Hostile;1856031 said:
Correct me if I am wrong Adam, but the DB is not allowed to wrap around the Receiver.
I'm not sure how you'd define "wrapping around the receiver," but there's nothing in the rule that mentions that specifically.
Reeves left hand is clearly across Carter's back and his hand is on his left arm
Being on the left arm isn't a penalty UNLESS it "restricts the receiver from making a play on the ball." Watch Carter before Reeves touches him and after he touches him. His arms are in the same position the whole time -- elbows bent, hands close to the body, as if he's waiting to make an over-the-shoulder basket catch. Reeves didn't pull Carter's arm down, nor did he prevent Carter from raising his arm (it was raised before Reeves touched him).
and he is going over his back.
Reeves didn't make contact with his body before knocking the ball away.
I will be very surprised if this play doesn't get the Panthers an apology from Mike Pereira (sp?) when the league discusses calls.
I wouldn't be surprised either way. I just think that you're holding officials to an extremely high standard if you expect them to make that call. They don't have the benefit of looking at the slow-motion replay -- which Pereira mentions quite a bit on Official Review. If pass interference was reviewable, they might have called it, but not at real speed. It's just too close.
I think if the uniforms were switched we'd be talking about the fact he is "all over him." I know I would be.
I wouldn't be.
It's easy to say his left arm is not impeded, but pretty hard to prove that. I don't care how strong you are that hand on your arm is a restriction.
Restriction from what? He already had reached up before the contact, and his arm wasn't pulled down afterward.
Here is the pass interference rule, straight from the rule book --
(a) Actions that constitute defensive pass interference include but are not limited to:
(1) Contact by a defender who is not playing the ball and such contact restricts the receiver’s opportunity to make the catch.
(2) Playing through the back of a receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.
(3) Grabbing a receiver’s arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass.
(4) Extending an arm across the body of a receiver thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, regardless of whether the defender is playing the ball.
(5) Cutting off the path of a receiver by making contact with him without playing the ball.
(6) Hooking a receiver in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that it causes the receiver’s body to turn prior to the ball arriving.
Nos. 1 and 5 don't apply, since Reeves was playing the ball. No. 4 is the "arm bar" rule, which also doesn't apply. No. 6 doesn't apply, either, as he didn't turn Carter's body. That leaves Nos. 2 and 3. When I watch the play, No. 2 doesn't happen. Reeves jumps up to play the ball, then makes contact when he comes down. So to me, No. 3 is the only possibility, and I think it's too close to call.
Here's the second part of the rule, where it indicates what is allowed --
(b) Actions that do not constitute pass interference include but are not limited to:
(1) Incidental contact by a defender’s hands, arms, or body when both players are competing for the ball, or neither player is looking for the ball. If there is any question whether contact is incidental, the ruling shall be no interference.
(2) Inadvertent tangling of feet when both players are playing the ball or neither player is playing the ball.
(3) Contact that would normally be considered pass interference, but the pass is clearly uncatchable by the involved players.
(4) Laying a hand on a receiver that does not restrict the receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.
(5) Contact by a defender who has gained position on a receiver in an attempt to catch the ball.
Nos. 2, 3 and 5 don't apply. I think Reeves' left hand rules out No. 1, since he puts his left hand on Carter before he plays the ball. So it comes down to No. 4 -- laying a hand on the receiver without restricting him and in an attempt to play the ball. And again, I think it's difficult to tell whether he is restricting Carter's opportunity to catch the ball with his left hand. Carter's hands are still in position to catch the ball, just as they were before Reeves touched him.
