Jim Harbaugh was irate on the sidelines following a pivotal roughing the passer penalty in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Speaking on NFL Network's NFL AM Dean Blandino, the NFL's vice president of officiating, said referees got the call wrong.
"In looking at it, it was not (the correct call)," Blandino said. "The rule protects a passer from two types of hits: Hits to the head or neck, or hits with the crown or forehead, which is just below the crown part of the helmet, and that's what the referee called.
"It's close, but when you look at it on tape, (49ers linebacker Nick) Moody's head is up, he hits with more of the side and the facemask to the body of the quarterback, and in our review, with the ability to look at it in slow motion, it's not a foul."
Blandino said that if head referee Ed Hochuli didn't see the play clearly he shouldn't have made the call, even though it's a close play.
"Certainly, if he doesn't see the whole action, we don't want him to throw the flag," Blandino said. "Ed was getting into position and he saw him, or what he thought he saw ducking the head and making the contact, so he wouldn't throw the flag if he didn't see it, but it obviously happens quick, it's full-speed, and he doesn't have the benefit of the slow motion replays that we all do after the fact."
Giving refs or coaches that benefit of slow motion replays on personal fouls can't come fast enough.
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