Yea, but when was the last time you heard a spearing penalty called? You don't see that called just because the helmet makes contact with another players body, even the the crown. It is typically only called when the player literrally makes like a spear and lunges laid out through the air like a missile and impacts head first. Lowering the helmet to body, while might technically be called as spearing is usually not called. NFL doesn't want to get rid of big hits, NFL wants to get rid of big hits on QBs and big hits to the head on all players. That was a big hit on Gio but I don't think it was an illegal hit in the context of the way the game is called. You can point to nearly any play and find a rule that could have said that a foul occurred.
When you watch the slow-mo it is clear he was going to the body, the hit glanced off the side of Gio's helmet, pushing his head out of the way, where the brunt of the force was delivered to the shoulder. No doubt he could have been flagged, and if it was I wouldn't fault the officials for throwing it, but at the same time I have no problem that it wasn't. If it was my call on the field to make I wouldn't throw the flag. I look at penalties like a court of law... it can't be borderline, it has to be a clear penalty. Too many times refs are eager to throw their flags and we get ticky tack and bad calls.
As a Cards fan I have no love for Steelers, but Bengals are out of control and act like grade school children. For Pac-man to come out and say Joey Porter shouldn't have been out their cussing us so that is why he got penalized is ridiculous and shows you the type of personalities they have. They can't just shut up and walk away and get a W and let your win do the talking. Has to be selfish and go out there and get the last word in even if it costs you the most devastating loss. The Steeler players and fans could have been in tears had they not tried to get the last jab in for their own personal motives.
