Was the Bears’ Amazing Trick Play Erased by a Phantom Holding Call?
- Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:20am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Regular readers of this site know that I’m an avid Green Bay Packers fan. At first glance, then, some might wonder how I can write this article. The truth is, I can recognize a controversy when I see one. And the trick punt return by the Bears near the end of yesterday’s Packers-Bears game definitely qualifies.
If you watched the game, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you didn’t, HuffPo explains:
When the Packers punted with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter while holding a 27-17 lead, the Bears executed one of the most mesmerizing trick plays in recent NFL history.
And, it all began with Hester signaling for a fair catch.
As Green Bay’s coverage team converged on Hester as he looked skyward and waved his arm, Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox was actually catching the ball on the far sideline. All alone, Knox sprinted up the fringe of Soldier Field. By the time that the Pack realized that the ball hadn’t been kicked to Hester, Knox was long gone. He would score on the play, seemingly putting the Bears in position to attempt an onside kick to prolong their comeback bid.
Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Not really. See, some yellow laundry (a flag) was thrown on the play for holding. There’s only one problem: no one can seem to find the holding. Here‘s the video and the announcers’ reactions:
The play was brilliant. The officiating on it, though, was questionable.
“It worked for us,” Knox told the Chicago Sun-Times after the game. “But unfortunately, it was a bad call. Corey didn’t even touch him. That’s a play we wish we could have back.”
“Corey” is Corey Graham, the player who was allegedly responsible for the hold. Or was he? From HuffPo:
Then, as if the call couldn’t get any more absurd, Joe Buck chimes in and tells Aikman and FOX viewers that it wasn’t No. 21 that the referees had flagged for holding. Buck says a member of the FOX crew informed him that it had been called on No. 29. Only problem is that there was no one with that number on the field for the Bears.
It’s worth noting that the touchdown would have only brought the Bears withing three points. But it‘s also worth noting that the Packers didn’t finish the game playing their best football. Is it possible the Bears could have come back? Definitely. Their best chance, however, was squashed with the penalty.
But the worst part may be this: because it was a trick play, it was probably a one-shot deal. Now teams are going to be on the lookout for it, and it will be nearly impossible to pull off again.
The Packers fan in me is rejoicing. The sports fan in me is kind of bummed.
UPDATE:
As some e-mailers and commenters have pointed out, there could be some video evidence supporting the official here. At about three seconds into the video, in the upper left of the screen, it appears a Bears player does have his hand on the shoulder of a Packers player. Here’s the screen grab:
Maybe that’s it. If it is, the controversy then becomes: Was that really a hold?
In the end, yes — because if the official says it is, then it is. But for those who are maybe not so technical and more philosophical, debate it out in the comments. Hold, or no hold?
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Comments (159)
00gabooga
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:21amJust the fact that there was physical constitutes a penalty in Roger Goodell’s new NFL.
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:23amthe hold was on the 35 yard line as both teams were running to the kickoff receiver. Grabbed him on the back of the jersey. Why the flag wasn’t thrown then, I can’t tell ya
Report Post »HookedM
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:40amagreed
Report Post »JESUS-IS-LORD
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 12:31pmSports in general are controlled by the elite to suck as much money out of you as possible. Look at that Mayweather/Ortiz fight recently. They are getting sloppy lately trying to convince the public sports are “real”.
Rowgue
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 12:45pm@ AFISH
No. There was no holding on this play. Why would he be holding somebody that was running away from the play, that doesn’t even make sense. The guy he supposedly held was standing on the goalline when the ball was caught. And besides the official stated the hold occured during the return not while the kick was in the air. Corey Graham wasn’t within twenty yards of another player during the return.
Report Post »plsticsman
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 12:55pm21 grabs his jersey, no doubt. The ref throws the flag as far as he can toward the infraction. The “replay” at the end of the clip unfortunately starts AFTER the hold was over, so it’s not shown. But yes, about 3 second in, top left, 21 grabs she shoulder of the player and slows/turns him. Holding. And LOTS of laps at the next practice :)
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 1:12pm@PLSTC
They didn’t call that. They called holding during the return, not while the kick was in the air. And putting your hand on somebody is not holding, you have to actually impede them from getting to where they are trying to get to in order for it to be holding.
I love how idiots are screaming…OH YEAH THERE IT IS HE TOUCHED A GUY! Touching does not equal holding. No holding occured on that play.
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 2:23pmthat”s the beauty of this sport. Unless there’s something realy realy flagrant, calls can and will be disputed even by the coaches. But in this incident, as soon as the ball is outta the hands of the punter, and anyone on the receiving team (now offense) grabs the wouldbe defender from the back, –regardless if the ball has been caught (save a funble).—yup. it’s holding. The reason being that holding impedes the defense from getting to the receiver for a potential tackle yards from where he would otherwise be.
Report Post »poljunkieNs47
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 2:46pmIf the hold happened on the 35, how did they call it before that? Am I misunderstanding this? I didn’t see a hold anywhere.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 3:01pmGo Lions!
afishfarted
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 3:19pmyeah, Pol—I can‘t figure out why the flag wasn’t thrown then either. But that is the only thing that the flag coulda been thrown for. Maybe the ref was doin’ qualudes? really slow flag.
Report Post »I woulda thought to save himself the embarrassment for being slow on the trigger, he woulda left it in his pocket. Good call’s gone bad.
It was not professional to wait for so long to throw it. The only thing I can even try to figure is that the ball was caught on that side of the field, and MAYBE the ref figured that the hold kept the Pack from getting down there for the potential tackle. Dunno. Regardless, he shoulda thrown the flag at the 35 when and where it happened. He made himself look as though he had money on the Pack yesterday. good call–dumb ref
Can we throw a flag on the ref fer just bein’ stupid?
Cryodawn
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 3:36pmWhen you watch the video, look at the top left side of the screen, just below the score… you will see 21 pull the back of the jersey about 2-3 secs from the start of the video. Thats a hold. Its a legit call.
Report Post »Quinientos
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 3:45pmIf it wasn’t #21 at the 35 yd line then it was # 35 at the 15 yd line.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 4:30pmA flag can be thrown on every play . This is just another BS call by a control freak.
Report Post »4blackhorses
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:14pmHeavan forbid! Physical contact in a contact sport, OH NO!!! A dear bookie friend of mine, long departed, told me never to bet pro games, they, for the most part are all fixed.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:31pmIts football… who the he!! cares? The purpose of watching sports on TV is to keep the populace from knowing what the politicians are doing. Read page 133 of Obama‘s American Job’s Act and find out how the States Rights under the 11th Amendment will be abrogated. That means nullified for all you lefties. You can download it from http://www.whitehouse.gov.
Report Post »Charlie Justice
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:19am75% off all plays, calls and scores in professional sports ARE PREDETERMINED. It’s all about money folks. And the people with the sports money aren’t going to leave things up to chance. While some plays, calls and games are meaningless…it’s mostly all predetermined.
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:42amYour supposition in your post is unadulterated sophistry. I bet you think the levees in New Orleans were blown up by Cheney.
Report Post »Sy Kosys
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:57amIt’s all true, Aggie….I have the remote-control for the 2nd quarter football for all 49ers games.
Thank GOD for high-speed internet, and secure routers…wouldn’t want the underground KGB operatives to hack into my signal and turn that touchdown pass into an interception now would we?
(btw, i‘ve predetermined you’re a fool, Charlie…..)
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:07amLOL.
Where would we all be without a tad bit of conspiracy theory here and there???
Report Post »Joel 2:12-13
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 12:20pmCharlie must be refering to the commercial (i think it is for a restaraunt) in which the groundskeeper uses the sprinkler system to sabatoge a team to send the game into overtime.
Report Post »AlmostaCowboy
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 1:31pmYou should get together with Jesus-is-lord. You two could debate if your combined IQ was higher than the number of teeth you two have.
Report Post »Balladeer
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 2:06pmnote to AGGIEBREWER I suggest you read a book called ‘The Fix is In’ by brian Tooey…then try to defend the calls from the Corrupt and/or incompetant as a brown and redwings fan i can give you a hatful of times tmy teams were screwed by the zebras by bad calls…too many for random chance
Report Post »JoeySocal
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 4:24pmYou are pushing it a bit with your numbers. However, pay close attention to this team of refs on any given week where there is a 3-4 point spread that makes no sense and you will start to wonder who is in control. Remember holding can be called on just about any play in football. As a former lineman I know all too well.
Report Post »DragoonChris
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 7:21pmYou’re right, Buffalo Wild Wings it behind it all. The best place to hide is in plain sight ya know.
Report Post »Manaconda
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:14amDoes this affect the point spread?
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:25amBlame Bush…
Report Post »hud
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:37amWhat point spread? If it isn‘t in the newspaper it doesn’t really exist.
Report Post »Manaconda
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 1:31pmIthink you missed the point Point spread was 4 At 10 points ahead Green Bay Covers If td And x-point allowed spread not covered and different people get PAID WAs this accidental?
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:13amChicago…..ptuii!
Report Post »wrshpn
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:11amIt was just a Bogus call….period! Even as someone else pointed out to look in the lower screen, the “holding”….that’s number 35! Yeah, 21 and 35 look so much alike! Give me a break. It’s frustrating moments like that, that you have to wonder it the ref’s are told that the “Packers” are to win, at all costs? Even Packers fans can see, it was a bad call. No REAL man wants a game given to them, they want to earn it…..it seems to me, it would have made for a little more of an exciting game to see what the Bears “might” have done down only by 3.
Report Post »john luther
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:23amWatch the video close.When he first kicks the punt you can see #21 grab his jersey .the foul happened just off the line of scrimage .
Report Post »jgmillionaire
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:24amNot a bogus call at all. Pause your video at 3 seconds and watch the top right of the screen. You’ll witness number 21 hold his man from behind for a full second slowing him down just enough. It should have been a horse collar call.
Report Post »jgmillionaire
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:25amCorrection, upper left. lol
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:47amJG-
Report Post »It would not be a horse collar. A horse collar is usually on the runner but it could be on another player. But it is defined like this: Grabbing the inside back or side of ball carriers shoulder pads and IMMEDIATELY pulling him down. And as long the runner or QB for that matter is within the tackle box there is no horse collar. The fact that they ran for several steps also negates any horse collar aspect. It was holding.
SHvnDave
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:50amgood call john
Report Post »BelowAverageJoe
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:58amAt 4 seconds on the above clip, freeze it. Look at the 35 yard line. That’s the hold that was called, with his right arm grabbing right shoulder. The ref on the sideline at the endzone made the call, so I don’t know how he could have possibly seen a hold on the back side, but we see calls like this all the time. He was a little late getting the flag out but he threw it in the area of the field that the penalty occurred.
Joe Buck is about a boring announcer and Aikman ain’t that great of a analyst either.
Report Post »SPOT_OF_TEA
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:01amThe line of scrimmage was at mid field….If the hold took place there,why was the flag thrown 30 or 40 yards down field…Whats that all about?
Report Post »cktheman
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:03amYup. I see they updated the post as well.
Report Post »IAMMADDOG
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:11amThe ref just doesn’t like Obama…….He MUST be racist!!!!!!
Report Post »hahahahahahahahahaha
Manaconda
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:09amHow does this affect the point spread?
Report Post »drybackinpi
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:09amPro football is not much different than pro wrestling. If not for gambling there would be no NFL.
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:49amI think that is dead wrong. The money for tickets, merchandise, travel and especially TV rights is where the NFL, teams, owners and players make their money. In the old days your comment my be sort of true. Today, betting is not where the NFL is making money.
Report Post »mobynowak
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:05amThere WAS a hold by #21. At :03 seconds into this video, as the punter kicks the ball, you can see #21 grab the jersey of the GB player and pull him back. Look to the upper left of the screen and it is obvious. It was a good, clean call.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:17amA Green Bay fan? There was no holding where you said, he had his arm out, so did the Packers’ player. That was definitely a “fix” by the ref. I just can‘t believe that the coach didn’t challenge it.
Report Post »jgmillionaire
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:27amI’m with you on that. Good call. Just because the rest of the crowd didn’t see it, doesn‘t mean it didn’t happen. The ref is getting flak for the wrong call; there are 1000 other real bad calls to talk about, this just isn’t one of them.
Report Post »matt1776
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 12:51pmWatch the video again, the flag is thrown right in front of knox AFTER he caught the ball, 60 yards from the line of scrimmage, there is no way that official saw that clearly enough to make a holding call. Not only that, it wasn’t even a hold.
Report Post »mobynowak
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 1:50pmI’m a Bears fan and wish they would have won, but I am honest enough to accept a penalty where is actually exists. The GB player was grabbed around the collar of the shirt and pulled backward. The flag was thrown by the official standing directly in front of the infraction as he was watching the players run back from the line of scrimmage toward the receiving player and the flag, after being pulled out and thrown through the air (not being instantaneously delivered), landed directly in the place of infraction. It is simply a fact. A is A. Another factor in all of this is Chris Collinsworth, who is simply an idiot.
Report Post »wewantchillywilly
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:03amPackers screwing over their division rivals because of terrible, terrible calls?
WHY I NEVER!
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:01amEven worse than the pass interference call that wiped away a Patriots’ interception.
Not saying they are, but make no mistake if the officials want to “fix” a game, they can. The refs in the NBA have been shaving points for years.
Report Post »drago
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:00amOk Blaze, why do you continue to use huffpo for your articals?
Report Post »bandi9
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:56amit was a pathetic call. so far, from what i have seen in this early season, the officiating has been horrendous
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:55amKinda what happens when you force unqualified people into positions they’re not suited for – not unlike socialism; no better additional example than the POTUS.
BTW, Packers fan here, but utterly HORRIBLE call on that play. Soon we’ll need official replay for these suspect officials. But, that’s the progressive way – which would then produce more jobs; hire unqualified people and then when they muck-up, you take cover in creating a super-committee to oversee the muck-ups. Had you simply hired those from the super-committee to begin with, well, they wouldn’t have as much power and there would be fewer jobs.
Report Post »garfield41
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:55amoh come on, holy crap, three seconds into the clip you can see #21 holding the green bay packer by the collar of his shirt. wake up people!!
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:52amGood call Garfield41. Like most fans the posters on here are watching the ball not the players. As a football official it is hard not to see the hold. Watching as a fan I can see why people want to find fault with the officials. It was a judgement call of a hold by a field judge that keys that particular Team A (punting team) gunner in his mechanic on scrimmage kick formations. Easy call. Correct call.
Report Post »SAJ
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:41amI am a Packers fan (born and raised in Wisconsin) , but this call definitely appears to be a wrong call.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:59amwatching buffalo new england game, i am sure now that the refs are working for the odds makers.this only proves that the refs have a financial stake in the score
Report Post »Rojubob
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 11:18amI am a Packers fan (since the Lombardi days) and this was a CORRECT CALL on # 21 around the 35 yard line as called. The really bad call was the fumble recovery by Peppers that the replay showed clearly that he didn’t have control of the ball until his body was out of bounds. Coach McCarthy challenged the play and the refs STILL made the incorrect call. I think they wanted to keep the TV audience tuned into the game for ratings!
Report Post »kennyg933
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:40amThe Bears would have lost that game even if the touchdown stood, but, yeah, even as a Packer fan, I can’t believe that call. There was a LOT of bad officiating. There were at least 3 delay of game calls where the play clock must have been started when the ball was snapped on the previous play. Crazy. But, after further review, the Bears still suck.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:36amMike Ditka needs to go have a chat with this official. I sat on my sofa scratching my head wondering if I was just too stupid to get the call. I had to walk around the house for a few to clear my head.
Report Post »Mhockey1505
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:36amI’m a fan of neither, but this was my cable afternoon game.
The cornerback at the top/left of the screen held the Packers‘ gunner’s left shoulder pad. Borderline penalty, but not a “phantom call” The flag was out well before Knox caught the ball
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:45amBS .. The flag came out just as he was catching the ball and there was no foul whatsoever. Besides .. the “hold” you are describing is not the job of the line judge on the opposite side of the field.
Report Post »Mhockey1505
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:56amHe was already by him and holding his shoulder pad. Watch it again. It happens on the corner of the screen so you have to know what you’re looking for, and what you’re looking at.
Of course why woud the NFL broadcasters get it right…..
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 10:54amatechgeek
Report Post »You are incorrect. The field judge is keying the gunner on team B (punting team) and he was right to throw the flag.
RIGHTHOOK
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:34amThat call was absurd. So, the Refs are blatantly picking favorites? This was so obviously inappropriate I may have to turn the NFL off………which would be painful in itself. And Hester should have had a huge gain but no pass interference call……..Gee the Refs were Packer fans I would conclude!!!!!
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:32amTerrible Call .. the worst ever. Great play Chicago.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:31am.
Report Post »Was that Ref. in the mayhem comerical?…..Both of those cities have one thing in common. Both are old and trashy hell holes……….
Mort
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:30amUmpires that do this should be fired. There is no place for cheating in sports. If it happened it will be on the film. If not, then fire the umpire.
Report Post »HisNameWasRobertPaulson
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 1:46pmIt was on film. The call was the right call. He grabbed the shoulder pad of the opposing player as he passed him to hold him up. The official was looking right at it. As soon as he saw it, he began reaching for his flag.
The reason you dolts don’t get why it is hard to throw a flag is because the flag by regulation is tucked deep into the back pocket so they cannot just throw it by accident. It takes about four seconds to pull the flag and throw it.
This gives time to the official to reconcile in their head what they just saw. I watched the video over and over again. The call was good. Sad. But still good. The Chicago player blew it.
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:28amScrew Chicago.
Report Post »Mike Opelka
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:25amAWFUL AWFUL CALL… This lifelong Bears fan is still angry!
Report Post »RichNGadsden
Posted on September 26, 2011 at 9:35amFrom a near life long Packers fan, I have to agree with you. That was a lousy call. I would prefer my team because they are the best on the field, not by default of the officiators.
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