Jim Harbaugh said today he wasn't trying to influence the officials a la Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride when Harbuagh questioned whether the physical play from the Seattle cornerbacks Thursday was within the rules. Seattle coach Pete Carroll made that analogy when asked about Harbaugh's comments today on 710ESPN. "Wasn't it just a couple weeks ago when they were talking about not doing things like that?" Carroll said of Harbaugh and the 49ers. "The Giants or Kevin Gilbride or something like that? I thought there was something about that where we don't go out and express our concerns like that." Before the Giants and 49ers met in Week 6, Gilbride told the New York media that 49ers defensive end Justin Smith "gets away with murder" as far as defensive holding, a comment that drew an angry press release from Harbaugh, who accused the Giants of using their clout to influence the officials. Harbaugh today said there was a difference -- he was asked about the Seahawks cornerbacks during a Friday press conference and he responded accordingly. "Any time you ask me anything about any of the officiating from the game -- the previous game or an upcoming game -- there's a way we've been instructed to handle that, and that is to not criticize the officiating and to address any concerns and just anything you want clarification or interpretation about with the officials in New York." Source: Sacramento Bee
