Roughing The Passer Penalties: Alex Smith ≠ Tom Brady

I get it- human element, whatever.

But in this game, how do the 49ers lose every close call, every benefit-of-the-doubt situation?

I am alleging that the fix was in, until the NFL can prove otherwise. I’m calling my congressman and senator, asking that they revoke NFL’s antitrust exemption. I want football, but I don’t know that I can stomach paying for a product that is falsely advertised as being an honest contest between two teams. We have no recourse to complain to the NFl, they have no accountability or responsibility to answer to the fans, and we couldn’t start a competing professional league if we “don’t lie it”.

I’m sick of it.

The 49ers were in the game, and Alex Smith’s play was over turned by Instant Replay Review. It was a prime example of how a challenge is never a stupid idea if something’s questionable. When I saw the play happening, I was worried it wasn’t a TD, but I was hopeful the call would remain upheld because the ruling on the field was a TD. This is a rare time when I hoped the game was on Fox (other than the Millen/Joey Sunshine combo) because I wanted Mike Peirera’s (sp?) thoughts on the subject. Was there conclusive evidence?

What was even more trouble was San Francisco’s play calling on fourth down, but that’s an entirely other issue. The 49ers played terribly last night, plain and simple. Things really went down hill after the turnover on downs. San Diego marched 97-yards for a TD, a drive that featured the Justin Smith incident. Was the ref right in throwing out Smith? I don’t know, based on the rule book yes. But did this ref have to be so quick to toss a flag on Smith? Sometimes refs gotta let the boys play, and there had been enough shenanigans after the whistle that the ref should’ve known Smith’s blood was boiling already. What’s he do? Steps in and tries to be the tough ref by shoving Smith. Why can refs touch players?

The 15-yard penalty was bad news for the drive, but the defense still should’ve stopped the Chargers from going 77 more yards. Just a bad game emphasized by bad reffing. It was salt in the wounds. Alex Smith getting spiked to the ground (I think he got driven twice) was just sand in the eyes. The refs and the NFL don’t care about Alex Smith. I’m almost starting to feel bad for how Alex Smith has to go through his daily life knowing no one gives a crap about him. The coaching staff obviously doesn’t.

Niners played poorly but I am used to that. I’ve never spent so much time talking about issue with others while watching. Something was amiss at least in spectacle of the game action. Could be coincidence, but that aspect marred appreciation that the better team would win. there may be a Brady effect now with Rivers—perhaps unconsciously the league wants him in the playoffs.

But it sure did feel like the refs had instructions to “protect the team that actually has a chance in the post season…” :-/

How many of you are going to be cheering for the Chiefs and the Falcons this week?

These are the 2 teams that crushed our hearts the most this season and you guys are all going to sit down with a bucket of wings and a 12 pack of beers and root them on. Meanwhile it really won’t take much to back into the playoffs this year. We’ll be infamous if we do.

The only two things in our way: Coaching and quarterbacking.

I was shocked that the sack on Alex wasn’t called roughing. It clearly was, especially based on the new protect QB at all costs rules. And that the game was about over, an even better time to enforce the rule and remind defenders to play the new way.

As an SD fan, I’ll agree that he probably does get the call on the Garay tackle. Technically, I don’t think he lifted then slammed him, he just tackled him very forcefully. However, I still agree that Brady gets that call because half of the refs masturbate to his wife every night. However, you shouldn’t get carried away too much. 28 or 29 other QBs in the league don’t get that call either. Vick has been getting pummeled and he doesn’t get a single call. Is there an East Coast bias? Yes. Did the refs lose the game for you? No. The #1 defense in the league destroyed your team and the #2 offense got it’s most dangerous weapon back and you had absolutely no answer.
As for the people bashing Alex Smith, I haven’t seen a large enough body of work to chime in either way. But Payton threw 4 picks and Brady only managed 150 yards and also ‘held on to the ball too long’ against this defense. When the Chargers ST doesn’t give up the game, they’re a freaking good team. They had one really really bad week against Oakland, but that happens. Other than that, they’ve lived up to their billing.

by pushing the ref. It looks like nothing to us on TV. But if you weigh 150 lbs less than a lineman, and you get pushed by said lineman, it doesn’t take much more than a brush to make an impact. It’s a judgment call, and you just don’t want to be in that position where you push a ref and he takes out the fight he had with his wife on you.
My friends in SD were complaining that Singletary should have gotten a penalty for kicking the flag. In the playoff game against the Jets, VJax got a penalty for the same thing. It was in a slightly different context, but technically, he did the exact same thing. Again, whenever there is a judgment call to made by humans, you can guarantee it’s going to be inconsistent. It’s just the way the world works. That’s why you don’t put your hands on refs and why you don’t kick flags. There’s enough BS going around with PI, holding calls, and roughing the passer… don’t add fuel to the fire.
Also, Smith doesn’t play offense. You couldn’t move the ball all night. If you think that single call would have changed the outcome of the game, that’s your prerogative. I don’t see it that way.
Finally, I will agree that the unnecessary roughness call was a little touchy. It didn’t help the 49ers that the guy got injured from a hit that was out of bounds. But guys who plan on stepping out, need to get out before they have a chance to get rocked. A half yard isn’t worth a career ending injury.

On one of the hits on Smith the announcing crew were taking gleeful delight in what a great big hit it was, comparing it to a wrestling move. I think one of them even said “two points!” Everyone who had any role in calling that game last night was dreadful….playcalling, officiating, announcing….just torture

The part of me that actually believes in karma and the overall fairness of the world keeps trying to convince me there’s some scenario in which this could be made right, where the Niners get into the playoffs and suddenly all’s forgiven…

But it just doesn’t work that way. This will be forgotten before it is forgiven or avenged, and like the countless teams before us, the NFL has imposed its will on the game and we are all powerless to do anything but vent amongst ourselves.

As for the content of the article…. eh. Blaming the refs is a loser’s argument and can really only hold water if there was one call that came at a pivotal time near the end of the game. Even then I believe in the argument that there are many things that are in a team’s control and that the decision shouldn’t be left to the refs to screw up.

Back to the article title, I was commenting to my pop during yesterday’s game that Alex Smith is The Anti Tom Brady. Everything that makes Brady great (and Montana for that matter) are totally missing in A Smith. He’s a nice guy and smart but he’s not a gamer, not a leader, not a fierce competitor. Hell, I’d give Brady/Montana the calls too. It would be a joy to watch great qb play from that close. I’d throw flags at Smith just because he’s painful to watch and I like throwing things at people that disgust me.

Sorry got off topic a bit. Not calling you a loser either Mooch. I appreciate your work!

@ProFootbalFocus Crazy ejection. Almost entirely the fault of the official physically trying to interject himself into some jawing

Official wimps that is. “he shoved me, i’m telling my dad on you Justin.” Time out.