hair-pulling - unsportmanlike-conduct - silly call

[rumballs]

The Chiefs' Larry Johnson, who ran for just 26 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, stood out only once--in the unaccustomed role of tackler.

He ran down Troy Polamalu on a 49-yard interception return in the third by grabbing the safety by his long hair. Johnson whipped Polamalu to the ground along the Chiefs' sideline, drawing a 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty and touching off a brief skirmish.

"The dude had hair. What was I going to do?" Johnson said. "That was the only thing I could get my hands on."

Polamalu said, "It doesn't matter to me if he tackles me by my hair or my ankles."

I say it was stupid call. On anyone else, he would have grabbed the back of their jersey. I do like Polamalu's quote though, sounds like it didn't bother him.

Any other opinions?

[booboo]

if it is that long it is part of the uniform as far as I know

[SDmate]

Originally Posted by mmblz

I say it was stupid call. On anyone else, he would have grabbed the back of their jersey. I do like Polamalu's quote though, sounds like it didn't bother him.

Any other opinions?

I think the tackle was ok right up till he decided to pick Polamalu up off the ground by his hair
thats why he got flagged

[rumballs]

huh. they must not have showed that part in the replay I saw then...

[SDmate]

another thing to think about is, causing a neck injury from a tackle like that.
thats why horse collar tacks are penalised now

[rumballs]

Originally Posted by SDmate

another thing to think about is, causing a neck injury from a tackle like that.
thats why horse collar tacks are penalised now

true, but he grabbed the hair in the middle of his back. he would have gotten the jersey if the hair were not in the way, and it would not have been a dangerous tackle. he shouldn't be penalized because Polamalu chooses not to cut his hair...

[SDmate]

Originally Posted by mmblz

true, but he grabbed the hair in the middle of his back. he would have gotten the jersey if the hair were not in the way, and it would not have been a dangerous tackle. he shouldn't be penalized because Polamalu chooses not to cut his hair...

it would be good to get the refs side on why the flag was thrown


watch next theres going to have a no pulling the hair rule in the NFL
or maybe make the player wear hair nets

[rumballs]

oh, here's what Peter King has to say in MMQB:

Originally Posted by Peter King

k. The Steelers shouldn't get all pissy when Troy Polamalu gets tackled by the hair, or by the hair and jersey, as he did by Larry Johnson. His hair is the size of Texas, for crying out loud.

[mike32312]

Polamalu is a class act. It was no big deal to him. gotta like that.

[SDmate]

Originally Posted by mike32312

Polamalu is a class act. It was no big deal to him. gotta like that.

yer right there
he didn't even look back to see who had yanked him down, he just ran to the Steelers sideline

[hoosier]

The rules say that the hair is a part of the uniform. No penalty for tackling by the hair, but when LJ decided to pick Troy up by the hair after he was out of bounds, that's when the penalty flag was thrown.

I was surprised that LJ would pull Troy up by the hair, especially after last week when he (LJ) was tackled by the face mask and lay motionless on the field for several minutes. Fortunately, for him he only suffered a sore neck, but it looked a lot worse. I don't particularly care for Larry Johnson. Maybe because he played at Penn State. Just my opinion.

Polamalu, on the other hand, is a class act all the way, as demonstrated by his lack of retaliation against Johnson.

[Da Klugs]

Originally Posted by mike32312

Polamalu is a class act. It was no big deal to him. gotta like that.

If it's outside of the helmet its part of the uniform. Never should have called it. The "lil extra help" getting up if it was a uniform would not have warranted a call... so bad call. Maybe he'll start using "soul glow" in the future. Would have been a TD with a little more grease.

[mikey202]

I had no problem with the tackle...up to the point when Johnson tried to pick him up of the ground by his hair, but you try to do what you can when you're getting your ass kicked by the Black And Gold. It's easier to say the names of the Steeler Starters who Didn't score a touchdown.

[ResIpsa]

Originally Posted by SDmate

I think the tackle was ok right up till he decided to pick Polamalu up off the ground by his hair
thats why he got flagged

Originally Posted by mmblz

huh. they must not have showed that part in the replay I saw then...

the Mate is right Julian, he got the flag for literally picking him back up off of the turf after he tackled him. That crossed the line (a little )

[squid]

Didn't see the replay...but damn, it would be pretty tempting! Says a lot about him though if he didn't retaliate.