The Official Super Bowl XLIII Thread

[Bassmanbruno]

on the first one, that's what happened, and they made the right call.

on the last one, i think this point is at best debatable. his arm went back, got hit....the thing that has to be defined is was his arm moving forward before the ball came loose?

obviously i don't think so.

and as for the review process, they called it a fumble. the booth has to call the review. the Steelers lined up and ran the play as quick as they could to prevent it.

you call it bad officiating, i call it great coaching. Tomlin and co. recognized the situation and got the offense out there and ready very quickly, snap the ball, game over. :thumbsup:

I don't think it was really that debatable.. the lineman hits his arm... but the ball is still fully in his hand... he starts to bring it forward and is hit in the body in someplace and that 2nd hit jars it loose after his arm was going forward. The initial hit where his arm was being cocked back did not knock it loose.

The trajectory of the ball basically warrants an automatic review in itself even if it was a fumble.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

Dude, Harrison picked off a ball in the endzone and ran it back 100 yards for a Touch down to end the half.

that's boring?

jeez. you'll never see that happen again. that play was amazing.

How so? He's not your typical d-lineman and he had a huge caravan of teammates. You see that type of play quite frequently - heck just look at the fumble return for like 97 yards by a big man for UT-Georgia a few years ago at the end of the half.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

nah, he shouldn't have done it, but stuff like that happens on just about every play.

it just looks as bad as it was because it wasn't in traffic or on the bottom of the pile.

he got called, rightfully so. but shouldn't have been tossed.

you ever watch the gunners on a punt play? when they double those guys they get their arse kicked all the way down the field.

Really? Because about 95% of non-biased fans/announcers/etc think you should get tossed for that. Every sports show on ESPN or other networks have shared that same opinion since the SB.

Despite all the points being argued - the Steelers were still the better team in this game. Cardinals made the most crucial error in the worst time and it cost them. Even if it were a fumble - it would have taken a miracle jump ball - James should have been tossed but that wouldn't have made a difference either... it wasn't the Steeler defense that was the Cardinal's problem that late in the game.

 

[jakez4ut]

How so? He's not your typical d-lineman. You see that type of play quite frequently - heck just look at the fumble return for like 97 yards by a big man for UT-Georgia a few years ago at the end of the half.

first, he's an outside linebacker.

second, you don't think it's extraordinary that a linebacker picks off a ball in the end zone as the opponents are seemingly going to take the lead on you, and you, knowing you can simply run out of bounds or fall down and prevent the score, run it back 100 yards while the rest of the defense builds a wall and blocks for you...........you dive in the endzone, and that's how the half ends?

and you win the game by 6?

yeah, that's boring, what the heck was i thinking. happens all the time.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

first, he's an outside linebacker.

second, you don't think it's extraordinary that a linebacker picks off a ball in the end zone as the opponents are seemingly going to take the lead on you, and you, knowing you can simply run out of bounds or fall down and prevent the score, run it back 100 yards while the rest of the defense builds a wall and blocks for you...........you dive in the endzone, and that's how the half ends?

and you win the game by 6?

yeah, that's boring, what the heck was i thinking. happens all the time.

No, I don't think its extraordinary. And I figured he was a hybrid DE with his size. I didn't say it wasn't an exciting play - but its not as rare as you claim. Usually when you throw a pick in that location, so close to the line of scrimmage, there's a better chance of taking it back all the way.

 

[jakez4ut]

Really? Because about 95% of non-biased fans/announcers/etc think you should get tossed for that. Every sports show on ESPN or other networks have shared that same opinion since the SB.

Despite all the points being argued - the Steelers were still the better team in this game. Cardinals made the most crucial error in the worst time and it cost them. Even if it were a fumble - it would have taken a miracle jump ball - James should have been tossed but that wouldn't have made a difference either... it wasn't the Steeler defense that was the Cardinal's problem that late in the game.

it's funny you bring that up. we have a mid day show here that Brinston Buckner and Frank Garcia host during the day, and this was brought up all day by callers. both of these former players agreed that it was definitely not that big of a deal enough to get tossed out of the game, in fact, as i stated earlier, both said multiple times that these things go on on most every play, you just don't get to see it like that.

call the personal foul cause it was stupid, sure, i agree. but not worth getting tossed.

 

[jakez4ut]

I don't think it was really that debatable.. the lineman hits his arm... but the ball is still fully in his hand... he starts to bring it forward and is hit in the body in someplace and that 2nd hit jars it loose after his arm was going forward. The initial hit where his arm was being cocked back did not knock it loose.

The trajectory of the ball basically warrants an automatic review in itself even if it was a fumble.

sure it's debatable....the ref on the feild called it a fumble. you say it's not. that sounds like it's debatable to me.

and fortunate for me, i'll just go with what the ref called.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

it's funny you bring that up. we have a mid day show here that Brinston Buckner and Frank Garcia host during the day, and this was brought up all day by callers. both of these former players agreed that it was definitely not that big of a deal enough to get tossed out of the game, in fact, as i stated earlier, both said multiple times that these things go on on most every play, you just don't get to see it like that.

call the personal foul cause it was stupid, sure, i agree. but not worth getting tossed.

Players don't punch people randomly while its 1 on 1 while they're down in the open field with no one near. And if they do - its in a pile where the refs can't see - hence why they don't get tossed often and it goes on a lot.

 

[jakez4ut]

No, I don't think its extraordinary. And I figured he was a hybrid DE with his size. I didn't say it wasn't an exciting play - but its not as rare as you claim. Usually when you throw a pick in that location, so close to the line of scrimmage, there's a better chance of taking it back all the way.

it's the longest play ever recorded in super bowl history.

and it's the only time it's happened in super bowl history.

what was i thinking?

 

[Bassmanbruno]

sure it's debatable....the ref on the feild called it a fumble. you say it's not. that sounds like it's debatable to me.

and fortunate for me, i'll just go with what the ref called.

They're more apt to call a fumble in the field since the addition of replay. And - it was a freak play. 99% of the time the QB fumbles when his arm is hit like that. Kurt had the strength to keep his arm going and held onto the ball. I can see why they made the mistake while seeing it live and in a split second.

 

[jakez4ut]

Players don't punch people randomly while its 1 on 1 while they're down in the open field with no one near. And if they do - its in a pile where the refs can't see - hence why they don't get tossed often and it goes on a lot.

agreed. that's all i was getting at, i've said this more than once....the worst thing about that play, besides it not being a very smart thing to do at that point in the game, is that it was in front of God and Everybody.

but from the standpoint that it was atrocious enough to warrant getting tossed, it simply wasn't.

that kind of stuff happens all the time, refs probably see a lot worse at the bottom of piles when they get there.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

it's the longest play ever recorded in super bowl history.

and it's the only time it's happened in super bowl history.

what was i thinking?

Point? Just because it was the only time to happen in the Super Bowl doesn't make it extraordinary. The Holmes TD catch was 10x more impressive as was Fitzgerald splitting the safeties and beating his man. The helmet catch last year too.

It's just a high percentage play imo. Kurt threw a bad pass in coverage and since it was only 5-6 yards from the LOS no one had the angle on Harrison. It's a huge momentum swing and an exciting play - but not extraordinary.

 

[jakez4ut]

They're more apt to call a fumble in the field since the addition of replay. And - it was a freak play. 99% of the time the QB fumbles when his arm is hit like that. Kurt had the strength to keep his arm going and held onto the ball. I can see why they made the mistake while seeing it live and in a split second.

because they're in the habit of bringing in refs for hte super bowl that make the wrong call just because they have replay?

the guy called it like he saw it.

man, i tell ya, i've never seen more apologetic fodder for a Super Bowl loser......except maybe the Seahawks.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

because they're in the habit of bringing in refs for hte super bowl that make the wrong call just because they have replay?

the guy called it like he saw it.

man, i tell ya, i've never seen more apologetic fodder for a Super Bowl loser......except maybe the Seahawks.

Then he's blind (people make mistakes) - and yes they try to call it a fumble more often than not if it's slightly questionable on certain plays since some aren't reviewable if they blow the play dead - on the other hand.. if you call it a fumble you can fix it with a replay if you were wrong in your split second judgement.

And I don't like the Steelers. Was pulling for the upset. But I already stated the Steelers were the better team last night and I don't think the play would have made a difference if it was reversed. Just debating that the call was missed.

 

[kev20]

man, i tell ya, i've never seen more apologetic fodder for a Super Bowl loser......except maybe the Seahawks.

warranted, except through your yellow tinted shades I'm sure.

 

[jakez4ut]

Point? Just because it was the only time to happen in the Super Bowl doesn't make it extraordinary. The Holmes TD catch was 10x more impressive as was Fitzgerald splitting the safeties and beating his man. The helmet catch last year too.

It's just a high percentage play imo. Kurt threw a bad pass in coverage and since it was only 5-6 yards from the LOS no one had the angle on Harrison. It's a huge momentum swing and an exciting play - but not extraordinary.

not really. not in the super bowl anyway.

all i'm saying is when you take in accout the situation, the setting, the timing, and the play itself....hell yeah, it was extraordinary.

we were facing the prospect of being down 4 to being up 10, and if Harrison goes out of bounds or gets tackled, the half ends and there's no points for either....

that play was huge. watch super bowl coverage from here on out. that play will be re run a million times along wiht the Stalworth catches, the Montana/Taylor hook up, the Buffalo FG miss, Elway's dive for a 1st down and the helmet catch from last year.

it's an all time play.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

not really. not in the super bowl anyway.

all i'm saying is when you take in accout the situation, the setting, the timing, and the play itself....hell yeah, it was extraordinary.

we were facing the prospect of being down 4 to being up 10, and if Harrison goes out of bounds or gets tackled, the half ends and there's no points for either....

that play was huge. watch super bowl coverage from here on out. that play will be re run a million times along wiht the Stalworth catches, the Montana/Taylor hook up, the Buffalo FG miss, Elway's dive for a 1st down and the helmet catch from last year.

it's an all time play.

Bolded - the play no. The circumstances, yes. It was a great play - but in the most crucial timing.

And who cares if it hasn't happened in the Super Bowl. How many Super Bowls have been played? And how many Super Bowls have been played with such a big emphasis on the passing game? Of course something like that hasn't happened. Every year there is pretty much "a super bowl first".

Honestly - look at all the times QBs have thrown picks when they're inside the 10 and throwing towards a corner and not straight in the middle. I'll bet if they make it out of the first few yards/endzone there's a fairly decent % to score. No one really has the angle - so you have to hope a fast WR catches them and makes up big ground.

 

[The Dude]

It's so easy to say "that's that, quit complaining" when your team is the winner, but if the outcome and happenings were flipped, Steeler fans would be whining and us ambivalent ones would still be questioning the calls just the same. Well, considering that Pittsburgh is one of the most popular teams in American, the uproar would probably be twice as loud.

Imagine if the refs would have thrown a flag on Holmes' LeBron celebration and Pittsburgh had to kick off from the 15.

 

[jakez4ut]

warranted, except through your yellow tinted shades I'm sure.

of course.

but the bellyaching is getting ridiculous.

this game boiled down to who made plays.

AZ had the lead with less than 3 minutes to go, despite all this horrendous officiating and Steeler bias.

the steelers made the plays to win, even after having two huge holding calls go against them (keep in mind the hold that cost the safety prevented a 1st down at the time), the cards didn't.

bottom line, the steelers did what they had to win the game. which is what they've done all year.

 

[jakez4ut]

Bolded - the play no. The circumstances, yes. It was a great play - but in the most crucial timing.

And who cares if it hasn't happened in the Super Bowl. How many Super Bowls have been played? And how many Super Bowls have been played with such a big emphasis on the passing game? Of course something like that hasn't happened. Every year there is pretty much "a super bowl" first.

everything, circumstances, situation, setting....all make it what i claim it to be.

of course, no one would care if he did the exact same thing against the Lions in week 3 of the regular season.

that's the point. the play with all the stuff surrounding it, make it what it is.

 

[Bassmanbruno]

everything, circumstances, situation, setting....all make it what i claim it to be.

of course, no one would care if he did the exact same thing against the Lions in week 3 of the regular season.

that's the point. the play with all the stuff surrounding it, make it what it is.

That's fine and fair. But I still think the Holmes catch will be played and remembered more. It was an awesome catch plus it was late in the game.. even if the Harrison play was the bigger point swing.

 

[jakez4ut]

It's so easy to say "that's that, quit complaining" when your team is the winner, but if the outcome and happenings were flipped, Steeler fans would be whining and us ambivalent ones would still be questioning the calls just the same. Well, considering that Pittsburgh is one of the most popular teams in American, the uproar would probably be twice as loud.

Imagine if the refs would have thrown a flag on Holmes' LeBron celebration and Pittsburgh had to kick off from the 15.

i won't argue that, but i can only speak for myself when i say you wouldn't hear it from me. I'm no expert, but i can watch a game and see it for what it is.

when it boiled down to nitty gritty time, less than 3 minutes to go in the Super bowl, down by 3..........


someone has to make a play win the game.....and that team was the Steelers.

 

[jakez4ut]

That's fine and fair. But I still think the Holmes catch will be played and remembered more. It was an awesome catch plus it was late in the game.. even if the Harrison play was the bigger point swing.

probably, it was the game winner.

but, when people talk about super bowl 42, they don't talk about Burress's catch to win it (and no, it wasn't as difficult as Holmes's catch, so not near as noteworthy), they talk about the the Tyree catch to keep the drive alive.

i think the Harrison play will be looked at like that. one of the plays that had to happen in order for Holmes's catch to even matter.........

the good news for me is that the Steelers had all these folks, Ben, Santonio and James, make all these plays.

if the worst thing i have to do for this season is argue who's play was bigger to win the game, then LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Dude]

i won't argue that, but i can only speak for myself when i say you wouldn't hear it from me. I'm no expert, but i can watch a game and see it for what it is.

when it boiled down to nitty gritty time, less than 3 minutes to go in the Super bowl, down by 3..........


someone has to make a play win the game.....and that team was the Steelers.

No doubt they made the plays down the line. But when there's a blanent no call on a celebration and a highly questionable turnover, that changes things a ton. There's a big difference between having to throw a bomb at the end, as the Cards had to, to having to score on a 35 yard pass. Plus, Arizona would have likely returned the kick close to midfield, changing their overall approach with only a half field to score and 2 timeouts. With that in mind it really annoys me to hear the Steeler's fans act like there was absolutely no possible aide to their victory and any thought that there was is nothing more than whining.

 

[jakez4ut]

and as a steeler fan, it's annoying to hear every steeler hater on the planet boo hoo the refs and replay.

bad calls happen. i'd be the first one to tell you that i thought the roughing the passer call was bogus.

but i'd also tell you that most of the other penalties called on the AZ offense was due to the pressure the Steeler D puts on offenses. and i say that because i've watched 'em do it all year long. they put O line men in position so they have to hold or the qb gets sacked. the move around a lot, changing gaps, in and out of blitz looks...that creates some false starts. they get to the qb quickly and forces some intentional grounding.

but again......the cardinals were winning the game anyway. they had it won. all they had to do was stop the pathetic Steeler offense, and they didn't do it. Ben and Santonio made the plays to win the game.

and if you thought holmes's lebron thing was worth 15 yards, well, then that's just sour grapes. he didn't delay the game, he was out of the field of play. and he just caught a ball to win the super bowl. good no call in my book.

as for the KO translating in to that much improved field position, at this poitn in hypothetical land, it's equally possible that the Cards fumble the KO and the Steelers recover it and still win.

and i still say on the fumble play with :05 to go, Tomlin got that offense on the feild really quick and had the play run before the booth could even buzz down to review it.

i'm guessing on that one, but it did seem that they were set and ready to go awfully quickly.