Post by Minniman on Jan 6, 2015 17:44:27 GMT -6
How can you turn around and play the ball if someone is all up in your facemask? If anything, maybe they missed a holding call earlier, or MAYBE these were offsetting penalties, but no way do I say 100% sure this was defensive PI. At some point, you have to let the guys play, and since Pettigrew was pushing and shoving, too...let 'em play!
On what planet was Pettigrew ever going to catch this regardless of which direction Hitchens' FACE was? Not this one!
Mel, the rules do not support your argument.
By rule, the defender MUST NOT impede the receiver to the ball if the defender is not playing the ball. That is why it matters if Hitchen's face is turned. By rule, if Hitchen's is not playing the ball, he may not claim to have favorable position.
Here are the rules violated on that play:
Actions that constitute defensive pass interference include but are not limited to:
(a) Contact by a defender who is not playing the ball and such contact restricts the receiver’s opportunity to make the catch.
(e) Cutting off the path of a receiver by making contact with him without playing the ball.
There was also defensive holding on the play, and the refs would have to judge the contact to the face as a facemask penalty, but if you watch the whole play, there is a lot of pushing, and Pettigrew had to get Hitchen's, who was holding illegally, off him.