Now that the NFL reviews all scoring plays, it's no longer necessary for coaches to challenge controversial scores.
Did we say "no longer necessary"? Make that "no longer allowed," as first-year San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh discovered Sunday against the Lions.
After a 16-yard touchdown pass from Matt Stafford to Brandon Pettigrew, the Niners were not convinced Pettigrew made the catch. Harbaugh's knee-jerk reaction was to toss his red beanbag.
But tossing the challenge flag on an unchallengable play is an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Not only did the TD stand, but the Niners were penalized 15 yards.
File this incident under "Mistakes an NFL head coach only makes once."
