Normally I don’t write about sports, the NFL in particular.  That’s because my business is sports marketing.  My company has merchandised “hot market” properties, including the Super Bowl for many years.  I made a decision a long time ago not to become emotionally involved with any NFL team, because my heart had been broken too many times.  Last night’s game is a reminder of why I decided to disengage.

I watched the Green Bay/Cardinals game last night and thought at the end, “man what a lousy way for Green Bay to lose!”   I missed the final play because I switched channels for moment and came back to see the replay of the touchdown.  I saw all I needed to see, Green Bay lost in a heart breaker.  What a way to lose a big game, right?

Then this morning I got up and much to my surprise I find that Green Bay didn’t lose in heart breaker, they were robbed!  The refs “missed” one of the most blatant face mask calls I’ve ever seen.

When Adams  sacked Rodgers he held on to his face mask and twisted forcefully … disgusting!  There should have been a 15 yard penalty against the Cardinals.  The way Rogers was throwing last night there was a very good chance of the Pack going down the field for a Field goal or a touchdown.

Want more? This is from NFL Fanhouse

Here’s the section of the rulebook that applies to roughing the passer in this situation (12-2-13, p. 85):

In covering the passer position, Referees will be particularly alert to fouls in which defenders impermissibly use the helmet and/or facemask to hit the passer, or use hands, arms, or other parts of the body to hit the passer in the head, neck, or face (see also the other unnecessary-roughness rules covering these subjects). A defensive player must not use his facemask or other part of his helmet against a passer who is in a virtually defenseless posture — for example, (a) forcibly hitting the passer’s head, neck, or face with the helmet or facemask, regardless of whether the defensive player also uses his arms to tackle the passer by encircling or grasping him, or (b) lowering the head and violently or unnecessarily making forcible contact with the “hairline” or forehead part of the helmet against any part of the passer’s body. This rule does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or non-crown parts of the helmet in the course of a conventional tackle on a passer.