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

**petegz28** · 01-12-2012, 07:52 AM

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. The seven Broncos were close to the line and set, so there was nothing to call.

[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.

Update: NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the formation was legal. "This is a legal formation," he told NFL.com. "This should not have been flagged." It's not exactly an in-depth rules explanation, but it's definitive.

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

Mile High Mania · 01-12-2012, 07:54 AM

I guess the thread posted yesterday on this very topic wasn't enough.

Mile High Mania · 01-12-2012, 07:55 AM

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=254922

Word for word subject line too, if I'm not mistaken.

**petegz28** · 01-12-2012, 07:55 AM

I'd say that's clearly 6 on the line. I think every team who had this called on them would disagree with the statement that "They are not technical with this"

**petegz28** · 01-12-2012, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

I guess the thread posted yesterday on this very topic wasn't enough.

Crap. didn't see it dude, my bad...

Mile High Mania · 01-12-2012, 07:56 AM

ESPN is having another 1 hour special SC this morning 10am cst on Tebow... set your DVRs.

Mile High Mania · 01-12-2012, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegz28

Crap. didn't see it dude, my bad...

As you'll see in the other thread

most will agree that there's nothing wrong here. Hell, look at every game on any given Sunday and I believe you'll see something similar.

**penguinz** · 01-12-2012, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

I guess the thread posted yesterday on this very topic wasn't enough.

why do people get so upset about re-posts?

Mile High Mania · 01-12-2012, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguinz

why do people get so upset about re-posts?

I wasn't upset... but it was on page 2, same title.

InChiefsHeaven · 01-12-2012, 08:06 AM

The real question is how often is it called when it looks like that? Seems a bit ticky-tacky to call it, but if it had been called it's technically an illegal formation.

Mile High Mania · 01-12-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

The real question is how often is it called when it looks like that? Seems a bit ticky-tacky to call it, but if it had been called it's technically an illegal formation.

I have no idea...

**petegz28** · 01-12-2012, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

The real question is how often is it called when it looks like that? Seems a bit ticky-tacky to call it, but if it had been called it's technically an illegal formation.

I don't think it's ticky-tack at all. The TE is clearly lined up behind the LT.

Quesadilla Joe · 01-12-2012, 09:54 AM

Quote:

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told NFL.com:

“There is nothing to this. This is a legal formation. This should not have been flagged.”

And Mike Pereira, Fox TV’s expert on rules (he’s also the former NFL vice president of officials), agreed. He told NFL.com:

“Watch on any Sunday. This is a good formation compared to many. They are not technical with this.”

http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/...edium=facebook

**notorious** · 01-12-2012, 10:06 AM

An official could throw a forearm shiver during a game and Pereira would gloss it as being the correct move.

When it comes to this, though, who gives a ****? Denver beat them physically and on the scoreboard. **** Pittsburgh.

htismaqe · 01-12-2012, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegz28

I don't think it's ticky-tack at all. The TE is clearly lined up behind the LT.

No he isn't.

01-12-2012, 07:52 AM
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $2844127	Was Tim Tebow’s game-winning touchdown illegal? 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. The seven Broncos were close to the line and set, so there was nothing to call. [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. Update: NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the formation was legal. "This is a legal formation," he told NFL.com. "This should not have been flagged." It's not exactly an in-depth rules explanation, but it's definitive. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...163812959.html
Posts: 127,970

01-12-2012, 07:54 AM	#2
Mile High Mania #triggering Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Tejas Casino cash: $3727229	I guess the thread posted yesterday on this very topic wasn't enough. __________________
Posts: 30,252

01-12-2012, 07:55 AM	#3
Mile High Mania #triggering Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Tejas Casino cash: $3727229	http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=254922 Word for word subject line too, if I'm not mistaken. __________________
Posts: 30,252

01-12-2012, 07:55 AM	#4
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $2844127	I'd say that's clearly 6 on the line. I think every team who had this called on them would disagree with the statement that "They are not technical with this"
Posts: 127,970

01-12-2012, 07:56 AM	#6
Mile High Mania #triggering Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Tejas Casino cash: $3727229	ESPN is having another 1 hour special SC this morning 10am cst on Tebow... set your DVRs. __________________
Posts: 30,252

01-12-2012, 08:06 AM	#10
InChiefsHeaven Rockin' yer FACE OFF! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Casino cash: $3924937	The real question is how often is it called when it looks like that? Seems a bit ticky-tacky to call it, but if it had been called it's technically an illegal formation. __________________ We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!!
Posts: 25,715

01-12-2012, 10:06 AM	#14
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2975884	An official could throw a forearm shiver during a game and Pereira would gloss it as being the correct move. When it comes to this, though, who gives a **? Denver beat them physically and on the scoreboard. ** Pittsburgh.
Posts: 83,245