For Second Straight Year NFL Owes 49ers An Apology
By Jerrell Richardson
After the 49ers lost to the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday, they were officially eliminated from the playoffs. While they made no excuses after the game, and the reason for their defeat was not only because of a missed call, the personal foul called against Nick Moody certainly played a role. The egregious call was not only wrong, but helped swing momentum in a game that carried playoff implications for the entire NFC. While there is very little that can result positively from a bad call, at least the roughing the passer call has shed some light on yet another NFL rule that needs to be changed immediately.
The Nick Moody Rule
The next amendment to the NFL Rule Book, right next to the “NaVorro Bowman Rule,” should be the “Nick Moody Rule.” This past Sunday, the 49ers linebacker in his effort to put pressure on Russell Wilson came right up the middle, and did exactly what the NFL has stressed players to do this season. He kept his head up and made a football play on Wilson. The result was why there should be a new rule made this offseason, allowing instant replay to be used to review all personal fouls.
At the exact moment the referees threw the flag, the reaction was pretty much unanimous. 49er fans were shocked, the announcers felt it was the wrong call, former NFL official and FOX NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira agreed, and to wrap it all up in a bow, in case there was still anyone still in Seattle who thought it was a penalty, Dean Blandino, the VP of Officiating confirmed Monday morning, that it was indeed the wrong call.
Why Not Review?
The only reason to not make this change is the concern that it would slow down the game. While this is a valid point, how much of a difference would it really make? Tempers are about as high as they come when the 49ers and Seahawks play, and there were a total of 3 personal fouls in the game. Take a solid minute to look at the hit and another minute to get the clock and spot of the ball right and you are back to play in 5 minutes or so. While this could take longer at times and become tedious at others, it’s far better than the alternative currently in place, and not a big deal. If the focus it to protect the players, there also has to be an emphasis on protecting the integrity of the game and not penalizing a player when they hit as they have been instructed.
Nobody is saying take away the personal fouls, just to make it reviewable. This past weekend it was further magnified as the 49ers were fighting for their playoff lives, but that is just part of the point. What about the games easier in the season that are affected by these same blown calls? The difference between making the playoffs and sitting at home is at times a game or two, so a blown call in October that costs a team a win can actually hold the same weight as one this late in the season, it just gets forgotten.
Exhibit A — It Can Cost A Team A Playoff Berth
So this offseason when the NFL is looking over what rules to change, at the top of the list should be the rule that makes personal fouls unreviewable. All they have to do is pop in the tape of the 49ers versus Seahawks game, and even ignoring the score at the time, how it completely changed the outlook for the rest of the game and how it cost the 49ers a win that might have gotten them into the playoffs, see that this rule has to go.
Exhibit B — It Won't Slow Down The Game Too Much
Reviewing it will slow down the game, but not to the point of hampering the watching experience, and in the end can only improve the league as a whole. The NFL can’t like the fact that the focus is again on a missed call, not the actual outcome of the game.
49ers Unlucky
It’s also ironic that for the second time in as many seasons, the NFL will have to take a look at a rule after it has played a part in ending San Francisco’s season, and both times, the call just happened to occur while the 49ers were playing the Seahawks in Seattle. This is not to say there is any type on conspiracy by the NFL to keep the Seahawks in power, but in both games it can’t be ignored that the 49ers were in control for most of the contest, and after an awful call, so bad that it did then and figures now to spark a rule change.
If Bowman is ruled to recover the fumble in last year’s NFC Championship Game, and if Moody’s hit does not set up the Seahawks with a fresh set of downs in the red zone, then the Seahawks dominance over the 49ers might not seem as clear cut as both of these plays are a big reason why the Seahawks are the darlings of the NFL and the 49ers are the team that people can’t figure out what went wrong.
For more 49ers news and updates, visit 49ers Central.
Jerrell Richardson is a Bay Area native who due to a college career at San Diego State University has grown an appreciation for all things sports related in California. His heart will always remain in San Francisco though where he currently resides and covers everything from the San Francisco 49ers and Giants to the San Jose Sharks and California Bears Baseball team. Jerrell is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
