Dolphins believe Patriots had illegal formation on the FG block

[soxhop411]

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin 7s7 seconds ago
Source: #Dolphins believe #Patriots had illegal formation on the FG block, should've been flagged. Miami is submitting play to NFL office

 

[DJnVa]

I hope they get satisfaction on that and it soothes them during the long offseason.

 

[Shelterdog]

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin 7s7 seconds ago
Source: #Dolphins believe #Patriots had illegal formation on the FG block, should've been flagged. Miami is submitting play to NFL office

 

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't.
 
Too bad so sad.

 

[Stitch01]

Cool, we'll trade those seven points and replay last years AFC title game at home.

 

[Ed Hillel]

#Cheatriots

 

[tims4wins]

I'm fine if the NFL wants to change the score to 34-16. Maybe that will make Miami feel better this winter.
 
I can't think of a more appropriate time, ever, to write LOLBOOHOO

 

[E5 Yaz]

WGAS

 

[ifmanis5]

LOL, what about their bizarre punt formation? Did we ever get a ruling on that?

 

[Darnell's Son]

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin 7s7 seconds ago
Source: #Patriots believe #Dolphins still believe the third quarter happened. New England is submitting the tape to NFL office 

 

[tims4wins]

Here is the screen shot. Pats have 6 guys on the line to the right of the ball. Is that illegal?
 

 

[MainerInExile]

What exactly did they think was illegal?  Surely we have pictures, and could see for ourselves.

 

[Laser Show]

I'm fine if the NFL wants to change the score to 34-16. Maybe that will make Miami feel better this winter.
 
I can't think of a more appropriate time, ever, to write LOLBOOHOO

Obviously late to the party here, but it bears repeating
 
lol boo hoo

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin 7s7 seconds ago
Source: #Dolphins believe #Patriots had illegal formation on the FG block, should've been flagged. Miami is submitting play to NFL office

How else were the Pats supposed to put that illegally recorded video of the Dolphins' practice to good use?

 

[grimshaw]

I think the announcer was saying something about using another player to jump off of or something like that.  It didn't make sense to me.

 

[mascho]

Here is the formation in question:
 
After he consults with the official Hightower shifts to his right/offense's left:

 

[StupendousMan]

Dolphins are contending that Collins was in the line, not behind it.

 

[DJnVa]

Here is the screen shot. Pats have 6 guys on the line to the right of the ball. Is that illegal?
 

 
 
Per this article: http://www.si.com/nfl/audibles/2013/12/29/san-diego-chargers-uncalled-penalty-kansas-city-chiefs-missed-field-goal
 

Before the 2013 season, the NFL's Competition Committee put in place a new rule by which teams are not allowed to have more than six defenders on either side of the snapper during any field goal try
 

Here's the thing though, we don't have more than 6 on the line, we have 6. And in the link I posted, they mention the Chargers had 7 guys to one side. There's actually an 8th guy standing behind them, so I think the rule is more than 6 on the LOS.
 
EDIT: Here's a Mike Pereria tweet:
 

 
They are correct. SD had more than 6 players on one side of the center on the line of scrimmage. That is a new rule and a foul.
 

 
Based on that, the NE formation was not illegal. Pats had 6 on LOS.
 
 

Rule 9, Section 1, Article 3 (b) (1) of the NFL Rule Book (page 51) states that “No more than six Team B players may be on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper at the snap.”
 

 

[Ed Hillel]

Here's what I've found:
 
 
 

"(a) When Team A presents a punt, field-goal attempt or a Try Kick formation, a Team B player, who is within 1 yard of the line of scrimmage, must have his entire body outside the snapper's shoulder pads at the snap. (b) When Team A presents a field-goal or Try Kick formation: (1) No more than six Team B players may be on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper at the snap; Penalty: For illegal formation by the defense, loss of 5 yards from the previous spot. (2) Team B players cannot push teammates on the line of scrimmage into the offensive formation. Penalty: For unnecessary roughness, loss of 15 yards from the previous spot."

 
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000237712/article/new-nfl-rules-overloading-line-restriction-will-protect-linemen
 
Unless there's some other new rule, this seems legal to me. Collins is pretty clearly not on the line.

 

[joe dokes]

Maybe they are claiming Collins was a 7th guy "on the line of scrimmage"?
 
 
 
 
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000237712/article/new-nfl-rules-overloading-line-restriction-will-protect-linemen
 
 (b) When Team A presents a field-goal or Try Kick formation: (1) No more than six Team B players may be on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper at the snap;

 

[Shelterdog]

Dolphins are contending that Collins was in the line, not behind it.

 
Yup, that's what Volin is saying--the theory is that since his leg is between the DL's leg he is on the line. 

 

[kartvelo]

IIRC, there was some on-air speculation that Collins might have had to climb the backs of his teammates to get that high, but I think it was said jokingly and just in passing.

 

[joe dokes]

Maybe they are claiming Collins was a 7th guy "on the line of scrimmage"?
 
 
 
 
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000237712/article/new-nfl-rules-overloading-line-restriction-will-protect-linemen
 
 (b) When Team A presents a field-goal or Try Kick formation: (1) No more than six Team B players may be on the line of scrimmage on either side of the snapper at the snap;

 
EDIT: and the last shall be last.

 

[DJnVa]

 
Yup, that's what Volin is saying--the theory is that since his leg is between the DL's leg he is on the line. 

 

Well then, that's a judgment call isn't it? And there's likely dozens of calls that could be sent to league office if that's the standard.

 

[steveluck7]

Judging by that picture, Collins' left foot on the 20. the rest of the line is at the 21-22 and the ball is on the 23

 

[Scriblerus]

Am I missing something here?  Collins left foot appears to be standing on the 20 yard line.  The ball is on the 23. 

 

[IdiotKicker]

Collins was two yards behind the LoS. There is nothing illegal in that formation. Sorry for being ridiculously athletic and able to leap tall linemen in a single bound. Next?

 

[H78]

There's really nothing to see here.
 
They thought they were better than they are after winning in Week 1. Then they got yesterday's curb stomping.
 
Boo hoo, Miami. Maybe you need to focus more on covering Gronk and Edelman and less on a fringe-penalty that even if reversed would have seen you lose by 21 instead of 28.

 

[Ed Hillel]

The Pats damn-near blocked the second FG as well. Casillas, I believe it was, went straight through their line and just missed getting in front of it. Maybe they should work on their blocking instead.

 

[Corsi]

Here's a closeup of Collins.  Clearing coming from behind the LOS.
 
https://twitter.com/RachelGBowers/status/544192207998029824

 

[Stitch01]

Its also not necessarily being bad sports to write to the NFL office and make sure that you understand a rule correctly.

 

[dbn]

Video here. At the 38s mark there is a good side-view. Nothing illegal. 
 

 

[Ed Hillel]

Its also not necessarily being bad sports to write to the NFL office and make sure that you understand a rule correctly.

 
While true, the rule is fairly clear. If they need help with that one (which has been around nearly 2 years now)...well, I guess it's Joe Philbin.
 
#11-3*

 

[Corsi]

 

[KiltedFool]

So he was clearly behind the LOS, took 3 steps on the ground and jumped.  No efforts to boost off a teammate etc.  Smells like butthurt to me.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

I'd be embarrassed to be on the whining side of that argument. On that side view shot above, we've got guys with paws on the 23 and Jamie Collins has a foot on the 20. If he was on offense and in the slot, we'd be whining about why he wasn't within a yard of the line and blaming that for being slow into a route. 

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

If only they put two refs exactly on the LOS to look for exactly this we wouldn't have to speculate.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Maybe they just want something to do in two weeks.

 

[Devizier]

The only thing illegal about that play was the criminally bad blocking performance by the right side of Miami's line.

 

[Harry Hooper]

Dolphins withdraw complaint after entire team taken to Dairy Queen for a dipped cone.

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Are the Dolphins making some asinine assumption that a FG blocker is by definition on the LOS. Because this makes no sense otherwise.

 

[DJnVa]

Are the Dolphins making some asinine assumption that a FG blocker is by definition on the LOS. Because this makes no sense otherwise.

 
You are discounting one other thing: they cannot count.
 
The AFC East is wide open!!!

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Dolphins withdraw complaint after entire team taken to Dairy Queen for a dipped cone.

The best.

 

[DJnVa]

So, I'm guessing the Pats weren't fined a draft pick here?
 
I googled "Miami derp derp" to see what came of this but couldn't track anything down.

 

[kolbitr]

Volin reported that the league ruled that NE did nothing wrong, and mentioned Blandino will discuss it (tmw?).