NFL rules expert discusses 2 Steelers-Browns controversies; Deshaun Watson explains facemask incidents

It’s not often you see a quarterback penalized for two plays resulting from facemask infractions. But that’s what happened to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on Monday night against the Steelers in Pittsburgh’s 26-22 win.

One exchange resulted in a third-quarter unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The other turned into a 15-yard facemask flag in the fourth quarter.

Here’s how Watson described the flags from his point of view.

“I’m stiff-arming just like anyone else. Once they grab my arm as I’m running, they keep pushing,” Watson explained during postgame comments (4:06 of this link). “So (the) only way I can really let go is to swing across. Once they do that, my hand is stuck in their helmet or in their face mask. So I’ve got to do a better job of just hitting them with the palm — I guess — and just releasing as much as I can so we don’t get those penalties.”

The first incident turned a third-and-10 into a third-and-25. The Browns had to punt.

The second flag, drawn by rookie Nick Herbig, negated a 7-yard gain on a third-and-11. On the ensuing third-and-26, the Steelers’ Damontae Kazee recovered a Cleveland fumble from tight end David Njoku, caused by Cole Holcomb.

Watson’s first penalty came along the Steelers sideline after he wrenched the facemask of Kwon Alexander. The flag was tossed during an ensuing scrum.

During the shoving that occurred, Watson tried to push away an official who was attempting to separate him from the fuss. Normally, such an action at least draws another flag and could result in an ejection.

Looks like Deshaun Watson got away with putting his hands on an official. Usually a no-no. pic.twitter.com/EbEjDiyaxO

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 19, 2023

According to Yahoo.com, per Section 12-3-1-e of the NFL rulebook, “Under no circumstance is a player allowed to shove, push, or strike an official in an offensive, disrespectful, or unsportsmanlike manner. The player shall be disqualified from the game, and any such action must be reported to the Commissioner.”

No such on-field discipline occurred. Via the NFL Network’s Pelissero, the NFL offered this explanation.

From NFL on Deshaun Watson:

Officials are called upon to maintain order on the field, and sometimes while performing those duties, there is inadvertent contact between players and officials. In this instance, in their judgment, the contact did not rise to the level of a foul. pic.twitter.com/g71i07cfUH

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 19, 2023

During his weekly appearance on WDVE, CBS rules analyst and former NFL referee Gene Steratore shared his thoughts on the incident.

“By rule, you just really can’t do that,” Steratore said. “When you see that push like, ‘Get out of my way,’ that’s a different conversation. Even though it may not have been a two-handed big shove or block in the back or good side block, you just don’t want to see them kind of try to discard you at that point.”

While Steratore is suggesting Watson and the Browns may have received a break in that instance, he also suggested the Steelers might have gotten away with the benefit of the doubt on Joey Porter Jr.’s game-sealing pass breakup in the waning seconds of the game.

Joey Porter Jr. in coverage on the game-winning stop! #CLEvsPIT pic.twitter.com/yPY5EFISDP

— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2023

“The first angle shows the right arm has kind of a handful of jersey. Then you kind of went from the back end-zone play, and you saw a left hand (with a) nice hunk of jersey as well. So I don’t know if we saw one shot that showed that there’s both hands there with the handfuls of jersey, (but), there’s a lot of contact there,” Steratore said.

Eh, so, call it even, Cleveland?