Phantom Penalty

[bengalfreek]

On the interception that Palmer threw that was returned for a TD and then called back, am I the only one that saw the infraction? Both Solomon Wilcots and the 'two angry guys' (on 1360 Homer) said it was a phantom penalty. Through the magic of Tivo, when you rewind the play, Mickens definitely sticks his hand in the face of Chad Johnson as soon as the ball is snapped. Anyone else?

[bengalindian]

Nope, you're not alone. I saw it too. I actually saw it before it was even called. I am a genius.

[JohnsonX5]

It was a very weak call, imo, but you're right, it did happen. If it were the other way around, though, I would be pretty darn pissed.

[MacD BengalFan]

I about fell out of my seat when I heard Ian and Solly call it a "phantom penalty". They completly missed the start of the play when the defender placed his hands on Chads facemask. It was one of those breaks that the Bengals are now getting. In the past, it would not have been ignored and the INT would have stood.

[bengalskyspy]

They completely missed the very start of the play. The defender put his hand right on CJ's face mask! There was no phantom about it.

[HairOnFire]

It was a very weak call, imo, but you're right, it did happen. If it were the other way around, though, I would be pretty darn pissed.

It's not a weak call. I watched the same call be made in three games this weekend...including one in the Cowboy/Charger game that was also on the opposite side of the field from the action. The turnover simply makes it seem like a huge deal, but it's no different than long kick returns that get called back for a minor infraction away from the action.

It's football. The only thing goofy about it was the talking heads ignoring their own video while claiming it was a phantom call.

[Saniva]

Wow! Glad to know I wasn't the only one who saw that penalty. I thought I was losing my mind for a second as the announcers called it a phantom penalty...

[The Big Orange]

I'm with you, Saliva...as soon as they said they didn't see anything, I paused the Tivo with the guys hand right in Chad's grill and started yelling at the announcers...I hate stupid announcers...

I pulled down my pants and I "pointed" the infraction out pressing my genitalia against the screen...my wife made me clean the screen with the squigy

[TJJackson]

Isn't using one's own genitalia as a pointer sorta not in the "things you can do as a man of god" instruction manual?

*laugh*

[membengal]

Here's my deal. Weak call or no, it was called. Crying about it from Cleveland's end or somehow feeling bad about it from Cincinnati's end is stupid.

Do shady calls happen in games, both for and against teams? Of course (CJ was clearly interfered with on one ball inside the 10 and it wasn't called, then they nailed CJ with an offensive pass intereference for far less contact---it goes both ways).

Have the Bengals for years felt like they were on the short end of the stick when it comes to those calls? Of course (and, with reason)

Do good teams seem to get the benefit of these calls? Yes---and I think that is because of the human element...when officials see one team doing it right and better in a game, I think subconciously it makes a difference on close calls.

So, the Bengals were in a game were they may have caught a few breaks? Good. About time. Good teams seem to get breaks. We have lamented for years being on the other side of that, I refurse to feel bad about catching a few this time. If the Bengals have finally earned there way to enough respect to catch an occasional call, all the better.

[buck3y3d]

Here's my deal. Weak call or no, it was called. Crying about it from Cleveland's end or somehow feeling bad about it from Cincinnati's end is stupid.

Do shady calls happen in games, both for and against teams? Of course (CJ was clearly interfered with on one ball inside the 10 and it wasn't called, then they nailed CJ with an offensive pass intereference for far less contact---it goes both ways).

If i was a Browns fan i would be upset, the call was weak. For the past decade the Bengals got bad calls by Ed Hockuley (spelling) and others and i remember how angry i was. The penalty did occur, but it was small and not involved in the play. It was a penalty nonetheless, and for that i am not upset.

Regarding Chad Johnson though, his offensive pass interference was extremely obvious (he even extended his arm). The NFL will probably use it in a training video for their refs. That is probably one of most overt pass interference plays i have ever seen. It was a great catch though.

[membengal]

Here's my deal. Weak call or no, it was called. Crying about it from Cleveland's end or somehow feeling bad about it from Cincinnati's end is stupid.

Do shady calls happen in games, both for and against teams? Of course (CJ was clearly interfered with on one ball inside the 10 and it wasn't called, then they nailed CJ with an offensive pass intereference for far less contact---it goes both ways).

If i was a Browns fan i would be upset, the call was weak. For the past decade the Bengals got bad calls by Ed Hockuley (spelling) and others and i remember how angry i was. The penalty did occur, but it was small and not involved in the play. It was a penalty nonetheless, and for that i am not upset.

Regarding Chad Johnson though, his offensive pass interference was extremely obvious (he even extended his arm). The NFL will probably use it in a training video for their refs. That is probably one of most overt pass interference plays i have ever seen. It was a great catch though.

But that's my point, the pass intereference where they interfered with CJ was just as obvious...and it wasn't called. What to do, what to do? Cry about it? Gnash our teeth? Throw things at the wall?

No?

You move on. That's what the Bengals did. Officials blew one, no big deal, you pick yourself up and move on.

Bitching about calls like the ones the Browns fans are bitching about when you got your ass handed to you is laughable. Then again, when we used to do it, it was what helped up sleep as a fan base at nights. The good teams overcome bad calls or use breaks to their advatage. Period. The bad teams don't overcome bad calls and don't take advantage of breaks. Period.

Happily, based on Sunday, the Bengals are far closer to being a good team than a bad team.

[jjakq27]

It was a very weak call, imo, but you're right, it did happen.  If it were the other way around, though, I would be pretty darn pissed.

It's not a weak call. I watched the same call be made in three games this weekend...including one in the Cowboy/Charger game that was also on the opposite side of the field from the action. The turnover simply makes it seem like a huge deal, but it's no different than long kick returns that get called back for a minor infraction away from the action.

It's football. The only thing goofy about it was the talking heads ignoring their own video while claiming it was a phantom call.

I agree. After 15 years of discovering some of the most obsure and never-heard-from-again penalties, if the ref called it, I'm taking it. Yes, it had nothing to do with the actual play but they called it because he put his hand in Chad's facemask.

Remember the Patriots were just one tuck-rule away from never winning the Super Bowl.

[bengalfreek]

It was a very weak call, imo, but you're right, it did happen. If it were the other way around, though, I would be pretty darn pissed.

A very weak call? Actually its not. The ref has to make the call when the infraction happens and that was long before the interception takes place. The official has no control over what's going on on the other side of the field. If you let that go, than defenders will begin to abuse it. Its just that simple. And if the situations were reversed and Madieu Williams was guilty of the penalty, I would be pissed at Madieu, not the ref.

[JPW]

Phantom Penalty my ass ...

They CALL that EVERY Time ...

[rudi32]

Nice picture, JPW.

[Soundwave]

Do you mean the phantom call when they said Chad pushed off the defender? I seen nothing.

jk

[BengalszoneBilly]

Isn't using one's own genitalia as a pointer sorta not in the "things you can do as a man of god" instruction manual?

*laugh*

If the good Lord blessed you with sufficient "tackle" to be adequately used as a presentation pointer, then why in the world would you miss an opportunity to demonstrate it use? Uh...Sunday services are probably the only exceptions that come to mind, but you never know with "Biggie."

  Phantom Penalty my ass ...

They CALL that EVERY Time ...

Good screen capture off the game JPW. How did you get it off the Tivo/recorder and onto your computer, or do you have a tuner on your video card?

[Stripes]

Phantom Penalty my ass ...

They CALL that EVERY Time ...

Wow, good stuff JPW. Any further argument over this topic is now void. There it is plain as day.

[markymark69]

Glad that you saw it. Just backs up the fact that Cleveland screwed up with the penalty. Regardless, even if had been a phantom penalty, the Bengals are do some payback, for all the obvious calls that have been missed in the past.

Example 1: Justin Fargas of the Raiders fumbled two years ago and it was not called, the Raiders later score (got seven points they shouldn't have and ended up winning by three). The refs blew it and it was not reviewable.

Example 2: 2001 season versus Chicago, Anthony THomas has the ball stripped away from him by Brian Simmons who returns for it for a TD. The refs conveniently said Thomas' could have changed the entire complexion of the game.

Example 3: Last Year, Takeo Spikes clearly pushed Rudi Johnson down at the line of scrimmage (defensive holding should have been called), picked off the pass and returned it for a TD. There is no doubt in my mind had Brian Simmons done the same thing to Willis McGahee, the Bengals would have been flagged.

There are plenty of other examples, but those are three that have struck in my craw.

In my mind, the Bengals are way past due.

[Dadraftnick]

As I recall that play.I think when they showed the replay ,they showed the end of the play not what happened comming off the snap.And ,when they showed the replay they showed the the WR on the opposite side of where the catch was made.I think the call was actually on the DB covering the WR that caught the ball and I think what happened is the ref called the wrong number when he made the call (happens all of the time).And, when they showed the replay they showed the isolation shot of the wrong WR because the ref called the wrong number.The guy they showed was interfered with too but, they they did not show the begining of the play.

[JPW]

Good screen capture off the game JPW. How did you get it off the Tivo/recorder and onto your computer, or do you have a tuner on your video card?

Yea Billy ...

I have a WinTV card in addition to my video card and I have one of the outputs from my Tivo box connected to that.

The WinTV32 Software (that came with the card) has a button for taking snap shots so it is just a matter of finding the frame you want and then clicking the button to take the snap shot.

[bengalindian]

Good screen capture off the game JPW. How did you get it off the Tivo/recorder and onto your computer, or do you have a tuner on your video card?

Yea Billy ...

I have a WinTV card in addition to my video card and I have one of the outputs from my Tivo box connected to that.

The WinTV32 Software (that came with the card) has a button for taking snap shots so it is just a matter of finding the frame you want and then clicking the button to take the snap shot.

That's badass. I can't wait to have money so I can buy real things.

[JPW]

As I recall that play.I think when they showed the replay ,they showed the end of the play not what happened comming off the snap.And ,when they showed the replay they showed the the WR on the opposite side of where the catch was made.I think the call was actually on the DB covering the WR that caught the ball and I think what happened is the ref called the wrong number when he made the call (happens all of the time).And, when they showed the replay they showed the isolation shot of the wrong WR because the ref called the wrong number.The guy they showed was interfered with too but, they they did not show the begining of the play.

The penalty WAS CLEARLY SHOWN on the replay, the announcers failed to see it because for some unknown reason they didn't bother to watch the beginning of the play.

The penalty was at the LOS and it does not matter in the least that it was on the opposite side from where the ball was eventually thrown.

As someone has already pointed out, that call was also made in other games last Sunday, they call that penalty every time.

Only someone who didn't bother to see what happened (the announcers) would be dumb enough to say that the foul had nothing to do with the play.