Football Was Tim Tebow’s game-winning touchdown illegal? - Page 2

Deberg_1990 · 01-11-2012, 01:24 PM

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.

htismaqe · 01-11-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

He could literally be standing anywhere on the field and be "in a straight line to the guy next to him."

The tackle has to be "covered". He is. It's a perfectly legal formation.

**Bowser** · 01-11-2012, 01:46 PM

It's close, but I've seen worse. The ones that piss me off that don't get called are when the left tackle lines up close to where Rosario is.

Lono · 01-11-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The tackle has to be "covered". He is. It's a perfectly legal formation.

In College or HS that is a penalty and they would say he is not "covered" up. We had several penalties called on us this year where our TE did the same exact thing trying to cheat on a pull.

ClevelandBronco · 01-11-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm still annoyed that we had a penalty called against us for not having the interior line covered. I don't think I'd ever seen that penalty called before.

I'm pretty sure he said ''inferior'' line. The Chiefs have that covered.

Garcia Bronco · 01-11-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I'm pretty sure he said ''inferior'' line. The Chiefs have that covered.

zing!

**loochy** · 01-11-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

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

Pssshhh...Tamba Hali had 12390787 uncalled holding penalties and 123 uncalled facemasks.

ShowtimeSBMVP · 01-11-2012, 02:00 PM

League says formation on Tebow-to-Thomas play was valid
Posted by Mike Florio on January 11, 2012, 2:45 PM EST
Wild Card Playoffs - Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos Getty Images

I’ve been holding this one for a day or two, but I’ve decided that it’s time to throw it out there. It’s raw meat for Tebowmaniacs and Anti-Broncites alike — the notion that the final play of Sunday’s stirring overtime win over the Steelers could have been called back due to a penalty.

Via various media outlets, including an item from the Bay Area News Group that ended up on the Denver Post website, it appears that the Broncos had only six players on the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball.

Per NFL.com (via the Denver Post), the league says the formation was legal. “There is nothing to this,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told NFL.com. “This is a legal formation. This should not have been flagged.”

By rule, seven players must be on the line of scrimmage at the start of every play. On the play in question, the quarterback, a running back, and two wide receivers are clearly behind the line. There’s a tight end at the top of the screen — Dante Rosario — who isn’t flush with the rest of the linemen.

The video of the play shows that receiver Eddie Royal came in motion before the snap, with the play starting just as Royal made it near the tight end on the right side of the field.

Even if a violation occurred, the Broncos realized no advantage, but for the reality that Demaryius Thomas (if he was supposed to be on the line of scrimmage) was in better position to avoid a jam from cornerback Ike Taylor, because Thomas could avoid starting the play with Taylor in his face.

Regardless, it looked close. More importantly, it wasn’t called. Most importantly, the league says it wasn’t even a violation.

**Bowser** · 01-11-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I'm pretty sure he said ''inferior'' line. The Chiefs have that covered.

listopencil · 01-11-2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loochy

Pssshhh...Tamba Hali had 12390787 uncalled holding penalties and 123 uncalled facemasks.

Doom gets the same treatment, every single down. They are usually better about protecting QB's though.
Posted via Mobile Device

**HemiEd** · 01-11-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

He could literally be standing anywhere on the field and be "in a straight line to the guy next to him."

This is true!

That being said, if they are going to have that rule, they should enforce it all the time. I see lots of line formations similar to a flight of geese in the sky.

The Broncos cheated again!

htismaqe · 01-11-2012, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lono

In College or HS that is a penalty and they would say he is not "covered" up. We had several penalties called on us this year where our TE did the same exact thing trying to cheat on a pull.

I watch 2-3 college games a weekend, and that's a legal formation in those games as well.

**Bowser** · 01-11-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lono

In College or HS that is a penalty and they would say he is not "covered" up. We had several penalties called on us this year where our TE did the same exact thing trying to cheat on a pull.

Not disagreeing at all, but everyone in the NBA travels. Badly.

mnchiefsguy · 01-11-2012, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

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

And Tamba Hali was held at least 80 times this pass season where it was not called. Your point is?

Mile High Mania · 01-11-2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnchiefsguy

And Tamba Hali was held at least 80 times this pass season where it was not called. Your point is?

I think his point is there are other real things to point to and complain about...

kcchiefsus · 01-11-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

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.

Tebow is a bitch, he deserves it.

01-11-2012, 01:24 PM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $304454	Was Tim Tebow’s game-winning touchdown illegal? 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. Attached Thumbnails
Posts: 68,435

01-11-2012, 01:46 PM	#17
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $-48384	It's close, but I've seen worse. The ones that piss me off that don't get called are when the left tackle lines up close to where Rosario is.
Posts: 106,668

01-11-2012, 02:00 PM	#22
ShowtimeSBMVP Chiefs Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $1306009	League says formation on Tebow-to-Thomas play was valid Posted by Mike Florio on January 11, 2012, 2:45 PM EST Wild Card Playoffs - Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos Getty Images I’ve been holding this one for a day or two, but I’ve decided that it’s time to throw it out there. It’s raw meat for Tebowmaniacs and Anti-Broncites alike — the notion that the final play of Sunday’s stirring overtime win over the Steelers could have been called back due to a penalty. Via various media outlets, including an item from the Bay Area News Group that ended up on the Denver Post website, it appears that the Broncos had only six players on the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball. Per NFL.com (via the Denver Post), the league says the formation was legal. “There is nothing to this,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told NFL.com. “This is a legal formation. This should not have been flagged.” By rule, seven players must be on the line of scrimmage at the start of every play. On the play in question, the quarterback, a running back, and two wide receivers are clearly behind the line. There’s a tight end at the top of the screen — Dante Rosario — who isn’t flush with the rest of the linemen. The video of the play shows that receiver Eddie Royal came in motion before the snap, with the play starting just as Royal made it near the tight end on the right side of the field. Even if a violation occurred, the Broncos realized no advantage, but for the reality that Demaryius Thomas (if he was supposed to be on the line of scrimmage) was in better position to avoid a jam from cornerback Ike Taylor, because Thomas could avoid starting the play with Taylor in his face. Regardless, it looked close. More importantly, it wasn’t called. Most importantly, the league says it wasn’t even a violation.
Posts: 23,832