NFL: Joe Staley should not have been flagged for fight with Clay Matthews
By Bryant West
A blown call during the San Francisco 49ers/Green Bay Packers contest lead to some debate over the eventual outcome, but the NFL stepped in on Monday and attempted to clear up the mess.
The 49ers edged the Packers 34-28, but a 2nd quarter scuffle led to what seemed to be a blown call in favor of the 49ers. After a third-and-6 play at the Green Bay 10-yard line in the second quarter, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was hit out of bounds by the Packers Clay Matthews. Matthews was hit by a personal foul penalty, but 49ers tackle Joe Staley retaliated against Matthews and drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of his own.
The refs allowed the 49ers to replay the third-and-6 play, which San Francisco converted into an Anquan Boldin touchdown. Official Bill Leavy admitted after the game that the two penalties offsetting each other should have made it 4th down.
Now the NFL has stepped in and says that Staley should not have been flagged, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
From the league: Dean Blandino reviewed it & determined that Staley should not have been flagged. It should have been 1st & goal from the 3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 9, 2013
The NFL’s stance won’t end the entire debate, but it at least clears it up somewhat. The 49ers, according to the NFL, should have had a 1st down, not the 4th down Leavy said it should have been.