Hines Ward Face-Mask

by BAL_Hawk on Oct 3, 2008 9:21 AM EDT Comment 22 comments

There is no use crying about it now, but apparently, Hines Ward grabbed Chris McAlister's face-mask when he got wide-open after Roethlisberger escaped the sack. The following clip has Rex Ryan detailing it:

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/media_library/Videos/Game_Plan/08/Wk_5_Defense.aspx

Watch 1:55 to 2:24. I know that McAlister plays very physical press-coverage, but at least he gets flagged. This was a HUGE play in the game, and it's sad to think that it wasn't legitimate. I've never really liked Ward, but I have respected him. Plays like this make me lose respect for him.

The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!

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This one is so much more entertaining though, the two clearly missed each other.

http://www.viddler.com/player/b661e9da/

He’s a dick, but he’s our dick.

The video you posted doesn’t make the facemask clear at all, it’s just complaining – hines ward could have done a shot of heroin and killed a puppy on the way to that catch and it wouldn’t have shown up in that camera angle. I’m sure if we pined through the whole game steelers fans would be able to find lots of missed calls also, but we won, so we don’t bother.

by steelguy99 on Oct 3, 2008 9:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You are right. It's not clear...

… in the clip we are watching. However, I didn’t bring this up and I haven’t reviewed the entire game. This was brought up by Rex Ryan. I’m sure that he would not say anything if it wasn’t legitimate.

by BAL_Hawk on Oct 3, 2008 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“Hines Ward grabbed Chris McAlister’s face-mask and threw him to the ground”

I just rewatched the clip again. Does it really look like he spent any time on the ground? It looks like he is running the whole time to me.

by steelguy99 on Oct 3, 2008 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You already stated...

…that it’s unclear. It is clear that McAlister staggered after contact, and if Rex Ryan is claiming that Ward grabbed McAlister’s facemask, I believe it. I’m sure that they have game-tape that clearly shows what happened.

by BAL_Hawk on Oct 3, 2008 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m just stating the obvious – it is totally unclear whether he was facemasked or not. The being thrown to the ground part though looks completely erroneous – he is standing the whole time.

by steelguy99 on Oct 3, 2008 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right.

I think that the host of the “Game-plan” show used the term “thrown to the ground,” and you’re right. It was an exaggeration.

The point is that Ward was open as a direct result of the face-mask.

by BAL_Hawk on Oct 3, 2008 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steel D Line got it done..

They came shot out of a cannon in the second half and blew us up. It’s taken the better part of a week but I’m starting to give credit where it’s do and turn all my furniture back upright. Hat’s of to them but thanks for the rematch motivation. Good luck with the running game this week. Hines better tug on a lot of face masks.

by raven on Oct 3, 2008 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you drive over 55 mph and don't get caught, it's not speeding!

The difference between Ward and the Ravens is that he doesn’t get caught. He’s more of a pro than our guys and knows the time and place to do what he does. He knows we’ll retaliate and get the flag. When we learn to ignore this and find the right time, we’ll be better off. Until then, I’ll take him on my team anytime.

Rexx

by Rexx on Oct 3, 2008 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hate cheating.

I’d rather the Ravens play fair and lose. I think that the “win at all costs” mentality is ruining modern football. It’s the same mentality that ruined the Patriots legacy during spy-gate. I know that there are no moral-victories, but I hope that we still have morals.

I realize that this play isn’t the epitome of evil, but it starts small. I think that we need to call cheating what it is (no matter how small) with absolutely no compromising.

by BAL_Hawk on Oct 3, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man, facemasks, holdings, etc. are just part of football, and they always will be. Sometimes they’re accidents, sometimes they’re intentional, but the game will never be perfect. That’s part of the charm.

I don’t know anyone who has played a sport that has ever not performed a penalty, it just happens.

by steelguy99 on Oct 3, 2008 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that.

Those types of actions are part of football and should be penalized as must as possible. Furthermore, I know that the game will never be perfect. However, players and coaches should not cheat intentionally (even when they can get away with it). I was simply stating that this mentality is a problem and is ruining modern football.

My response wasn’t directed at the incident. I was responding to the “If you drive over 55 mph and don’t get caught, it’s not speeding” statement.

by BAL_Hawk on Oct 3, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The difference

between Hines and our receivers is that Hines probably had his head up, checked the refs locations and quickly tugged at the face mask just enough to clear Chris. That’s a little over the top but typical of how a little intelligent Hines trickery can make a good receiver great. He plays receiver like a DB and keeps people on their toes. Everyone takes liberty with the rules. Every lineman tries to grab a little jersey and let go just when it starts to stretch. Every linbacker likes to give a little head twist on a running back just before the whistle blows. It’s football and it’s what you can get away with. Hines and his kick your ass, cheat and smile business model has made a lot corporations and politicians very rich.

by raven on Oct 3, 2008 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

are you kidding?

ALL players try to get around the rules when they can. You think the Ravens don’t “intentionally” cheat? Ofcourse they do. Steelers lost the playoffs last year on David Garrard 30 yard scramble,…this past April the NFL acknowledged what every Steeler fan knew,…there were MULTIPLE holding penalties committed by the Jags,…none of them were called.

Steelers fan did not whine about it,…we blamed our own Offense not the other team for “cheating”.

All of you whining about Hines Ward is really pathetic,….his crushing blocks on Ed Reed and Bart Scott were both CLEAN,…you guys just hate him because he makes the “tough” Ravens look like wimps.

Ravens are probably the most mentally weak team in the NFL. I still laugh when I think of your meltdown against the Pats last year,…..and i actually wanted you to win.

by ismail on Oct 3, 2008 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow.

You totally missed my point, and did not address it in any way. Did you even read my comment before “replying” to it?

I was simply stating that cheating in any way, shape or form is wrong. I also stated that the “win at all costs” mentality is ruining football. I even went so far as to say that I’d rather see the Ravens play fair and lose than cheat and win. That was and is my only point. I said nothing negative about the Steelers and nothing positive about the Ravens.

You should really read the comments before you “reply” to them. Also, I enjoy an intelligent disagreement, but please refrain from pointless trash-talk and insults.

by BAL_Hawk on Oct 3, 2008 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty definitive view of the non-call in question...

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6yd5r_hines-ward-cheating-once-again_sport

Kevbo: [to George Sherrill] George, you look a lot like Vin Diesel...

Flatbill: Let's get somethin' straight... Vin Diesel looks like me.

-From "The Making of Orioles Magic"

by dayzd toe on Oct 3, 2008 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Much more convincing, definitely a facemask, he pulled that one off pretty well.

by steelguy99 on Oct 3, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah... the only thing didn't happen

Was the McAlister face plant that someone stated.

Kevbo: [to George Sherrill] George, you look a lot like Vin Diesel...

Flatbill: Let's get somethin' straight... Vin Diesel looks like me.

-From "The Making of Orioles Magic"

by dayzd toe on Oct 3, 2008 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I edited the post to read:

“There is no use crying about it now, but apparently, Hines Ward grabbed Chris McAlister’s face-mask when he got wide-open after Roethlisberger escaped the sack.”

Before, it read:

“There is no use crying about it now, but apparently, Hines Ward grabbed Chris McAlister’s face-mask and threw him to the ground when he got wide-open after Roethlisberger escaped the sack.”

After seeing a clearer video, it was obvious that McAlister did not go to the ground. However, the point is that Ward was open as a direct result of the face-mask.

by BAL_Hawk on Oct 3, 2008 5:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think ward takes it upon himself to piss off every single ravens defender.

by steelguy99 on Oct 3, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And we fall for it every single time.

I’d be smiling too, if I was him. In fact, I’d probably be laughing my ass off!

Rexx

by Rexx on Oct 3, 2008 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the best thing about Ward's play against the Ravens

is that the defenders have to react to him, not vice versa. They have to be heads up all game long, looking over their shoulders on every play to avoid getting knocked out, which limits their ability to use their adrenaline to go apeshit. That appears to be how the Ravens like to play. I think it’s an effective strategy by Ward.

Ever since the jax loss and the refs admitting the holding (thanks, I’d be happier to know we lost fair and square with our own incompetence, which is also true), I don’t feel bad at all with getting away with stuff, as long as no one is actually injured. I would feel bad about that,

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Oct 4, 2008 11:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice game Ward

2 catches for 57 yards, 49 of them on that crap-ass play. So, legitimately, one catch for 8 yards, and a cheap shot on Reed that he was giggling about like a school girl. Classy behavior to add to a 2-catch night. Guess that’s why he needed to face-mask C-Mac.

by Jackyp on Oct 23, 2008 2:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs