Harrison's Interception Return

by steelersfan4life on Feb 2, 2009 11:53 PM EST Comment 11 comments

Today while I was watching the replay from the return I noticed something. I'm sure we all saw how far out of bounds Fitzgerald needed to go to get around everyone to make his way to Harrison. There were many good blocks by the Steelers, however I did not realize that possibly the most key block we got on this return was made by a Cardinal. I was watching Fitzgerald and realized that as he was running out of bounds he ran into teammate Antrel Rolle who was watching the return. You can't really blame him because he wouldn't expect to be in the way standing out of bounds but either way I'd like to thank him for his key block. I truly believe that Fitzgerald would have most likely caught Harrison earlier had he not been slowed down by his collision with Rolle. I'm sure I wasn't the first one to see this but I just wanted to point it out to those who missed it. So once again thank you very much Mr. Rolle.

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Question-

Doesn’t a player who runs out of bounds have to re-establish himself by making contact with an opposing player before making a play? Is it legal for a player to run out-of-bounds in order to get around other players? It just seems wrong. What’s to say that Fitz didn’t run off the field and another Card further downfield runs out and tackles Harrison?

I wonder if that would’ve been noticed?

by tobiathan on Feb 3, 2009 12:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That's an interesting question

I think it has something to do with if you get knocked out of bounds, you have to come back in bounds as quickly as possible. I don’t think you necessarily have to make contact with the opposing team, but I do think you have to get knocked out, you can’t run out on your own to avoid a block. I’ve only ever seen the rule applied on punt and kick returns.

by worldtrip on Feb 3, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

didn't even try

to come back onto the field of play, he was booking it out of bounds and if he had caught harrison it should have been a penalty which would have resulted in one final play before the half at least

by tannofsteel84 on Feb 3, 2009 12:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

completely agree. When I saw them catch Harrison and I couldn’t tell immediately if it was a TD (I get nervous about those things), I was screaming pissed that the refs hadn’t done anything about that. He made absolutely no effort to get back in bounds.

Brandona

by PrimantisStillersNAt on Feb 3, 2009 12:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

totally agree as well

never tried to come back in, but there already was a penalty on the play, a personal foul on an arizona o-lineman before or right after the interception occurred, so if harrison would have been ruled down, the Steelers would have been given an untimed play

by Jett on Feb 3, 2009 1:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Would it be from the 1 or from where he was tackled? If fitz can use his speed down the sideline to tackle him at the 30, and the steelers get one last play from the 15, that’s pretty ridiculous. Hard to call it otherwise, but running up the sideline like a track meet is a pretty gross violation of the rules in this case.

by steelguy99 on Feb 3, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I don’t know the rule obviously. I just know how it works on kick and punt returns. You can’t just run out of bounds trying to avoid the block. Not sure if the rule is different in this situation with him running down the sidelines like that with people chasing from behind.

All water under the bridget at this point, no?

by worldtrip on Feb 3, 2009 1:02 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol

bridget = bridge.

by worldtrip on Feb 3, 2009 1:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It is ...

water under under the bridge but an opportunity to research rules is always good. I thought the only rule re: running out of bounds is that one can’t run out of bounds and then be the first one to touch the ball—illegal participation penalty. If Fitz wasn’t allowed out there the ref following Harrison [apparently an easy jog as long as JH took getting down the field] would have quickly thron the flag.

by tenthmtnman on Feb 3, 2009 7:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

post scsript ...

On the Steelers’ website, check out the picture accompanying JH’s interception return story. Doesn’t that blonde cheerleader know that at this point she should have erased her smile? :o)

by tenthmtnman on Feb 3, 2009 7:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs