Mora files 17 complaints with NFL after Hawks' loss to Cardinals
ERIC D. WILLIAMS; The News Tribune
Renton – After reviewing video of his team’s 31-20 loss to Arizona, Seattle Seahawks Jim Mora had a long list of concerns he submitted to the league’s officiating office on Monday for their consideration.
Seventeen to be exact.
Among the gievances: an Arizona pass play directed to Larry Fitzgerald which resulted in a pass interference call on cornerback Marcus Trufant.
Mora thought the call should have gone the other way.
“The one where Fitzgerald grabbed him by the facemask and pulled his head down?” said Mora when asked about the play. “Yeah, I questioned that one. We’ll see what they say.”
Also on Mora’s list was an incident that occurred late in the second quarter after Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was sacked by linebacker Clark Haggans. At the end of the play, Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett appears to intentionally press his forearm down on Hasselbeck’s throat as he gets up from the play. Hasselbeck later got up holding his throat, appearing to struggle to clear his throat and breathe. Hasselbeck later confronted Dockett about the play.
“I don’t like when it’s our quarterback, but if they’re not going to call it, then I’d like to see our guys do it to their quarterback,” Mora said. “If they’re not going to call it. I don’t know what the rule is. I haven’t heard back yet, so I don’t know what they’re seeing there. But if that’s not going to be called, then we should be doing it.”
Asked if Dockett’s actions should be called a penalty, Mora responded: “Yeah, absolutely. But if it’s not going to be, then we should be doing it.”
Dockett responded to Mora’s accusations via his Twitter account on Monday.
“Dear Coach Mora, it’s football (stuff) happens,” he said. “If u ever played the game ud understand. Really I would try to hurt matt. He’s a good guy.”
Dockett later added another tweet, changing “would” to “wouldn’t.”
Asked if he should be advocating his players doing those types of things on the field, Mora had this to say: “If it’s legal I can. If it’s illegal, then it would be called. If it’s legal than we should be doing it.
“I would never advocate us doing anything illegal, nor would I ever advocate us doing anything that would intentionally harm another player. But if that’s legal and the league is not going to call that, then we should be doing it, because it has an affect on the quarterback when he can’t breathe.
“When Matt’s getting up and he can’t breathe,” said Mora, simulating his quarterback gasping for air. “Boy, I’d like to see their quarterback doing that. It’s a vicious game. I’m not saying anything that anyone else wouldn’t say.”
Jones has bruised lung
Mora said running back Julius Jones suffered a bruised lung, and also may have suffered a cracked rib. Jones stayed remained in a Phoenix-area hospital overnight and returned to Seattle on Monday. After the game, Mora had reported that Jones had suffered a cracked rib.
Jones rushed two times for 7 yards before appearing to suffer the injury in the first quarter while pass blocking linebacker Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby.
Backup running back Justin Forsett played well in place of Jones, finishing with 123 yards on 17 carries and an 11-yard touchdown.
Jones is unlikely to play Sunday against Minnesota, Mora said.
“They just took the proper precautions in not having him travel yesterday with that injury,” Mora said.
Mora said other than Jones all his players came through the game relatively healthy.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/
