Jets Announcers Don't Understand NFL Rules

by JasonB on Sep 3, 2011 12:24 PM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

Perhaps you can blame the NFL for changing these rules so much recently, but I'm still amazed at how many people do not understand what exactly constitutes an illegal hit now. Take this hit on Riley Cooper in the final preseason game.

The Jets announcer doesn't believe it should be a penalty because the Jets DB did not lead with his helmet. In previous years, that might have been true. However, now it is not. Here are the two elements of the new rule that make that hit a textbook case of a personal foul.

A defenseless receiver is one attempting or completing a catch without having time to ward off or avoid contact. CHECK.

A defenseless receiver can not be hit above the shoulders. CHECK

So to put it logic form. IF a receiver is defenseless AND you hit said receiver above the shoulders THEN it is illegal.

There's really not even a question as to whether that was an illegal hit and frankly someone calling an NFL game should know that. It's one thing to disagree with the rule and feel that such a hit should not be illegal. However, it's not defensible as an announcer to simply not know the rule and still think the only illegal hits are ones made with the helmet.

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I honestly didn’t remember these rules changed either, and neither did a number of people who were reacting to it in the game thread. But still, you’re right, the announcer should know the rules.

On a different note, I love Riley’s toughness. Between the Ed Reed tackle and this, it’s easy to see that the dude just doesn’t get shaken up easily.

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by PhiladelphiaEagles on Sep 3, 2011 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

100% agree, and it pissed me off to hear them when I was watching. I don’t think the hit was dirty, but by the current rules, the flag was certainly legit.

I am honestly glad he dropped it. You can see him put his elbows down at the last second to absorb the fall, and this helps him land so that his head doesn’t slam back into the turf. That could have been a nasty concussion.

by captain nodar on Sep 3, 2011 12:39 PM EDT reply actions

Im just glad we got bdawk in his prime without any of these hitting constraints

by Tron79 on Sep 3, 2011 12:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

True

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by JasonB on Sep 3, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you remember the hit he put on Ike Hillard that broke his ribs and ended his season? Dawkins laid himself out on the hit lol.

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by h2o_34_35_44 on Sep 4, 2011 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Here is a very similar play that some of you may recall that would have likely not have drawn a flag prior to 2009, but falls under the defenseless receiver criteria that Jason mentioned above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBd01QEOIsE

by captain nodar on Sep 3, 2011 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

he's a defender

not a receiver as soon as Asante picks it

by smeagle on Sep 3, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Harris had already committed to the hit. In the past, defenders were allowed to follow through on on plays like that.

And even if he is considered a defender, then it is a totally legitimate block.

by captain nodar on Sep 3, 2011 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, they could say he was still in the act of trying to complete a catch.

However, there seemed to be no hit to the head.

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by JasonB on Sep 3, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Shoulder to chest. Didn’t leave feet and defense already had ball. I remember that. Was an abysmal call

by ProtoTyler on Sep 4, 2011 9:13 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

here is the thing

I do not think it should be a penalty if the receiver lowers his head and it ends up making contact with the helmet. You can see at the last second that riley bends over and leans in with his helmet. If he had not, it would of been a shot right to the chest. How can a person hitting and sprinting full speed be expected to adjust to something a half second before he is hit. Should safeties just start aiming for the knees? It was a hard hit, but it was rileys fault it was in the helmet

by eagsfanMBG22 on Sep 3, 2011 12:53 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Don't know what clip you are watching

If you look at the level of the safety’s right shoulder before Riley catches the ball, he is already rotating it towards Cooper at the level of his neck/chin. If Riley doesn’t tip his head forward that slight amount just before impact, the safety’s shoulder goes under his facemask and probably breaks his jaw, snaps his head back and maybe leaves him like Darryl Stingley. That is a blow to the head, and is as dangerous as it gets. As it was, the shoulder hits the facemask and the rotating forward of the helmet on Cooper’s head absorbs some of the blow, and transfers some of the hit down to the frontplate of the shoulder pads.

I also wonder if you ever actually played organized football. Every defensive coach I ever had told me to aim your hits under the shoulder pads. You aim your shoulder for the belt buckle of a running back to avoid getting juked. If you hit a receiver up under the pads, you will never have him be able to duck under you or drive through you – instead you leverage them up and off their legs so they have no momentum or angle to cut or drive any further.

These are stupid punk hits – and while I agree that the NFL is doing a bad job of legislating the game, there is absolutely no way that anyone can defend this hit as solid fundamental football. It is a glory-hunting intimidation hit designed to make the highlight reels and maybe generate a turnover or take the player out of the game. Maybe that is what you want out of watching the NFL – your choice/preference – but it isn’t a textbook tackle by any measure.

by PrincetonGreen on Sep 3, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

There is a huge difference between big hitters and cheap shotters. That was a cheap shot.

by ProtoTyler on Sep 4, 2011 9:15 AM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions

Yeah that is a concern.

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by JasonB on Sep 3, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Riley’s reaction is more like the automatic defense reflex like when you are about to be in a car wreck. He turned from looking at the ball and realized he was about to get hit high, and started going to a fetal position. Even with the ducking that he did, which brought the top of his helmet into the safeties shoulder, this is still not his fault. If the shoulder was going for the chest, then Riley’s head would have to move down the length of his spine by almost a foot. Definitely aiming too high. I dont think it was dirty, but as Jason says, this is clearly against the rules.

by ATLeagle on Sep 3, 2011 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

It really looked to me like he was leading with his shoulder and was going to hit him a tad above the numbers then riley ducked

by eagsfanMBG22 on Sep 3, 2011 3:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

first

Guenth

by phuckthat on Sep 3, 2011 12:54 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

What pissed me off was

when an eagle made a legal play the commentator was all over his ass saying he was gonna get fined wtf

Reporter: "What have you done for T.O., besides getting him suspended?"

Drew Rosenhaus: "Next question."

by So. Cal Swag on Sep 3, 2011 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, that’s what it’s always like though when the announcers work for a specific team. Its always annoying (unless it’s ETN) haha

"Get 'Em"

by FlyEagles15 on Sep 3, 2011 1:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Jets announcers were totally abnoxious homers

100% agree with the post – I was away for the game and made the mistake of setting my DVR to record it from NY2- the CBS-NY affiliate, so it had only the Jets announcers. Not only were they completely ignorant of the rules in this case, they praised/defended every cheap/dirty/bonehead action of any Jets player through the whole game. Not only did they claim that the hit on Riley was legal, they praised it as and example of “how a tough Jets defense should play.” They even praised the crown-of-helmet to Kafka’s chin hit that shook him up, even though it probably should have been called illegal for several reasons (the blitzer launched from his feet, lowered his head and hit the head of the QB – either of which alone I though constituted an illegal hit).

Even worse was in the 3rd quarter when these homers kept interviewing the Jets GM Tannenbaum with the camera on the 3 of them from the waist up, while the Eagles offense was actually running plays behind them that you couldn’t see.

I guess that is what homer announcers do when their team is getting embarrassed by our 2nd and 3rd stringers – pretend the game isn’t even happening…

by PrincetonGreen on Sep 3, 2011 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah exactly.

We got the announcers on the NFL network too. It was extremely annoying to watch. Just really glad Cooper wasn’t hurt though.

"Get 'Em"

by FlyEagles15 on Sep 3, 2011 1:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Not really surprising though

That’s what the preseason is, local announcing booths that basically turn the broadcast into a pep rally for the home team. I currently live outside of DC and have seen a couple of the Redskins preseason games… lets just say Joe Theisman might as well have given the Skins and Dan Snyder a blow job for 3 hours.

Hit Squad is in the house! 60 minutes, balls out; let's open up the whole can of kick ass and kill 'em all! Let the paramedics sort 'em out!!

by BMitch on Sep 3, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

The Jets announcers where whiny little piss-pots all night

They also questioned every close first down spot the Eagles got. But what do you expect? It’s a local preseason game with D-list talent in the booth and the perception that only die hard Jets fans would be watching.

As far as the interview thing and directors taking booth shots – I am frankly over the whole “lets do something else while the game is on” philosophy of broadcasting sporting events. I mean – I WANT TO WATCH THE GAME – not look at a bunch of awkward guys in ill fitting suits saying incredibly predictable and moronic things. I wish these idiots who run the TV broadcasts would get it through their heads that just because THEY are bored from watching the game and want to play journalist or talk show does not mean that the people who tuned in to watch football want to watch them get their Oprah on. Just keep the camera on the field, please…

by flygirl on Sep 3, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Why are you surprised? The last time illegal hits came up in a thread, you had to bring up the rule change 30 times, and even then a lot of people didn’t get it.

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by KByars on Sep 3, 2011 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

That's funny. I DVR'd the showing on NFL Network and watched it last night... and was thinking the same thing.

I doubt those two even knew what it means to be a defenseless receiver.

After my blood stopped boiling at the hot garbage, I started wondering how often I show blind homerism. I seriously try hard not to (to be taken seriously as a fan) but I think it’s close to impossible.

Whatever. Those announcers should hid their bias if they want to sounds credible… Or manybe the Jets fanbase doesn’t care. I’m not sure if I would.

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by Ralf E Chubbs on Sep 3, 2011 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

Nice Buttle Rebuttal.

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by MayIhave10,000marblesplease? on Sep 3, 2011 1:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

I must not get the rules either because that looked like a clean hit. First off, how is Cooper defenseless? He’s trying to reel in the ball. If the Jet’s player doesn’t do that, Cooper probably makes the catch. Also I don’t think he hit him above the shoulders, it looks like he got Cooper in the chest to me. I just think it’s a joke that a good football play is considered illegal now.

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by IwantVick on Sep 3, 2011 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

You're right.

You don’t know the rules. He’s defenseless because he’s looking for the ball when he gets hit. He had no time to react to the hit. Whether or not you think he hit him in the chest, there was helmet to helmet contact which was why coopers helmet came off. I’m not saying he was aimin for his head, but it made contact.

I don’t agree with the rule change, because I like those plays and I think those are the plays that make football fun and exciting to watch. It’s just apart of footballl and it is a shame those plays are illegal.

"Get 'Em"

by FlyEagles15 on Sep 3, 2011 1:57 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

It wasn’t even helmet to helmet. It was his shoulder to helmet. Regardless, you can’t hit a defenseless player above the shoulder pads. If he blasts him in the numbers with his shoulder there’s no way Cooper makes that catch. Completely unnecessary to hit him that high.

The Jruth shall be told.

by packimop on Sep 3, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Right.

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by JasonB on Sep 3, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Ohhhh

I get the rule now. Ok, Thats much better.

by greenage on Sep 3, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I agree, for so long guys have been going for the big highlight reel hit so they are used to aiming high. But like you said it’s completely unnecessary. After watching it closer though, it didn’t look like he was looking to knock his block off. Looked like shoulder to high chest/chin.

"Get 'Em"

by FlyEagles15 on Sep 3, 2011 2:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Right, I think we have to draw a line between dirty and simply illegal. This was an illegal hit no question. The WR was in a defenseless position and was hit with a blow the head.

However, I dont think Pool was going for a hit to the head. He lead with the shoulder, he appeared to be going for the numbers… it had all the makings of a clean hit, but it ended up hitting the head.

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by JasonB on Sep 3, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I think this is it exactly. I dont think it was an attempt at dirty, but was definitely illegal. The chance is there for separating the receiver from the ball without separating his head from his chest, the DBs just have to adjust. It doesnt even have to be a sissified version, just aim low enough. I just hope they dont start trying to throw in a difference like the old face mask rules.

by ATLeagle on Sep 3, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I hate this rules so much

What are you suppose to do . Wait for the guy to come down with the ball before you hit him? But according to this stupid two hand touch rule. Yes it should have been a flag.

by greenage on Sep 3, 2011 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

No, you can hit whenever you want, just not in the head.

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by JasonB on Sep 3, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

This is an existential issue for the NFL.
If they don’t stop the epic killshots, the NFL will be syed out of existence.

Oh boy, is this great!

by MayIhave10,000marblesplease? on Sep 3, 2011 1:58 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Sued

Oh boy, is this great!

by MayIhave10,000marblesplease? on Sep 3, 2011 2:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I wish it wasnt a penalty.

by EnderLite on Sep 3, 2011 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Cooper in all fairness made an epic catch though!

His helmet despite coming off never hit the floor!

by Brawnybalboa on Sep 3, 2011 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

I didn't even notice that!

What a baller

"Get 'Em"

by FlyEagles15 on Sep 3, 2011 3:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

when does he strike the head?..Riley clinches to brace for impact then ducks a tad bit... owell

Still dont think he was hit in the head, because of how he just got up and walked off.. If that Saftey hits Riley in the head, he would not have walked off so freely. I guess this is just one of those aspects of the game that is changed by the “Suits” for public appeal. Hope JJ can conform to this new style!

by EagleEyes on Sep 3, 2011 2:29 PM EDT reply actions