Be On The Lookout For The Referees

[Mafioso]

(01-20-2023, 12:42 PM)Nepa Wrote: I have not heard an official NFL pronouncement on the play.

I do know the official rule book states it is not a block in the back "if the opponent turns away from the blocker when contact is imminent." It also requires pushing the opponent. 

If the referees cannot conclusively determine the person was pushed, or did not turn away from the blocker when contact is imminent, then it is best to let the play go. 

It is really hard to determine that the push caused the fall versus the would-be tackler lunging at Hubbard and it does seem that Bailey first contacted Andrews on the side first. I cannot even tell if there was solid contact with the back once Bailey's hand slid off the shoulder as Andrews lunged forward.

It seems given such uncertainty that it was best to let the play go. I would not have been surprised if a block in the back was called, but I think the officials made the right choice to not call a block in the back if they were not certain one occurred. Few things are more annoying in sports than game officials calling something because they believe it might have happened versus actually seeing it happen. Soccer can be unwatchable with all the theatrics to get calls.

I’m not going to get into a debate about it. We disagree. That’s fine.