Kiwanuka thought that Young had passed the ball and he didn't want to get hit with a roughing call. I heard that he was called for roughing on a similar play a few weeks ago.

The point is that the NFL often treats their QB's like they're dainty pieces of china. It's football. Let them play and penalize unnecessary roughness as required. I'm not advocating for an all out assault on QB's, but there are times when it appears that you could be called for roughing if you sneezed in the direction of a QB.

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by waltjp

The point is that the NFL often treats their QB's like they're dainty pieces of china. It's football. Let them play and penalize unnecessary roughness as required. I'm not advocating for an all out assault on QB's, but there are times when it appears that you could be called for roughing if you sneezed in the direction of a QB.

The NFL has determined that offensive play goes to hell when the starting QB goes down. When offensive play goes to hell, the fans get upset because they want to see scoring and big plays. Therefore, rules are made to do everything possible to protect QBs and the officials are expected to do everything they can to enforce it as such. You have to remember the NFL is a huge entertainment business first and foremost that is kinda football.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by waltjp

Witness the Kiwanuka play in the Giants/Titans game last weekend. Before anyone jumps on me as a homer let me state that I am not a Giants fan. Watching this play it's clear that Kiwanuka thought that Young had passed the ball and he didn't want to get hit with a roughing call. I heard that he was called for roughing on a similar play a few weeks ago.

The exact same thing happened the week on a critical 3rd & 20 play during Pittsburgh's comeback vs. Cleveland. Lineman hit Big Ben, thought the ball was released and let up, Ben scrambled and found a receiver for a 1st down.