National Football League

Mike Pereira's Dec. 7 mailbag

Published Dec. 7, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Hi everyone, here are a few more Mailbag questions this week and I’m happy to answer them. (Read the latest chat recap here).

Frank R. from Clare, Mich., wrote:

"Did you keep watching on the field after the game when Jay Cutler went up to Ed Hochuli and thanked him for the call on Sunday against the Lions? You can actually read his lips. And Ed patted his behind in response. Absolutely no class and see if you can defend your way out of this one."

I don't have to defend my way out of anything, Frank. I don't work for the NFL and my thoughts are my own. You, on the other hand, ought to get your facts straight.

The game clock is still running and Cutler comes up behind Hochuli and says, “Good game.” Hochuli acknowledges him but never reaches out and pats his behind or touches him. Hochuli did not initiate this exchange and did nothing improper.

Steve S. from Essex Center, Vermont wrote:

"When Eli Manning attempted to slide and fumbled the ball against the Eagles, the covering official blew his whistle when the Eagles player recovered the ball and was running. Why wasn't an inadvertent whistle ruled and they replayed the down?"

I thought I would get this question at some point, Steve.

The whistle blew early as one of the officials seemed to rule Eli down by contact and no fumble. After a brief discussion, the officiating crew seemed to ignore the whistle and gave the ball to the Eagles.
I was surprised but not overly bothered because if they would have acknowledged the whistle the result would have been the same. If they went with the ruling of down by contact, the Eagles could have challenged and gotten the ball because it was a fumble and there was clear video evidence that there was an immediate recovery by the Eagles.

Key to remember here is that fumble versus down by contact is reviewable, no matter which way it is ruled on the field. The specific instant replay rules that cover fumble/down by contact; QB pass/fumble; loose ball-ruled-to-have-touched-the-sideline; and fumbles-ruled-touchdown – all supersede inadvertent whistle rules.

By the way, a true inadvertent whistle on a running play gives the offensive team the right to replay the down or take the ball at the spot of the whistle. That did not apply on this play.

Kevin from Las Vegas wrote:

"Care to explain how a karate chop to Ben Roethlisberger's face doesn't draw a personal foul penalty? Didn't Peyton Manning get a flag for a graze to his helmet? And why wasn't there a penalty called on the Heath Miller hit? James Harrison was fined $75,000 for a much less severe hit and was flagged. Heath Miller’s neck snapped backward. Just goes to show how the NFL is 'protecting its players.' I'd love to hear an explanation."

The National Football League has spoken. The league has acknowledged that the foul should have been called by virtue of the fines that were levied. I don't need to say much more about it at this point, but will write something tomorrow addressing the whole issue.

Back to the facts on Harrison: He was not flagged for his hit on Mohamed Massaquoi and was fined the $75,000 as a repeat offender after throwing Vince Young down on his head earlier in the season.