The Pittsburgh Steelers felt last year they were targeted by the NFL with fines and penalties for hits on defenseless players and helmet-to-helmet hits. Rick Patterson, a 16-year NFL official, vehemently denied those charges following a presentation of this year's rule changes to the team. "We don't have players who are targeted, but we're no different than teams who study film," Patterson told Ralph N. Paulk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "If I see tendencies, we inform teams of that beforehand. "We do a lot of preventive officiating because our objective is not to throw the flag. We are aware of what players have done, but it doesn't influence how we officiate." "I definitely think they targeted us," Farrior said before last night's practice at Latrobe High School. "I understand (officials) are supposed to say they don't target anybody, but we had a feeling they were putting us out there. We were mainly the only team getting these fines. "(Harrison) is an aggressive player, and it's how he's always played. To come in at midseason, and tell the guy to change the way he's played his entire life is kind of unreasonable." "Basically, what (the league) is trying to do is take the helmet out of all hits, especially if you launch," Patterson said. "They don't want any contact with a defenseless player, specifically quarterbacks, placekickers and punters." "It's good for us to try to get a baseline on what's legal and not legal," Farrior said. "Once we have a clear understanding, we can move forward. I understand the changes because we're trying to make the league safer." Source: theredzone.org
....Jeez. Yeah. Because out of 32 teams in the NFL, they just want to pick on one. This is getting old. Stop whining, just play the game. We can ALL agree they're getting stupid with some of these rules, but you're not the ONLY team having to play by these rules.
