Was Tim Tebow’s game-winning touchdown illegal?

[Deberg_1990]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...163812959.html



A review of the Denver Broncos' pre-snap formation on the game-winning touchdown pass from Tim Tebow to Demaryius Thomas suggests that the play could have been ruled illegal.

Only six Denver Broncos players were lined up on the line of scrimmage before the snap. NFL rules say that a team must have seven or more players on the line for a snap to be legal. As the picture above shows, tight end Dante Rosario was well behind his teammates.

The formation eventually caught the eye of current Fox analyst and former NFL Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira. He dismissed any suggestion that the play should have been whistled dead. "Watch on any Sunday," he tweeted. "This is a good formation compared to many. They are not technical with this."

In other words, the "seven men on the line" is a rule on the books but one that doesn't require a tape measure and straight edge to determine if every player is precisely on the line of scrimmage. If seven guys are close to line and set, Pereira implies, then the formation is fine.

[Related: Pittsburgh mayor salutes Tim Tebow to settle bet]

This seems to go against all other NFL rule enforcements, which always say that the letter of the law is far more important than the spirit of it. Still, when Pereira speaks, it's wise to listen.

That being said, I went back and looked at tape from every touchdown scored during wild-card weekend and didn't see a single formation in which the scoring team wasn't set with at least seven guys on the line of scrimmage. In this comprehensive highlight package of Bengals-Texans, there's only one play (at the 4:10 mark) that has a similar sloppy formation. This neither confirms nor contradicts Pereira's point, it only shows that illegal sets aren't exactly a pox on the NFL.

Should Tebow's touchdown have counted? Absolutely. It isn't a penalty if you don't get caught.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

Tebow is a bitch, he deserves it.

Your momma.

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

I'm surprised this took so long to show up here... I've read about this one and everyone in the know has said it was a solid formation. What they should be concerned about is the numerous missed face-mask calls against Tebow in recent weeks.

Every Sunday, in every game... you'll see something similar.

That's partly Tebow's fault. Everytime someone comes near him he sticks an arm out and ducks his head..

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by kcchiefsus

Tebow is a bitch, he deserves it.

This is killing you, isn't it? That Tebow is still THE story in week 2 of the playoffs? It hurts, right?

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

I'm surprised this took so long to show up here... I've read about this one and everyone in the know has said it was a solid formation. What they should be concerned about is the numerous missed face-mask calls against Tebow in recent weeks.

Every Sunday, in every game... you'll see something similar.

That is actually tebows fault. In the last 3 games I have seen him cry for facemask for himself and runningbacks when their mask was not grabbed. Helmet and shoulderpad was. Cry like a woman and the refs won't believe you when it does happen.

[Consistent1]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

I'm surprised this took so long to show up here... I've read about this one and everyone in the know has said it was a solid formation. What they should be concerned about is the numerous missed face-mask calls against Tebow in recent weeks.

Every Sunday, in every game... you'll see something similar.

And Von and Elvis get held on every play too I'm sure. haha

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

This is killing you, isn't it? That Tebow is still THE story in week 2 of the playoffs? It hurts, right?

Which I find puzzling. The wr should be story of the week, thomas. The chiefs and everyone else the previous weeks showed how to beat the donks. Run blitz to the qb and stick to your man.

Pitts def was reeruned.

That was tims best game though, no real mistakes.

[Chiefnj2]

Tebow needs to sell the facemasks better. Writhe on the floor holding his eye and stamping his feet. Then with his other hand he can heal himself and jump up.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by Consistent1

And Von and Elvis get held on every play too I'm sure. haha

Everybody holds or gets held at times in games... Hell I think Matt Willis holds on every play.

I get the "whining doesn't help you" argument, but I honestly don't think there's much of that... I'm just remarking about 3-4 blatant misses by the refs in the last 2 games.

[ChiTown]

That rule, especially how it is applied, is dumber than ****. It has absolutely no bearing on the effectiveness of any given play. That said, I hope Tebow dies in an Aid's fire this weekend.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

That rule, especially how it is applied, is dumber than ****. It has absolutely no bearing on the effectiveness of any given play. That said, I hope Tebow dies in an Aid's fire this weekend.

Which Aid? Ohhhh, I see what you mean...

[Epic Fail 007]

Just proof playoff games are fixed.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Didn't the Chiefs lose a huge gainer to Baldwin on a similar call in the first Bronco game? Was a pretty big momentum killer.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Counting the playoff game...the Broncos have had 17 uncalled fasmask penalties with 9 of them on Tim Tebow.

That's how Pittsburgh rolls.


I have never seen a team get away with so much "Physical" play in my life week in week out.

[Bane]

Game never should have been close enough for that snap to matter anyway.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Which Aid?

The whole thing