(Video) Pat Watkins no PI call on Calvin Johnson

[DCBoysfan]

It could have gone either way IMO, but I thought when it happened and I think now that Watkins was making a play on the ball. And that being the case I don't consider it PI.

My thoughs also, Watkins has a right to go for the ball too. The ball hit him on the shoulder so I agree with the no call.

 

[Doomsday101]

So nobody is allowed to have an opinion... sound logic.

I never said that you can say or believe whatever you choose but after a while it seems that some can't watch a game without their own personal bias. People love to cast stones at the refs and make accusations of unfairness yet when the shoe is on the other foot they play if off as it was alright or it was a good call. I doubt many Lion fans feel that way I'm sure they are talking about how the refs were bias towards the Cowboys and how they got hosed of course no one here is going to see that point of view. I don't think the refs were bias towards us but I think we had a few close calls that went our way.

 

[dbair1967]

I have and I know the rules and I also know the comments around here had the shoe been on the other foot you would be crying bloody murder and accusing the Refs of cheating or some damn bias as most do here every week after games. Call goes in favor of your team then it was a great call I can watch games without bias I doubt you can.

I wouldnt cry about anything.,..it was a good play

they do too much to let offenses make plays...you have to let defenders do something

if he werent playing the ball, I'd agree with you that its PI...but he has as much right to get to the ball as the receiver

David

 

[dbair1967]

I just think Troy worded it wrong. He was wondering if the corner fell down on his own, or because TO pushed off. He just didn't phrase it as a question, I don't think, and hadn't seen the replay yet. He should have clarified after he saw the replay, but I don't think you can get too worked up over that dialogue.

worded it wrong? how about just being damn blind? Owens was nowhere near the WR when he fell down

it wasnt the only gaffe yesterday by him or Buck

David

 

[adamknite]

I never said that you can say or believe whatever you choose but after a while it seems that some can't watch a game without their own personal bias. People love to cast stones at the refs and make accusations of unfairness yet when the shoe is on the other foot they play if off as it was alright or it was a good call. I doubt many Lion fans feel that way I'm sure they are talking about how the refs were bias towards the Cowboys and how they got hosed of course no one here is going to see that point of view. I don't think the refs were bias towards us but I think we had a few close calls that went our way.

I just don't think it's fair to say "You can't argue that it wasn't PI because if it would have been the other way around you'd probably argue the other way" I was suprised it wasn't called I was expecting the flag but I didn't think it was PI.

 

[Oh_Canada]

I never said that you can say or believe whatever you choose but after a while it seems that some can't watch a game without their own personal bias. People love to cast stones at the refs and make accusations of unfairness yet when the shoe is on the other foot they play if off as it was alright or it was a good call. I doubt many Lion fans feel that way I'm sure they are talking about how the refs were bias towards the Cowboys and how they got hosed of course no one here is going to see that point of view. I don't think the refs were bias towards us but I think we had a few close calls that went our way.

I was at the game, they showed the replay and there didn't seem to be an awful lot of moaning going on from the Lions fans.
Either way, I think the fact that this play is disputable is more a reflection of the way, us as fans seem to be programmed to think every minor amount of contact constitutes pass interference rather interpert the play as the rules were written. In this case, there is no doubt in my mind Watkins made a good play and had every right to that ball as Johnson did. I really don't think I would felt any different if the shoe was on the other foot.

 

[Givincer]

Honestly, at the time this play happened I thought, well he was making a play on the ball, that's not pass interference.

But neither Troy nor Buck said he was making a play on the ball in the replay. It seems, and seemed, evident to me that he was going for the ball. Not sure what the big deal is.

 

[superpunk]

worded it wrong? how about just being damn blind? Owens was nowhere near the WR when he fell down

it wasnt the only gaffe yesterday by him or Buck

David

Yeah, but if Aikman didn't see that, and only saw the DB fall down, it was a legitimate "question". Troy simply should have worded it as such.

 

[Doomsday101]

I just don't think it's fair to say "You can't argue that it wasn't PI because if it would have been the other way around you'd probably argue the other way" I was suprised it wasn't called I was expecting the flag but I didn't think it was PI.

So you expected a flag and was surprised that it was not called but you did not think it was PI? OK Myself I thought it was a close call and probably should have been called same with Williams in the end zone. I say this because I would have expected that call had the Lions did it to our players. I'm glad we did not get the flag nor do I think the refs were trying to do us any favors but then I don't think any ref is in the business to do any teams any favors.

 

[theogt]

Seems like a good no call to me. Watch it at :34 and then imagine that Watkins is a WR, rather than a DB.

 

[dbair1967]

Yeah, but if Aikman didn't see that, and only saw the DB fall down, it was a legitimate "question". Troy simply should have worded it as such.

he didnt raise it as a question...he said Owens pushed off and knocked him down, even though Owens was nowhere near him

if he didnt see it, he shouldnt have said anything...instead he made himself look stupid, and continued to do it even while they were showing the replay

David

 

[Doomsday101]

I was at the game, they showed the replay and there didn't seem to be an awful lot of moaning going on from the Lions fans.
Either way, I think the fact that this play is disputable is more a reflection of the way, us as fans seem to be programmed to think every minor amount of contact constitutes pass interference rather interpert the play as the rules were written. In this case, there is no doubt in my mind Watkins made a good play and had every right to that ball as Johnson did. I really don't think I would felt any different if the shoe was on the other foot.

That's fine I saw it the other way. I'm glad we did not get the flag but I was suprised that it was not thrown. And before you post it yes I know the rules of the game. Like Aikman I saw it as PI yet my fellow Cowboy fans saw it as a great no-call. I got it!!!

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

IMO, he's making a play on the ball, and he actually gets to the spot before Johnson by dipping his shoulder underneath Johnson. You'd be just as valid to argue offensive pass interference.

That is what I saw.

If it was the other way around I could call it in favor of Lions... if roles were reveresed.

Aikman makes a comment with certaintly "he wasnt even playing the ball" = looked like he was going for the pick to me

 

[Derinyar]

PI is called too quickly and too often in this league right now for the type of penalty it enforces. I am surprised that the flag wasn't thrown on both of those. The Roy Williams one because of the reputation he has as a poor coverage guy earning it. The Watkins one there was a good amount of contact, and I'll admit I'd probably have been annoyed by not getting that one if we were on offense, but its also the correct call.

 

[Rampage]

it could have been called and so could Roy in the endzone. but it wasn't

 

[superpunk]

he didnt raise it as a question...he said Owens pushed off and knocked him down, even though Owens was nowhere near him

if he didnt see it, he shouldnt have said anything...instead he made himself look stupid, and continued to do it even while they were showing the replay

David

Is there some part of "He should have phrased it as a question" that I'm not making perfectly clear?

 

[theogt]

Really, he didn't even "go through" Johnson. He hit his arms, but he only hit his arms reaching for the ball, which is completely legal. That was a great play by Watkins.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Like most games, there are some very controversial calls or non-calls made. I thought this was an obvious Pass Interference call, but after seeing it discussed on the boards, I am not so sure.

In the video, especially the replay, it seems like Watkins hits Johnson before the ball arrives, I thought that was Pass Interference?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEtgbgMdWl0

I agree.....thought it was interference....but I like the break Pat made on the ball.......he is coming around.

 

[adamknite]

So you expected a flag and was surprised that it was not called but you did not think it was PI? OK Myself I thought it was a close call and probably should have been called same with Williams in the end zone. I say this because I would have expected that call had the Lions did it to our players. I'm glad we did not get the flag nor do I think the refs were trying to do us any favors but then I don't think any ref is in the business to do any teams any favors.

I thought it would be called because it was close and looked like PI, whenever you see a DB and WR collide it almost always looks like PI on the DB. What I meant to say was, on replay I didn't think it was PI. If I was a Lion's fan I would have wanted it called also... that's the nature of being a fan. There has been a lot of games this year where I felt the close calls have gone against more often then not, I'm glad this time it didn't.

Now the Roy play, I think he may have gotten away with a little something. It wasn't big but, IMO he was closer to PI then Watkins was. Watkins just made a great play and lucky the refs saw it as such, sometimes Refs get a little flag happy (for any game).

 

[TheHerd]

That is what I saw.

If it was the other way around I could call it in favor of Lions... if roles were reveresed.

Aikman makes a comment with certaintly "he wasnt even playing the ball" = looked like he was going for the pick to me

The key is the playing of the ball. Because our defenders rarely play the ball or even look back on the bombs, we don't see this rule come into effect much. If the defender is making a play on the ball or at least looking back, the refs typically allow a LOT of contact they would not allow if you're facing the receiver.

I think this is something that Belichick and Reid coach very well. Watch the Patriot or Eagle corners on a bomb. They turn to look at the ball and ride the receiver. Rarely are they called for the interference. Newman's play in the Green Bay game down the sideline is the perfect anti-example of this. He is running side by side with the receiver but never turns. He did break up the pass, but if the receiver had slowed even a little and Newman runs into him it's interference. If Newman turns his head and the receiver slows down and runs into him, it's a 50/50 call.