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James Harrison Punch Draws Personal Foul Penalty and Criticism
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by Jon Azpiri | February 2, 2009 at 11:03 am
17109 views | 8 Recommendations | 88 comments
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison had reason to celebrate after he helped his team win their sixth Super Bowl.
But James Harrison was also upset about a personal foul penalty he received near the end of the game that may have cost him the MVP award. Cardinals fans, on the other hands, are angered by the Harrison cheap shot that should have gotten him thrown out of the game.
With 3:26 left and the Steelers leading 20-14, Harrison knocked down Cardinal Aaron Francisco, punched him, and shoved him another three times. Harrison was called for a personal foul, which is normally 15 yards, but in this case it was only half the distance in the goal line. Many Cardinals fans believe he should have been ejected from the game.
The penalty did not cost the Steelers the game, but it may have cost Harrison the Super Bowl MVP Award. Prior to the infraction, Harrison had played a great game. The 247-pound linebacker made one of the biggest defensive plays in Super Bowl history, intercepting a Kurt Warner pass at his own goal line and rumbling 100 yards for the touchdown.
The Super Bowl MVP was awarded to Steelers wide receiever Santonio Holmes.
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Jon Azpiri
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Swissvale, United States
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at 11:34 on February 2nd, 2009
he was my mvp until that penalty ,,,,,,,,,he should have been ejected
at 10:51 on February 3rd, 2009
Anyone who knows something about football realizes that the Harrison play wasn't dirty or illegal. If you have played football you are instructed to block your guy until the whistle. If he falls to the ground you keep him there. Harrison was penalized because he continued after the whistle. He didn't hit him with a closed fist. Forearm shivers and palm punching are taught from pee wee's on. 6 TIME SB CHAMPS
at 18:02 on February 3rd, 2009
DDddDD,
You are a moron, read the NFL Rules, hitting with a closed fist is an automatic ejection. But of course since the NFL is so biased and continues to fix games for the SteAlers (Correct spelling) the dirty low life was not tossed from the game.
Wake up and pull your head out of your Azz...that was a ignoraint comment dude!
at 18:55 on February 3rd, 2009
I saw no closed fist. Players were running around the 2 players and behind them. He blocked the guy to ground. This doesn't happen in football? There were several occasions where Cardinal players pushed Steeler players after the whistle without any resulting flags. He got an unsportsmanlike penalty and that was plenty. Blocking a guy can't be in an intense and physical manner? Is it illegal to hold a player from getting up with only his hands? This is football, not tennis.
Pretty ignorant to suggest fixing games for the Steelers.
at 09:33 on February 4th, 2009
at 18:55 on February 5th, 2009
quit whining.Francisco was trying 2 take Harrison's knees you dumb fools. which could've end his career. what you saw is only the last part of what happened. get a efing grip. learn to lose.
at 18:24 on February 8th, 2009
WTF is absolutely right. Francisco went for Harrison's knees. And then he got burned by Holmes, big time. Francisco's a punk.
at 02:47 on February 4th, 2009
uh... duh!!! the play was already over they kept blowing the whistle. yeah its not dirty to hit a guy while hes down. where the hell did you learn your football from guy?
at 11:47 on March 16th, 2009
Anyone who knows anything in general, knows that the refs gave the Steelers their last two superbowls. Not a fan of the seahawks or the cardinals I'm just stating a few facts. And I would love to punch the shit out if we were playing football and then well see what you think about the ruling. 4 TIME SB CHAMPS
at 08:04 on June 11th, 2009
You are an air head and you have tunnel vision about footbal!!! James is a dirty b@$!3*^ The steelers are proof that you can buy a super bowl ring. The Seahawks beat them and the Cardinals beat them!! When they are old an began to show their kids all of the videos of accomplishments. The videos will have to shown as clips from all of the editing of bad calls by the referees
at 10:02 on February 5th, 2009
I agree! He should have been ejected. In fairness (and I realize the chances of this happening are nil), the trophy should be taken away from Pittsburgh and a rematch declared. No one knows what the last few minutes would have been like w/o him on the field.
at 11:53 on February 2nd, 2009
I was with a group of 20 people watching the game and everyone thought Harrison was MVP until he made that stupid penalty. I was rooting for the Steelers - but I thought Harrison should have been ejected. I am glad those making the MVP decision selected Santonio Holmes.
at 16:09 on February 3rd, 2009
I was also watching with a very large group... The difference is that we were a energetic group and could not hear Madded drop knowledge on the public suggesting Harrison be ejected. It wasn't until monday that i begin to hear the rumblings and i cannot believe it...
As is mentioned above, this is exactly what is taught to all players. The player who was the victim of the alleged beating was a 4th year safety who knows very well that this is part of the game and should not have been surprised.
at 13:04 on February 2nd, 2009
Ummm....What did he do to deserve getting his butt kicked? He had to have done something to warrant the response from Harrison. Just more crying from loser fans...LOL I thought the Seattle fans were whiners....Geesh....what is it about teams with flying rats as mascots!
at 13:38 on February 2nd, 2009
Why would you assume that the guy did something to deserve the beating? What probably happened is that he SAID something and Harrison reacted like a typical uneducated idiot by "Beating" on him.The league will review this and he'll be fined and possibly suspended for a game or two next year when it won't matter. The league missed an opportunity on the biggest stage, to show america how they deal with unecessary violence.
at 14:48 on February 2nd, 2009
Everyone needs to go back and look at the replay.....before Harrison punched the whining red bird, that dirty bird punched Harrison right in the whoopsey-daiseys....he deserved to get punched and lucky mad-man Harrison didn't do more!!!
at 20:57 on February 2nd, 2009
I don't think so! Don't try and justify his actions by any means. There is no reason for that!
at 16:37 on February 2nd, 2009
Gee, someone must be 10 or something. Grow up, you just don't let that kind of conduct happen on the field, more should have been done about it IMO
at 04:11 on February 3rd, 2009
I could have cared less who won but the Harrison punk action made the Steelers look like the Ravens. For as tough as they think they are they were at home. Godd luck defending your thug!
at 21:38 on February 3rd, 2009
Little wimp tried to chop block him. He goes straight for Harrison's legs. So while the play is going on Harrison blocks him out of his shoes.
at 13:18 on February 2nd, 2009
Something obviously set Harrison off. Has anyone heard why he gave Francisco a whopping and risked the penalty and arguably being ejected? Suspect there was something else behind this type of response. If this was just insulting his mother someone needs to teach Harrison the "Sticks & Stones" rhyme :)
at 14:12 on February 2nd, 2009
I have heard a rumor that Francisco punched Harrison in the nuts. If that's true, Francisco was lucky to get off with a few punches and pushes.
at 16:58 on February 2nd, 2009
Those men make thousands of dollars there is absolutely NO reason what-so-ever for any NFL player to behave like that and if you justify is by any means you are just as much a coward as Harrison. It's football, hits in the groin happens and that's why they wear cups. Harrison acted childish and out to be suspended for a season! Earlier in the season, in October 2008 he was fined 20 thousand dollars for unsportsman like conduct. He should be done. He doesn't deserve the money he makes.
at 22:26 on February 2nd, 2009
You mean to tell me that if Harrison was hit in the nuts intentionally, then he still shouldn't have behaved like that? Sounds to me like the term 'coward' applies more to the one speaking it than the one receiving it.
at 08:06 on February 3rd, 2009
If he hit him in the nuts as much money as he makes I am sure he has some kind of super
nike cup...... Just think about it for a second.... Those guys arent going to go into the biggest game of the year knowing that everyone wants to win without all of their protective gear.,
at 17:12 on February 3rd, 2009
you must be a freaking girl because i know if anyone hits me in my nuts for any reason their getting kicked in the head!!! so what he wears a cup so do boxers, but imagine that there is a rule about punches below the belt! wonder why? dude deserved it because anyone stupid enough to punch harrison in the balls is stupid enough for their DNA chain to end....
at 18:11 on February 3rd, 2009
Why are you getting so worked up about that one fact. No one knows if he he got punched in the nuts! No where in the film does it show that.
at 14:48 on February 2nd, 2009
I also heard that Francisco kicked Harrison in the "privates," thus resulting in Harrison's over the top reaction. However, the video coverage of the game only showed Harrison's reaction, not his interaction with Francisco leading up to the incident.
at 14:37 on February 2nd, 2009
What Harrison did was stupid he is an idiot and shows the true character of all the Pittsburgh Steelers
at 17:32 on February 2nd, 2009
who are you to judge Harrison. Obviously you and a lot of people that wrote in about this topic do not play competive sports, but i know when your out on that field, it is like war, and with these guys while in the heat of battle another player punches you in the groin your going to have a reaction i don't care who you are it happens. I am not saying i would of acted the exact same way as Harrison did but some kind of reaction was going to happen. And seriously on that solo act of unsportsman like conduct you going to try to judge all Pittsburgh Steelers you have got to be kidding me. Steelers have more character, and class then most Pro sports teams out there.. take Ben, or Ward - he is the true meaning of sportsmanship..