Defensive backs get hands-on lesson on new rule

"They can't call it the Ty Law Rule anymore," said Law, referring to the emphasis on pass interference many feel was created because of his performance in last season's AFC Championship game. "We can call it the Asante Samuel Rule, or the Tyrone Poole Rule."

Or even the Rodney Harrison Rule. After the Patriots' 27-24 win over the Colts last night, that might be in order. The Patriots were called for four pass interference penalties.

With only one flag thrown in the secondary in the first half, there seemed little difference in the way the referees were calling pass interference. In the second, though, the Patriots were hit with what they felt were a rash of iffy pass interference calls brought about by the new emphasis on stopping defensive backs from impeding receivers after 5 yards.

"That's a tough rule," said Harrison, who was called for defensive holding in the third quarter and illegal use of hands in the first. "Every time downfield, you try to knock a ball down, you have to hold your breath and look around. And they're going to keep calling it. I just think football should be football. Stop favoring offenses."

Twice on the drive that led to Brandon Stokely's touchdown reception, cutting the Patriots' lead to 27-24 with 5:18 left in the game, New England defensive backs were flagged. Poole was caught for illegal contact and Mike Vrabel was called for holding away from the play.

If not for Edgerrin James's fumble on the 1-yard line late in the fourth quarter, the play that set up the run might have been the game's most controversial. Peyton Manning fired a pass to Reggie Wayne in the corner of the end zone that fell incomplete. It appeared there was little contact, but Samuel was flagged for pass interference.

Samuel thought his defense was legal. Harrison and Eugene Wilson barked at the referee who threw the flag to no avail.

"I don't know why he called it," Samuel said. "I was really surprised."

So miffed was Samuel, after he saw the yellow flag hit the end zone, the cornerback approached the official and actually asked him why he threw the flag.

Samuel wasn't the only Patriot who was upset with the call.

"They definitely called it close," said Law. "There was a couple calls out there that I questioned. They got us a couple of times. We're probably not going to get those calls. They're going to go to the offense."

The holding calls on Vrabel and Harrison especially frustrated Law, since they occurred away from the action.

"Those calls away from the balls, those are the ones that are going to kill defenses," Law said. "The ball's not even thrown over there, and they call illegal contact. It's very frustrating."

Law said he didn't change his style, instead suggesting the receivers altered their game to take advantage of the rule.

He noticed Colts receiver Marvin Harrison played farther back from the line of scrimmage than he normally does. That would allow him to get a cleaner break off the line, limiting the ability of defensive backs to jam him.

"If I was a receiver, I would, too," Law said. "If I was playing against me, I'd back up. That's a better way to get a release."

The result was a far cry from last season's AFC Championship game, when Law and the Patriots battered Colts receivers and picked off Manning four times. The popular belief is that game convinced the NFL to emphasize calling pass interference.

This time, Manning threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns with just one interception.

With yellow falling to the ground like leaves in autumn, the Patriots got the message: No matter how much they like treating receivers like pinatas, they can't do it. Not this season, anyway.

"After 5 yards, we got our hands off them," Samuel said. "We tried to play for the new rule. You have to think, `Oh, 5 yards, I can't touch them.' Don't put your hands on them."

"It's a hard adjustment," said Wilson. "But it's something we're going to have to deal with all year."