Sports

Final plays leave 49ers’ Harbaugh steamed

NEW ORLEANS — If you look up the word “apoplectic’’ in the dictionary you will see a picture of 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh with less than two minutes remaining in Super Bowl XLVII last night at the Superdome.

With the Ravens leading the 49ers, 34-29, and the 49ers at the Baltimore 5-yard line with a fourth down in the closing moments of the game, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick lofted a pass into the right corner of the end zone toward receiver Michael Crabtree.

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There was a lot of contact between Crabtree and Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith, who appeared to hold Crabtree, but there was no call by the referees as the pass fell incomplete to essentially clinch the Ravens’ win.

Harbaugh went nuts on the sideline and was still fuming after the game.

While trying his best to remain calm considering his brother, John, had just won the Super Bowl, Jim still could not help himself.

“I want to handle this with class and grace,’’ Harbaugh began. “But yes, there was no question in my mind that was a pass interference and a hold on Crabtree [on the last play]. In my opinion that should have been called.’’

Crabtree said the play was a check at the line, saying, “One on one [Kaepernick] thought I could make the play. I was determined to make the play and [Smith] got his hands on me. I feel like he got his hands on me. I guess the refs said he made a good play.’’

Harbaugh was also steamed by not getting a holding call on the Ravens when they had punter Sam Koch run around and out of the end zone for a safety in the final seconds of the game so he would not have to punt out of the end zone.

“I still haven’t gotten an explanation on the safety,’’ Harbaugh said. “It was obviously the Ravens’ intent to tackle and hold, but not one flag came out. It’s a good scheme on their part, but not one holding penalty was called and I haven’t gotten an explanation.’’

The reality, though, is if a holding call in the end zone was called on that play, it would have resulted in a safety anyway, which would have served the same purpose.