Jets: Legitimate Gripe or LOL Boo Hoo?

[RSN Diaspora]

Jets fans and some of the NY media are atwitter over the block to end last night's game, saying the official improperly moved Dont'a Hightower, rather than give him a flag for improperly lining up over the long snapper. The rules state that "When Team A presents a punt, field-goal, or Try Kick formation, a Team B player, who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage, must have his entire body outside the snapper’s shoulder pads at the snap."

Hightower was clearly within the snapper's pads, though it's questionable whether he was within a yard of the play. Had he been flagged for it, it would have, per Rule 9-1-3(a) (PDF link to the rule book), resulted in a five-yard penalty, perhaps altering Nick Folk's kick strategy.

The video is below:







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Apparently, this happens regularly. InsideHandoff.com's Zoltán Buday:



It took me 10 minutes to find two PATs over the past two weeks where a referee helped a player not line up across the long snapper
— Zoltán Buday (@zoltan_buday) October 17, 2014



Ignoring the multitude of blown calls that benefited the Jets, not the least of which was the reception on the final (David Nelson's?) drive that really ought to have been reviewed, did the officials screw this one up?

 

[Leather]

Oh, give me a break.
 
Let's start by reviewing the "Catch" on the previous play, or the "defensive holding" by Browner earlier in the quarter, or by Revis on Decker (who just slipped on a cut). 
 
The Jets got about 75% of the bullshit calls in that game.

 

[IdiotKicker]

I have a feeling the All-22 will show that he is not within a yard of the LoS anyways.  The ball is on the 40.  I don't think he ever gets closer than the 42.  Karma's a bitch, Jets.

 

[RSN Diaspora]

A couple articles on it:
NJ.com: Why did official help Patriots avoid penalty before Jets' field goal got blocked?
USA Today FTW: Did officials help Patriots avoid a penalty on Jets' last-second field goal?
 
While mostly of regurgitation of the NJ.com piece, the USA Today/FTW article has the benefit of an important quote from the NFL:
 

“It is a standard officiating procedure that occurs regularly,” league spokesman Greg Aiello told USA TODAY Sports in an email Friday morning. “That rule was put in place for player safety reasons, another good reason to help avoid violations in advance.”
 

 

[rodderick]

If the official really wanted to screw the Jets, why not, you know, let Hightower line up there and simply don't throw a flag? Yeah, it looks funny, but I really don't see much wrong with it, especially since it had nothing to do with the kick being blocked. Of course Jets fans will eat it up, though. They'll be talking about it for weeks and demanding formal investigation by the NFL, because the Patriots simply won't stop cheating and it makes them so very angry.

 

[jsinger121]

I have a feeling the All-22 will show that he is not within a yard of the LoS anyways.  The ball is on the 40.  I don't think he ever gets closer than the 42.  Karma's a bitch, Jets.

 
You can tell on the video above that he was 2 yards behind the LOS possibly even 3.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

I hope Jets fans and anti-Pats boosters find solace in this manufactured controversy. It's all they have, folks, it's all they have.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

If the official really wanted to screw the Jets, why not, you know, let Hightower line up there and simply don't throw a flag? Yeah, it looks funny, but I really don't see much wrong with it, especially since it had nothing to do with the kick being blocked. Of course Jets fans will eat it up, though. They'll be talking about it for weeks and demanding formal investigation by the NFL, because the Patriots simply won't stop cheating and it makes them so very angry.

 
Yup.  Nothing to see here.
 
But that won't stop TGG from blowing up over this for the next week.

 

[PeaceSignMoose]

Deinitely a LOL BOO HOO.  It had literally zero to do with the outcome of the play, as Chuck Z mentioned I don't think he was ever within that yard in the first place, and this happens ALL THE TIME.
 
That being said, had the roles been reversed, posters on PatsFans.com and Jerry Thornton would all be acting like Bill Leavy took a shit right into the Patriots Gatorade jug.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Beyond that, it's not like players don't do things like this with officials on other plays.  On nearly every play, you'll see WRs checking with side judges to make sure that they're either on or off the LoS depending on the formation so the team doesn't get called for having too many men on or off the LoS.  This is a joke if people are pissed about this.  Especially after the non-review of the sideline "catch" earlier in the drive.

 

[JerBear]

Beyond that, it's not like players don't do things like this with officials on other plays.  On nearly every play, you'll see WRs checking with side judges to make sure that they're either on or off the LoS depending on the formation so the team doesn't get called for having too many men on or off the LoS.  This is a joke if people are pissed about this.  Especially after the non-review of the sideline "catch" earlier in the drive.

I was just about to post this RE: WR on the line.

 

[rodderick]

Deinitely a LOL BOO HOO.  It had literally zero to do with the outcome of the play, as Chuck Z mentioned I don't think he was ever within that yard in the first place, and this happens ALL THE TIME.
 
That being said, had the roles been reversed, posters on PatsFans.com and Jerry Thornton would all be acting like Bill Leavy took a shit right into the Patriots Gatorade jug.

 
PatsFans.com is just the worst now. I actually was a pretty frequent poster there for a while, but jesus, it's bad.

 

[caesarbear]

Also notice how Hightower rebuffs the ref for trying to move him. He had no intention of being there at the snap. Especially since the plan called for the two tackles to jump into the middle at snap.

 

[Stitch01]

If the official really wanted to screw the Jets, why not, you know, let Hightower line up there and simply don't throw a flag? Yeah, it looks funny, but I really don't see much wrong with it, especially since it had nothing to do with the kick being blocked. Of course Jets fans will eat it up, though. They'll be talking about it for weeks and demanding formal investigation by the NFL, because the Patriots simply won't stop cheating and it makes them so very angry.

Exactly this, gives them two tries at a FG.  
 
Im sure if we go back and look at other FG attempts we'll see similar things.
 
As always, lol Jets.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

He didn't move him out of an illegal position, he just let him know he was getting close in my opinion. Looks like he's 2 yards off when the ref hits his arm, which means the ref was letting him know you're getting close. Plus as others have stated, Hightower had no intention of camping there anyway, it was just a presnap look. 
 
There is no flag because Hightower was never in or going into the 1 yard zone. If the official doesn't reach out, he still never gets in a spot where they would have been able to flag him.

 

[PaulinMyrBch]

Blandino speaks and of course this is SOP and he mentions Hightower was just stepping up to make a line call

 

[Toe Nash]

I mean, didn't the Patriots lose to the Jets last year because of a questionable call on a FG? Are our memories that short?

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Also notice how Hightower rebuffs the ref for trying to move him. He had no intention of being there at the snap. Especially since the plan called for the two tackles to jump into the middle at snap.

It's pretty obvious from watching the play that the Patriots knew the rule very well. I bet Hightower understood he had to stay outside one yard. The ref grabs him just in case, but I see nothing to suggest he didn't know the rule and lots to suggest he did.

 

[loshjott]

Greg Aiello's statement nails it. The rule is put in place for safety reasons. Refs do this all the time to prevent injuries, not call penalties after the fact when the risk of injury has already happened.

 

[DJnVa]

No different from WR checking with official to make sure they're not lined up offside.

 

[DJnVa]

Blandino speaks and of course this is SOP and he mentions Hightower was just stepping up to make a line call

 
So, the actual story is that there is no story, yet because it's NE it's going to be a story?

 

[dynomite]

Blandino speaks and of course this is SOP and he mentions Hightower was just stepping up to make a line call

As Blandino says, this is such a hilarious non-story. Although I do find it interesting -- and was not aware -- that officials actively attempt to prevent player safety penalties. Makes a lot of sense.

I have a feeling the All-22 will show that he is not within a yard of the LoS anyways.  The ball is on the 40.  I don't think he ever gets closer than the 42.  Karma's a bitch, Jets.

Just for the sake of wasting a few minutes on this non-entity of a story (and to be honest, I would rather dissect a play where someone on the Patriots defense did well, as opposed to the rest of the evening), it's clear from the Vine clip above if you look at his feet and the hash marks and yard lines.

1) The ball is snapped from (and therefore the LOS is) just outside the Patriots 40 yard line.
2) Counting the hash marks, Hightower starts with his right foot on the Patriots' 37 and his left toe halfway between the 37 and the 36, between 3 and 4 yards from the LOS.
3) Hightower then walks just past the Patriots 38 yard line to make the line call, at which point the official grabs him.

According to the rule: "...a Team B player, who is within one yard of the line of scrimmage, must have..." (Emphasis mine)

Hightower is never within the 39 yard line and therefore never within one yard of the snap. It was not a penalty.

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

I think the reason this gets ANY play at all, and it is a little strange, but is it normal for a ref to literally tug at a player?

 

[DJnVa]

Well, the tug may have started as a tap, but Hightower was leaning forward to call out a play.

 

[Ed Hillel]

LOL
 
(at this whole thing)

 

[dynomite]

LOL
 
(at this whole thing)

- The new official team motto of the New York Jets

 

[Jettisoned]

I mean, didn't the Patriots lose to the Jets last year because of a questionable call on a FG? Are our memories that short?

 
Chris Jones got a PF for pushing a teammate forward while defending a FG.  It is against the rules but IIRC both teams had done it all game, but for some reason one official decided to call it to cancel out what would have been a critical missed FG for the Jets

 

[dynomite]

Chris Jones got a PF for pushing a teammate forward while defending a FG.  It is against the rules but IIRC both teams had done it all game, but for some reason one official decided to call it to cancel out what would have been a critical missed FG for the Jets

Correct. The penalty on a missed ~56 yard FG in OT gave Folk another kick from ~41 yards, which he hit to win.

The Patriots had sent the game to OT on a 44 yard Ghost FG with ~:20 left on which (if memory serves) the Jets arguably pushed as well.

In his post-game presser Belichick made a point of mentioning how appropriate he found it that Jones got the block.

Water under the bridge, I suppose.

 

[RIrooter09]

Correct. The penalty on a missed ~56 yard FG in OT gave Folk another kick from ~41 yards, which he hit to win.

The Patriots had sent the game to OT on a 44 yard Ghost FG with ~:20 left on which (if memory serves) the Jets arguably pushed as well.

In his post-game presser Belichick made a point of mentioning how appropriate he found it that Jones got the block.

Water under the bridge, I suppose.

 
Cost us home field in the AFC Championship game.  Still bitter about that one.

 

[Stitch01]

I think they actually had pushed on an earlier Ghost FG, which made it worse since the Pats would have been more likely to score a TD after.
 
Didn't outright cost the Pats home field because I don't think they got homefield with a tie and there was a decent chance that's where the game was heading.

 

[snowmanny]

Well Jets fans were already very upset because earlier in the year a game-tying touchdown was called back because the OC signalled time out and then a player on the Jets sideline standing right next to Rex Ryan yelled "time out" right into the official's ear, and a time out was granted even though only the HC can call a time-out and instead the official was tricked by multiple people on the Jets sideline into simply thinking that Ryan was calling a time out when IN FACT the referee should have been both looking at the play AND turning around to make sure that the voice calling "time out" from Ryan's direction was, in fact Ryan, OR BETTER YET, should have waited until there was a notarized document SIGNED BY RYAN and reviewed by lawyers asking explicitly for a time-out with a BLACK BOX WARNING that this could theoretically wipe out ant game-tying touchdown which PROVES there is a conspiracy.

 

[Stitch01]

Maybe Im just a bad person, but when the subset of Jets fans that are idiots get more upset about a loss because they are idiots and get fired up over stuff like the Packers game timeout or last night that makes me smile inside.

 

[rodderick]

Maybe Im just a bad person, but when the subset of Jets fans that are idiots get more upset about a loss because they are idiots and get fired up over stuff like the Packers game timeout or last night that makes me smile inside.

 
I'm the kind of guy that when my soccer team scores a late winner against a bitter city rival, my first thought is "god, I hope that was offsides!" just to revel in all the whining and delicious schadenfraude. So considering it makes me happy even when they cry about legit grievances, it goes without saying I wholeheartedly agree with you.

 

[m0ckduck]

Correct. The penalty on a missed ~56 yard FG in OT gave Folk another kick from ~41 yards, which he hit to win.

The Patriots had sent the game to OT on a 44 yard Ghost FG with ~:20 left on which (if memory serves) the Jets arguably pushed as well.

In his post-game presser Belichick made a point of mentioning how appropriate he found it that Jones got the block.

Water under the bridge, I suppose.

 
God, I had forgotten that, on top of everything else, that was a fifteen yard penalty. Arrrrrgh. 
 
Had the penalty not been called, Pats would have had the ball around midfield, needing ~20 yard for their own game-winning FG. That was the angriest I've been about a regular-season football game since I was about 12. 

 

[twibnotes]

Isn't the question we should be asking:

did hightower need to be told by the refs and if so, wtf is wrong with him and/or our coaching that the same infraction might have cost us again?

Edit: totally agree that jets fans have no beef in view of the massively favorable reffing the jets rec'd last night

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Isn't the question we should be asking:

did hightower need to be told by the refs and if so, wtf is wrong with him and/or our coaching that the same infraction might have cost us again?

 
Hightower was leaning forward to make a defensive play call. He wasn't going to be in the infraction zone when the ball was snapped. He did nothing wrong, so there's nothing to correct. The ref likely acted with an overabundance of caution, as he should as it's a safety issue for the long snapper.

 

[DourDoerr]

I'm all in favor of refs telling players if they're about to commit a penalty before the ball is snapped.  Anything to cut down on the number of flags.  Find me one NYJ fan, or any fan, who's in favor of more flags.  As long as the help is consistent, I think it's a smart way to run a game.

 

[twibnotes]

 
Hightower was leaning forward to make a defensive play call. He wasn't going to be in the infraction zone when the ball was snapped. He did nothing wrong, so there's nothing to correct. The ref likely acted with an overabundance of caution, as he should as it's a safety issue for the long snapper.

Hopefully and probably this is true. Imagine the outcry today if a penalty had occurred and cost the pats

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Hopefully and probably this is true. Imagine the outcry today if a penalty had occurred and cost the pats

 
It would have been deja vu all over again.
 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/20/nfl-com-article-contributes-to-confusion-regarding-rule-that-burned-pats/

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 
He's making a play call. Nothing more. Watch him back way off once he's made it. There's no problem here.

 

[DJnVa]

Isn't the question we should be asking:

did hightower need to be told by the refs and if so, wtf is wrong with him and/or our coaching that the same infraction might have cost us again?

 

 

Actually, the question you need to be asking is why you think this was the same infraction as last year.
 
Last year the penalty was for Jones pushing a teammate into the LOS. That's not what we're talking about last night.

 

[Marciano490]

 
He's making a play call. Nothing more. Watch him back way off once he's made it. There's no problem here.

 
Yeah, after the play call Wilfork rolls over to where Hightower would've been anyways.  No way he would've been within a yard of the LOS.

 

[Cabin Mirror]

I'm enjoying watching that line shift over and over again. It's a lot of beef all moving in near unison. Kinda cool.
 
I can see that type of movement a) potentially causing a false start and b) leading to a possible blown blocking assignment and c) spooking the kicker a bit.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

I'm enjoying watching that line shift over and over again. It's a lot of beef all moving in near unison. Kinda cool.
 
I can see that type of movement a) potentially causing a false start and b) leading to a possible blown blocking assignment and c) spooking the kicker a bit.

 
Or (d) -- neutral zone infraction!  It's all very terrifying actually.
 
Glad that f-ing game is over.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Can we go back and take the first down away when Geno went out of bounds before the line?
 
This is stupid

 

[Stitch01]

 
I'm the kind of guy that when my soccer team scores a late winner against a bitter city rival, my first thought is "god, I hope that was offsides!" just to revel in all the whining and delicious schadenfraude. So considering it makes me happy even when they cry about legit grievances, it goes without saying I wholeheartedly agree with you.

It would be so awesome to knock Denver out of the playoffs on a terrible call that favored the Pats.

 

[Stitch01]

Can we go back and take the first down away when Geno went out of bounds before the line?
 
This is stupid

Particularly in the 2014 National Flagball League, where some absurdly high percentage of the games have game altering flags, flip a coin they're going to favor someone..  Seems like the Jets got the majority of those last night (two cheap defensive holds to extend drives, missed McCourty hold, missed Smith spot, missed personal foul offset, missed non-catch vs. ticky tack illegal contact on Vereen maybe questionable holding of Wilfork and somewhat soft PI on Amendola although personally I think PI calls where there's contact with a receivers arm are more justified then ones where there's just a lot of body contact with both players going for the ball)
 
Should also add Jones hit Smith low and wasn't called, that was probably a technical rules violation
 
Ha, Reiss pointed out something I didn't notice and don't remember reading here on the Devey play, Wilkerson is off the bench on the field without a helmet giving Devey a little shove.  Real bad by the referee on that one, he's thinking of flagging the hit on Brady, doesn't, then doesn't offset it when the retaliation comes and ignores the easy offset of a Jet off the bench entering the play. Enjoyed Brady's flop to draw the match too.

 

[E5 Yaz]

here's why this was a story, at all:
 
It was a national broadcast.
It was New York.
NFL news dominates.
They had the NFL stage to themselves.
The persistent perception that the Patriots "get away with things."
It was New York.
It was the final play of the game.

 

[LESDL]

 
Chris Jones got a PF for pushing a teammate forward while defending a FG.  It is against the rules but IIRC both teams had done it all game, but for some reason one official decided to call it to cancel out what would have been a critical missed FG for the Jets

 
Has anyone seen this called against anyone in any game since then? I know I haven't.

 

[Bergs]

That was a horribly officiated game in which most of the horrible calls went against NE, and combine to form the primary reason it wasn't a blowout. Yet somehow THIS becomes the story? Good grief.