PFWA Pool Reporter Ben Baby Interview with Referee Shawn Hochuli
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Question: Can we get clarification on why the crew did not call defensive pass interference or illegal contact or any penalty on Cam Taylor-Britt on the interception returned for a touchdown in the first quarter?
Hochuli: “So on that play we ruled the receiver stumbled right off the line and then there was incidental contact that brought him down. If there was a potential grab or hold, that was at an angle that we wouldn’t have seen. But our ruling, again, was that he stumbled off the line and then incidental contact occurred.”
Question: There was a clarification that you gave regarding George Pickens’ second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that it wasn’t part of the disqualifying type. Can you explain the difference between the two and kind of what goes into that?
Hochuli: “Yes, that’s a great question. So, the rule of two unsportsmanlike conduct fouls for disqualification really applies to taunting-type acts directed towards an opponent. There’s a couple of others in that category, but in this particular case, the first of those fouls was of that nature – his first in the first half was a taunt for throwing the ball at the player. On the second, however, it was not directed at an opponent and so it’s not considered a taunt. It’s an unsportsmanlike conduct foul but not considered a taunt that would apply towards disqualification.”
