By Bill Bradley, contributing editor
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Nick Moody did not use the crown of his helmet against Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson during last Sunday's game.
Moody was flagged for a roughing-the-passer penalty, which NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said Friday during his media officiating video that it shouldn't have been called a penalty.
"The rule is clear for a quarterback who is in that passing posture," Blandino said. "You can't hit him forcibly in the head or neck area and you can't use the crown or the forehead part of the helmet to make contact to the body. That's the key, that second part.
"He hits (Wilson) with the facemask to the body. We are looking for here really is either forcible contact with either crown or the very top of the helmet or the forehead ... with that dipping and ripping type action into the chest."
"What we're really looking for is ... (players) who lower their head and bury the helmet into the chest of the quarterback," he said, adding that the key is to watch where the defenders eyes are pointed. If the rusher is looking down, then it is likely that he is about to perform an illegal tackle."
