# The Khadaji Memorial Steelers March to the Super Bowl Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 5, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126 "2013-09-05T23:39:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/321 "2013-12-16T22:40:05Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Is this the new meme? It’s cheap if the Steelers did it? > > It was a clean hit. The guy was getting back into the play, he wasn’t paying attention, and he paid for it. When the Steeler hit him he caught him leading with his arms into the chest, he never left his feet, he didn’t lead with his head, and the punter was not “defenseless”. If you’re going to be acting like a football player it behooves you to know where you are. Nobody else got caught out like that. > > You guys really need to figure out what “leading with your head” and “helmet-to-helmet” means. Truth is, by your criteria every play has multiple helmet-to-helmet hits between the offensive and defensive lines alone. Was NOT a clean hit. He led with his helmet. I don’t care who the teams are. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/322 "2013-12-16T22:49:28Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Was NOT a clean hit. He led with his helmet. I don’t care who the teams are. Oh yeah? WAS a clean hit. So there. I read on Deadspin that according to the rulebook all punters are “defenseless” even if they lay out the player running the ball back. While that is ridiculous, I bow to the rulebook and say that there should have been a penalty for that, but not for the hit itself. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/323 "2013-12-16T23:39:05Z")
Well, as usual in threads that involve opinions, ymmv. Sometimes by quite a bit. One thing I’ve seemed to notice more lately in the NFL and even in NCAA football, is that there are a lot of guys who like to push and see how far they can go. Sometimes, it’s ticky tacky, like holding or interference, and sometimes (not so rare anymore either) it’s blatant, overly aggressive, even vicious cheap shot hits. I call it as I see it, and obviously this is IMHO and again, YMMV. (Yes, I’ve followed football for several decades now, even played\* at 5A HS level, and I didn’t ever see as much bad behavior as I have in this past decade or so. Again, ymmv) I respect your opinion, but I disagree with it. I’m cool with that. Enjoy the rest of the season and look forward to your next year’s team. - I was faster than the big guys and bigger than the fast guys, but also vice versa. So, my primary assignment was special teams and middle LB for certain packages. I creamed and got creamed, all a part of the game. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/324 "2013-12-17T01:11:54Z")
The Stillers are bowl eligible! ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/325 "2013-12-17T01:37:59Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > The Stillers are bowl eligible! The team that Jerry and his son Ben own? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/326 "2013-12-17T01:42:35Z")
> [@For You](#): > > The team that Jerry and his son Ben own? The Giants? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/327 "2013-12-17T04:33:48Z")
It was not a clean hit. The Steeler defender placed the crown of the helmet into Kevin Huber’s chin, and not only broke his jaw, but cracked a vertebrae in his neck. Stiller football!!!111 ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/328 "2013-12-17T04:39:28Z")
The rule against that kind of hit is informally called the “Hines Ward rule.” Steelers fans defended his dirty hits for fourteen years - you can’t expect 'em to stop now. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/329 "2013-12-17T04:50:02Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > The Giants? No, no, the _Stillers_. You know, they were in _Zoolander_ ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/330 "2013-12-17T05:37:56Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > Haha, toasting the dedication of a Steelers fan. Oh no, they lost a few games. You must be really hardcore to hang in there instead of jumping ship at the second loss like the rest of the fair weather hilljacks. What. He’s been at this for 11? years now. That’s approaching the time from Elway’s retirement to now. Admittedly the Steelers have put on a better show in that time than my team, but c’mon, I was trying to be nice. No place for that in a Steelers thread I guess, but I’m weird like that so there ya go. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/331 "2013-12-17T12:56:40Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > It was not a clean hit. The Steeler defender placed the crown of the helmet into Kevin Huber’s chin, and not only broke his jaw, but cracked a vertebrae in his neck. > > Stiller football!!!111 I’m a bit torn about it. Watching it over again I think he knew he was laying out the punter but it did look like he lead with the shoulder. Regardless a penalty and fine would be warranted for hitting a defenceless player. I never liked the rule about the punter being defenseless on a return but now I’m not so sure. The situational awareness and ability to learn to brace for a hit aren’t something you can develop in practice, especially now where they’re barely allowed to hit on the practice field. Huber actually made a joke about it on Twitter and changed his avatar to a pic of him getting laid out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/332 "2013-12-18T21:57:52Z")
The NFL announced Garvin’s fine today. $25,000. Expensive lesson for him. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/333 "2013-12-19T14:05:24Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > The NFL announced Garvin’s fine today. $25,000. Expensive lesson for him. Guess that ends the legal/illegal debate and starts a new one on refs competency. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/334 "2013-12-19T21:59:40Z")
In several of these cases the lack of a call upset the opposing teams more than the offence itself and I agree with them. Intentional or not, both Tomlin and Garvin should have been penalized. We all understand missed calls here and there but those seemed to be clear misses by the officials IMO. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/335 "2013-12-19T22:34:11Z")
Officiating has been hotly discussed all year all over the NFL. Games should NEVER be put in question by bad officiating. Quite frankly, I think the Ratbirds holding on to beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl was due, at least in part, by some (IMHO, YMMV!!!) calls that I thought were somewhat questionable. Including decisions made about possession, timing, and ball spotting. Yeah, they beat Denver fair and square, but I feel like they got the SB kind of handed to them. Or, maybe I’m just disgruntled… **YMMV!!!** ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/336 "2013-12-20T12:40:05Z")
Complaining about the officiating is unmanly. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/337 "2013-12-20T23:23:41Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Quite frankly, I think the Ratbirds holding on to beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl was due, at least in part, by some (IMHO, YMMV!!!) calls that I thought were somewhat questionable. You mean like the [kickoff returned for a TD](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPRQIx8qFGY) in the second half, with the ridiculous uncalled holding (around 10s in, right next to the runner)? Baltimore got seven free points on that, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/338 "2013-12-22T19:51:27Z")
So it looks like one of the things that has to happen for Pittsburgh to have a shot is going to happen. The Bills are making Miami look really bad, the game isn’t as close as the 10-0 score indicates. If they win it falls on the Patsies to beat the Rats (phooey, can’t they both lose?) and Pittsburgh has to handle their own business in the blizzard in Green Bay against the Rodgers-less Pack. Can it happen? Can Pittsburgh stay alive for one more week? Stay tuned. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/339 "2013-12-22T23:39:38Z")
The Steelers just got straight jobbed. Unreal. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126/340 "2013-12-22T23:50:33Z")
Possession is not challengeable; did I really hear them say that? Because we have never seen a review determine possession right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-khadaji-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/668126.md?page=18)