Comments on: Classic Moments in Bears-Packers Rivalry: Don Majkowski Replay Game

By: Adam

Adam — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:06:25 +0000

ChicagoIrish5,

The rule is that the passer’s entire body has to be past the line of scrimmage for it to be illegal, which clearly Majkowski was not entirely past the line.

Do you have any actual evidence that the rule was different in 1989, or are you just saying that because you can’t win the argument without it?

By: deez

deez — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:12:37 +0000

A few days ago the magic man himself was talking to some of the guys on espn (waddle and silvey?) and he holds true to this day that he wasn’t over the line.

However, he said that if the bears win this sunday, he will admit that he was actually over the line and the bears should have won that game. Not that it will change anything that happened but if don is willing to flip flip maybe the call isn’t as “obvious” as you think.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:22:31 +0000

That’s kinda what I meant above about “parsing and legalistic”.

By: chicagoirish5

chicagoirish5 — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:15:02 +0000

It’s a “gift” TD because back in ’89 no part of the QB or the ball (witin the throwing motion) could go past the line in order to be called a legal pass. Although there is no clear angle it is/was safe to assume the throwing motion and ball went past the 14 yard line. That’s why this was a bad call back then – the focuse on the Magic Man’s foot on the 15 yard line and not the ball/throwing motion. With no clear angle, this call should not have been overturned.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 01:10:40 +0000

Thanks from Packerland for acknowledging that. I’ve always thought it was pretty obviously good, although I understand why Beardom hates losing on a “technicality” – which replay was still considered by many at the time. I recall an argument that the rule was about the position of the ball at release, not where the foot was, but that seems even more parsing and legalistic than the actual ruling.

Oh, and the Pack rules, Bears suck, and all that stuff, too.

By: Chris Sauer

Chris Sauer — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:29:12 +0000

Not sure why you call this a ‘gift’ touchdown. Even a Bears fan can appreciate a great play from an opposing team.