Chris Chester says Steelers are misinterpreting collision with James Harrison

[mesaSteeler]

baltimoresun.com
Chris Chester says Steelers are misinterpreting collision with James Harrison
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-7313040
By Edward Lee, The Baltimore Sun

6:44 PM EST, December 9, 2010

A day after several Pittsburgh Steelers accused Ravens right guard Chris Chester of intentionally trying to injure outside linebacker James Harrison, Chester said the Steelers are misinterpreting what happened.

On the play in question in Sunday night's 13-10 loss to Pittsburgh, Chester lined up on the left side of the offensive line for an extra-point attempt. Chester plunged forward before the ball had been snapped and collided with Harrison.

Harrison and several of his teammates said that Chester was deliberately aiming for Harrison. Chester argued otherwise.

"It's unfortunate that they feel that way," he said Thursday. "It was simply a mix-up in the huddle call on what we were trying to do, and I can't say too much with respect to our schemes. I don't want to give away too much information, but it was simply a mix-up in the huddle call."

Steelers inside linebacker James Farrior called it "a dirty play," which Chester denied.

"It's not as it may appear to them," he said. "No, there was nothing malicious about it."

Ravens left tackle Michael Oher did not sound surprised that emotions from that game continue to simmer.

"It's a bitter rivalry," he said with a chuckle. "We don't like them and they don't like us. That's the way the cookie crumbles."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh addressed the matter briefly.

"I have nothing to say about it," he said. "That game is history. It's not relevant to what we're trying to do in this game."

When a reporter followed up by saying he wanted to give Harbaugh a chance to respond to Harrison's accusation, Harbaugh replied, "I could care less what he thinks."

Ngata will appeal fine

Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata said he will appeal the $15,000 fine levied by the NFL after his left hand struck Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the face Sunday night.

Roethlisberger suffered a broken nose on the play in the first quarter, but no penalty was called on Ngata. On Monday, however, the league assessed the fine and also punished inside linebacker Jameel McClain to the tune of $40,000 for his collision with Steelers tight end Heath Miller.

"Of course, I think it's not right," he said of the fine Thursday. "I feel like there was no other way I could have played that play because I'm swimming the guard; he starts to duck, and my arm is coming down over the guard. But I'm going to appeal it and see if hopefully, I can get some money back."

Ngata said he doesn't expect a decision for two to four weeks.

Landry keeps cool

Strong safety Dawan Landry's inability to bring down running back Isaac Redman on a 9-yard touchdown pass that propelled Pittsburgh to victory has generated a lot of rage from fans, who remember that Landry also failed to tackle running back Jason Snelling on a 28-yard touchdown catch in the team's 26-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 11.

Landry was unflustered when told of the mounting criticism.

"It was a play," he said. "It was a smoke route, and he broke a tackle. Give him credit."

Landry said he didn't stew about the missed tackle, emphasizing one of the common tenets of playing in the secondary.

"You've got to have a short memory as a member of the secondary," he said. "Every play that goes on, whether you make it or not, is going to be magnified. That just comes with the territory. You've got to have short memory playing our position."

(rest of the article does not concern the Steelers - mesa)

Ed Reed: Hines Ward 'tried to cheap-shot me'
11:58 AM
http://content.usatoday.com/communit...heap-shot-me/1

Accusations of cheap shots flew both ways between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday.

On the same day Steelers players alleged a "dirty play" tried to take out LB James Harrison, Ravens S Ed Reed said Pittsburgh WR Hines Ward made a similar gesture at him.

By Rafael Suanes, US Presswire

And, amid heavy fines being thrust upon many defensive players this season for illegal hits, Reed called for the league to make a similar crackdown on offensive players.

He alleged that Ward blocked him with the crown of his helmet early in the Steelers' win at Baltimore on Sunday.

"He tried to cheap-shot me, and he didn't get a fine," Reed said, via BaltimoreRavens.com. "He came at me with his head down. I moved out the way. Who's going to go police that?"

Two Ravens were fined for illegal hits in the loss to Pittsburgh, with Jameel McClain docked $40,000 and Haloti Ngata $15,000.

And Reed saw clear differences between Ward's block on him and McClain's hit on Heath Miller that drew the fine.

"You've got to see that he came at me," Reed said. (Ward was) trying to do it. (McClain) wasn't trying to hurt the guy. He's just playing football. (Ward) was trying to hurt me. He was trying to take me out the game.

"What are they going to do about that? They're not going to do anything about that."

-- Sean Leahy

[Atlanta Dan]

"It's unfortunate that they feel that way," he said Thursday. "It was simply a mix-up in the huddle call on what we were trying to do, and I can't say too much with respect to our schemes. I don't want to give away too much information, but it was simply a mix-up in the huddle call."

Chester thought a running play had been called on the extra point?

Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt

As for Reed and Harbaugh - 4 days later and they are still b****ing - good - lose your focus for Monday night

[CargoJon]

Ngata will appeal fine

Is he on drugs??

[austinfrench76]

Just like always, I hate the Ratbird!! It is awesome though that now they're getting fined, Harbitch is not so ass-kissy with the league as he was in his pre game interview. All I can say is hahahahahahahahahahahaajajaha!!!!!! We won!

[lionslicer]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

"It's unfortunate that they feel that way," he said Thursday. "It was simply a mix-up in the huddle call on what we were trying to do, and I can't say too much with respect to our schemes. I don't want to give away too much information, but it was simply a mix-up in the huddle call."

Chester thought a running play had been called on the extra point?

Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt

As for Reed and Harbaugh - 4 days later and they are still b****ing - good - lose your focus for Monday night

They didn't even do a huddle, they just ran out there and kicked the extra point... And before they go onto the field, its usually "okay extra point" there's no specific play call for it. There isn't any language like "sluggo left 25 on two"... I think he's on something... Or is just trying to take the Steeler fans as fools.

[ETL]

Any respect for Ravens ... Gone!

Losers to their bones

[Merchant]

What's the gonna do? ADMIT that he went after Harrison..? "aw shucks, you got me!"

[Riddle_Of_Steel]

"Of course, I think it's not right," he said of the fine Thursday. "I feel like there was no other way I could have played that play because I'm swimming the guard; he starts to duck, and my arm is coming down over the guard. But I'm going to appeal it and see if hopefully, I can get some money back."

I call BS on that one. I don't know if Chris Chester's maneuver was intentional, but I DO think Ngata's might have been, or it at least deserves a look. I played football for a few years, and I recall (even with how much smaller I am sure a high schooler's hands are compared to Haoli Ngata's mitt), it was almost impossible to ACCIDENTALLY stick your hands through somebody else's facemask hard enough to shatter bones. Not in the heat of the fight, there is no time and the chances of this occuring by accident is about as good a chance as somebody accidentally throwing the basketball through the hoop from the 3 point line....

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by Riddle_Of_Steel

but I DO think Ngata's might have been, or it at least deserves a look. I played football for a few years, and I recall (even with how much smaller I am sure a high schooler's hands are compared to Haoli Ngata's mitt), it was almost impossible to ACCIDENTALLY stick your hands through somebody else's facemask hard enough to shatter bones. Not in the heat of the fight, there is no time and the chances of this occuring by accident is about as good a chance as somebody accidentally throwing the basketball through the hoop from the 3 point line....

actually, with the speed of the game, it is much more impossible to PURPOSEFULLY stick ones hands through the facemask. it would take ninja marksmanship to plan that out and execute it.

if hes got those skillz chuck norris and rambo may wanna watch out and the US military may wanna look into recruiting him.

did he want to hit him in the head? who knows. did he intentionally break his nose by shoving his hamhock of an arm through a 3 inch moving slit? absolutely not.

thats besides the point.

the refs, in their infinite douchbag interpretation of goodells suck ass wussification of the rules have decided that if you even graze the helmet of manning, brees, brady, while swiping at a ball, it IS a penalty and you WILL be flagged.

i dont agree with it, but if the puss qb's are gonna get those bs calls, i sure as hell expect those who have a bounty out on ben to be called as well.

[MattsMe]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

shoving his hamhock of an arm through a 3 inch moving slit?