San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch was this week pretty adamant there was nothing wrong with a hit from Tashaun Gipson that drew a crucial unnecessary roughness penalty in their narrow loss to the Cleveland Browns. It's clear that, on review, the NFL agrees.
Gipson was flagged on a third down stop with under three minutes remaining for a hit on Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore that was ruled to be forcible contact to the head area. Instead of the 49ers getting the ball back, it allowed the Browns to keep the drive alive and take a 19-17 lead they did not reliquish, handing the Niners their first defeat of the campaign.
Replays indicated the contact was in fact to the shoulder area, and the league provided a subtle admission the call was incorrect by electing not to fine Gipson.
Earlier in the week, Lynch told KNBR of Gipson's hit: "I honestly believe that should be on the teach tape on how to avoid illegal hits. I thought Gip did a great job there. I’ll leave it at that."
Asked by reporters for his thoughts on the flag, Gipson, per 49ers Webzone, said: "It was definitely tough. When everything happened, it was a bang-bang play. But once you watch the replays and things like that, slow motion, it makes it worse because, as a competitor, you look and you see, what else would I would do different? I don't know.
"But the league is about protecting players. I don't think that I did nothing viciously or dirty to draw the flag. It's just football."
Gipson has no plans on changing the way he plays the game and the 49ers won't want him to do so. They will just have to hope they get a more lenient officiating crew next time he finds himself in such a situation.
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