Detroit Lions

He should have been suspended for even putting a hand on a ref ontop of being fined.

Starting to think after Coach Schwartz's little tantrum over the illegal hit on Ponder that part of Detroit's issues are coaching. He clearly has no problems with a cheap shot every now and then. Most likely only got mad at Harbaugh earlier in the year because Harbaugh beat him to it.

Ponder was and should be legal game on an interception if he runs down the field showing any effort that he may be making a play on the ball regardless of how far away from the ball.  Players make blocks away from the ball all the time not knowing which way the play may go especially on an inteception.  Quarterbacks are way too protected in the league and it could not have happened to a better team than the queens.....GO LIONS!!!

Allen, it was not a block in the back. The only reason it was called was because it was away from the ball. 

Allen Said:

Yes, but it was a block in the back and it was 25 yds away from the ball carrier.

It was cheap, illegal and resulted in a penalty flag which suggests I am not the only one on the planet who saw it for what it was.

BTW, since Stafford has been shown to be a little fragile over his time in the NFL, I don't think the Lions fans would have appreciated him taking a lick like that either.

The ref basically had his choice of what to call IMHO.  Either way it was an illegal act and worthy of the flag.

Refresh my memory here (I DVR'd the game and speed watched it), but didn't Ponder essentially hit the ground on his side and/or face?  Pretty tough to put someone down on their side/face if you "block" them legally from the front.

Allen, I agree with everything you have said.  But taylor is correct on the fact that it wasn't a block in the back.  Another lions player had pushed Ponder when Tulloch came running in and blindsided him.  He flipped in the air and landed on his face and then rolled over on his back.  No matter how you look at it, it was another cheap shot by the lions.  Let alone it was done right in front of the ref and he was well away from the ball (QB still has protection at this point), I think it even happened as the player was running out of bounce with the ball. My 2 cents....

Is this not football? When I use to play and granted it was only high school but on an interception that was the first person that you were taught to go after and make sure that they were on the ground.  Was it a cheap shot, depends on who you talk to Ward from Pittsburgh did stuff like that to safetys and corners for years and those are called good hit and since they hit the QB it is a big deal.  Ponder is a football player or wait I forgot the QB's are not football players they are QB's and they need to put them in a bubble so they cant get hurts or give them flags.  Once he threw the pick he was a defender and in my books get him, put him on the ground. 

Finally someone with some reasoning on this site...will I go as far as to say was it needed, perhaps not but that's not the point.  He was in the field of play and was a defender after the int...yes the league protects quarterbacks, especially Rodgers but that doesn't take away that it's football played at the highest level.  Stafford has taken shots game in and game out that would be flagged if he was a "golden child" of the league.  Just happy to see my Kitties stomping the Queens and yes I think Suh is an idiot and all the careless penalties are from a lack of discipline but its coming from a team that has had to fight day in day out to just compete and gain credibility in the league...They might not make the playoffs but they are not as sheity as the Bears or Queens and thats Division football baby!  
Happy Holidays and Go Motor City Kitties!!!!!! 

Talk about calls.  Holy smokes I know we are out to protect the QB but man, those two roughing the passer calls on Tebow were plum ridiculous!  Am not saying that because I am a Bears' fan but man, they were not worthy of the flag.  I think a lot of calls are not worthy but these fit the bill of ridiculous.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree crown.  I think the flag was warrented and not just because I am a Queens fan.  It's not like the game hinged on this call and to be honest the Queens had no business being in the game at the end.  I guess that says more about Detroit than the Queens 

Im a Lions fan and I love the fact that they are playing with with some  fire but i think there is a fine line between intensity and playing stupid.
With that said, they are not the first team to play like this and they are still really young. Give them some time and i think they will rope it in. This is the first time in a long time anyone from this organization has had success and i think they are just having trouble handling it. In the next few years they should become one of the elite teams. Go LIONS and WINGS.

Clearly the big hit was not a block in the back.  Probably a little unnecessary but hey, its football.  Perfectly legal hit....You want to see wicked and borderline/cheap, check out Harrison's hit on Colt McCoy.  Can't believe the guy is alive let alone stayed in the game!!  You want to play two hand touch, there a plenty of leagues to get into!!  Don't pay as much however.  The QB's in this league may as well just start wearing red jerseys.  This is biggest reason I feel Manning better retire.  He takes either of these two hits and may never walk again!!  Dangerous stuff but that is what you sign up for when you ink that multi-million dollar contract.