Hey, awesome. Time for another 'point of emphasis' on illegal contact.

[BradyFTW!]

Get ready for the Legion of Boom rule | ProFootballTalk

A decade ago, the NFL made illegal contact and defensive holding a point of emphasis based in part on complaints from former Colts G.M. Bill Polian that Patriots defensive backs were manhandling Peyton Manning’s pass-catchers. Now, the NFL is re-emphasizing the point of emphasis.

As explained by FOX’s Mike Pereira on Twitter, a former NFL V.P. of officiating, illegal contact and defensive holding will be a point of emphasis in 2014.

etc. etc.

I dunno what to really say about this. If it ends up affecting the league to even close to the degree that the 2004 point of emphasis did, this will be an outright joke. I can't even count the number of conversations that I had last year with fans that took on some element of "wow, isn't it great to see defenses being allowed to play some defense again?". Also kinda sucks that this is coming right as the Patriots have finally assembled a secondary that is capable of playing dominant, physical coverage.

On the bright side, if they keep this up it's only a matter of time before Matt Stafford throws for 6,000 yards (and probably still finishes .500 and misses the playoffs). Can't wait for that.

 

[Tunescribe]

Fantasy football is ruining the game. The whole sporting world is turning into a corporate-driven Bud Light commercial.

 

[dales804]

There's a thread on this here: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...reira-on-nfl-officiating-clinic-2014.1110883/

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

What really irks me is that they enforce this ludicrous point of emphasis" during the season and then in the playoffs it's suddenly ignored. What does that say about the game? Will they ignore it completely or will there be some "situations" where the emphasis magically re-appears?

 

[Danger Zone]

Maybe someone can refresh my memory... but wasnt the point of emphasis in 04 thought to actually be directed at the Patriot's style of defense?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR2008011603650.html

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...bill-polian-is-the-biggest-cheater-in-the-nfl

It wouldnt surprise me to see it done proactively as well even if Polian isnt there to push through rules that help the Colts.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Fortunately Revis is immune to DPI calls.

 

[DarrylS]

I was listening to talk radio the other day, and they were spouting incessant verbage about how much this will hurt the Patriots... but they never said why, I changed the station. If anything the Pats have as much experience in the D backfield than I can remember and know what you can and cannot do.

 

[Deus Irae]

I was listening to talk radio the other day, and they were spouting incessant verbage about how much this will hurt the Patriots... but they never said why, I changed the station. If anything the Pats have as much experience in the D backfield than I can remember and know what you can and cannot do.

Browner is a mauler, and both Dennard and Revis are clutch-and-grabbers.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Browner is a mauler, and both Dennard and Revis are clutch-and-grabbers.

Accurate.

Not too worried about Dennard unless the WRs have cops in the family

 

[chasa]

interesting this happens after peyton gets wrecked in the playoffs again.

 

[lurker1965]

i've already seen fans of other teams calling it "the Peyton Manning rule." That is bit misleading, as it really is the "fantasy football" rule, but I keep quiet.

 

[OhExaulted1]

You're going to see every WR in the league flailing for a flag when a catch isn't made just like they do know, except 2-3 times as many will be given out. It's the "we hate defense rule".

Where was the emphasis when Gronk got bear-hugged in the end zone in the Carolina game? The league puts out decrees all the time in the middle of the season. Looked like a violation of no contact after 5 yards from what I saw. To hell with the "he probably wouldn't have caught it anyway" theory (and I think he would have).

 

[Joker]

what a home run...especially the Gronk bit...that is why I say, if I SEE this turd in public, grinning that jackass smile of his, I'm screaming about THAT hypocrisy as well as the "gate" BS HE let get totally out of hand.

 

[OhExaulted1]

 

[BradyFTW!]

You're going to see every WR in the league flailing for a flag when a catch isn't made just like they do know, except 2-3 times as many will be given out. It's the "we hate defense rule".

Where was the emphasis when Gronk got bear-hugged in the end zone in the Carolina game? The league puts out decrees all the time in the middle of the season. Looked like a violation of no contact after 5 yards from what I saw. To hell with the "he probably wouldn't have caught it anyway" theory (and I think he would have).

Even in the 1970s, that was a penalty. At least most people had the good sense not to deny it: it was clearly a case of the refs not wanting to end a MNF game with a game-losing penalty on the home team.