Be On The Lookout For The Referees

[KillerGoose]

(01-20-2023, 01:23 PM)Tomkat Wrote: YOU. ARE. WRONG. END. OF. STORY.
When contact was initiated, the players were SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER.
It was only because Andrews stumbled and fell forward that made it look like a block in the back.

I don't think it is as cut and dry as you are trying to make it out to be. The official NFL rule states...

"Blocks an opponent (from behind) in the back above the opponent’s waist, or uses his hands or arms to push an opponent from behind in a manner that affects his movement, except in close-line play."


Looking at that definition and then looking at this...







I can see why people are arguing it. For what it is worth, Dean Blandino said it was a good no-call. I'm not really sure either way. If it was called a penalty, I probably wouldn't argue much. I'm not going to argue much now that it wasn't called, but I would stop short of acting like it is so obvious that it wasn't. The rule doesn't state where contact begins, it just states that contact occurs. Andrews objectively was pushed in the back, it was a really close call with contact starting from the side and moving to the back. 


Sort of on topic, but this is why I think refs are fantastic at their job. This shit is hard. Imagine trying to call this play, live, without the benefit of replay. I'm sitting here watching the replay and thinking "****, this is close" and these guys have to sprint with these dues and get one look at it to make their call.