Are You Now Allowed To Target the Knees of a QB?

[CanadianCowboysFan]

There used to be a spreadsheet floating around somewhere that said Romo got fewer roughing calls per attempt than most or all other QBs in the league, didn't there? Again, subjective calls and all that, but it stinks to watch teams hit your franchise-with-a-back-problem low, repeatedly, and to have us not get the flags for it.

Again, this sort of thing happens to all teams. I'm not suggesting conspiracy. I'd just like to see more calls in Romo's favor on those low hits. He deserves a little protection at this point in his career.

At least three yesterday could have been called, Matthews at the knees, the other Packer at the knees and Hyde not only tackled him, but wrenched him and threw him to the ground.

 

[visionary]

Those were dirty hits plain and simple

 

[Don Corleone]

The funny part was watching the refs help him up afterward. Romo is a cool guy. I would have given the ref a 5 finger death punch after the game.

 

[HoustonSucks]

Don't get me started on the shots he took. I finally stood up in the bar and screamed at them to go for Rodgers - in a dirty way. No more Mr. Nice Guy after that crap. But.... we didn't...

 

[Derinyar]

I don't know why, I doubt its conspiracy, but Romo gets hit late and low and pretty much never gets the flag for it. If Rodgers had gotten hit like Matthews hit Romo I have zero doubt that draws a flag.

 

[Don Corleone]

Don't get me started on the shots he took. I finally stood up in the bar and screamed at them to go for Rodgers - in a dirty way. No more Mr. Nice Guy after that crap. But.... we didn't...

Don't worry, Rodgers will get his in Seattle next week. He won't make it through that game.

 

[Everson24]

I am getting so I hate the NFL. The league is as crooked as scoleosis.

 

[Don Corleone]

I don't know why, I doubt its conspiracy, but Romo gets hit late and low and pretty much never gets the flag for it. If Rodgers had gotten hit like Matthews hit Romo I have zero doubt that draws a flag.

Actually Will McClay in his weekly spot pointed out that Matthews goes low on opposing QBs a lot. Apparently the rule is that you can if you've been blocked first, or something to that effect.

 

[Dale]

Romo is allowed to be hit in the knees, yes.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Actually Will McClay in his weekly spot pointed out that Matthews goes low on opposing QBs a lot. Apparently the rule is that you can if you've been blocked first, or something to that effect.

Direct path is what rule says

"Protection of Passer

1. By interpretation, a pass begins when the passer -- with possession of ball -- starts to bring his hand forward. If ball strikes ground after this action has begun, play is ruled an incomplete pass. If passer loses control of ball prior to his bringing his hand forward, play is ruled a fumble.
2. When a passer is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional movement forward of his arm starts a forward pass. If a defensive player contacts the passer or the ball after forward movement begins, and the ball leaves the passer’s hand, a forward pass is ruled, regardless of where the ball strikes the ground or a player.
3. No defensive player may run into a passer of a legal forward pass after the ball has left his hand (15 yards). The Referee must determine whether opponent had a reasonable chance to stop his momentum during an attempt to block the pass or tackle the passer while he still had the ball.
4. No defensive player who has an unrestricted path to the quarterback may hit him flagrantly in the area of the knee(s) or below when approaching in any direction.
5. Officials are to blow the play dead as soon as the quarterback is clearly in the grasp and control of any tackler, and his safety is in jeopardy."

Matthews had a direct path, no one in front of him, the ball was gone 2 seconds earlier and boom he hit him low.

 

[Kevinicus]

What about the play 2 downs before the Dez catch? Romo was sacked, but when he was, it was with direct helmet to helmet contact, and not a soft tap. Does the hit to the head rule not apply to QBs out of the pocket (but still behind the LOS)?

 

[burmafrd]

Because it is a conspiracy against the Cowboys. Everyone is in on it.

then what is your explanation= GENIUS?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

then what is your explanation= GENIUS?

It's a conspiracy, just like How Suh stepped on Rodgers legs twice and got a penalty for it during the game... If he did that to Romo they would not have called it during the game. It's a conspiracy against the Cowboys. And watch the smart name calling as I am sure it was not meant as a compliment

 

[Cowboyz88]

I wish someone could post comparison photos of the low hit on Manning (penalty) and the low, and late, hit on Romo (NOT a penalty, of course). They were nearly the same, and as others noted, Matthews took 2 steps, right in front of the ref.

I really don't like commenting on Refs, but I've said all season that Romo does not get the benefit on calls (late hits, blows to the head, hits on slides, etc.), and after yesterday plus the Dez no-call, I'm very irritated.

 

[joseephuss]

I wish it were a conspiracy. Unfortunately it is worse. It is incompetence. The officials in the NFL aren't very good. It is a shame. The league deserves better, but I see signs of this incompetence in many games I watch that don't involve the Cowboys. Getting full time officials would help, but I'm afraid it would not be enough. There need to be some more changes made.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I wish it were a conspiracy. Unfortunately it is worse. It is incompetence. The officials in the NFL aren't very good. It is a shame. The league deserves better, but I see signs of this incompetence in many games I watch that don't involve the Cowboys. Getting full time officials would help, but I'm afraid it would not be enough. There need to be some more changes made.

Ding Ding Ding.

 

[Clove]

My man Garrett has to step up and have a small conference with the Refs to make them aware that they are going low, or hitting him after he's down. Sometimes you have to bring it to their attention.

 

[plymkr]

How the refs explain it, is if there is a "football move" made towards the knees then its a 15 yard penalty but if the ref interprets the movement of the defender as aggressively trying to hurt our qb then it's okay.

 

[rynochop]

My man Garrett has to step up and have a small conference with the Refs to make them aware that they are going low, or hitting him after he's down. Sometimes you have to bring it to their attention.

How do you know he didnt?

 

[BAT]

Don't get me started on the shots he took. I finally stood up in the bar and screamed at them to go for Rodgers - in a dirty way. No more Mr. Nice Guy after that crap. But.... we didn't...

Not going to lie, I was hollering for the same thing too. Finally realized that there were kids in the room with me so I shut my yap about that.