Dean Blandino, the NFL's V.P. of Officiating, made a video explaining the rule change where he clearly says "they can not push from the second level the down lineman into the offensive formation". http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...loading-line-restriction-will-protect-linemen The NFL webpage explaining the rule also said "Team B players not on the line of scrimmage at the snap cannot push players on the line of scrimmage into the offensive formation", until they updated the webpage at 6:32 pm today to remove the "not at the line of scrimage" part. http://t.co/yWebD5UpMT (screenshot of webpage before it was edited) http://web.archive.org/liveweb/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000237712/article/new-nfl-rules-overloading-line-restriction-will-protect-linemen (current page) So, yeah, I don't find it that hard to believe that there was some honest confusion about the rule on Belichick's part. I'm sure NFL teams have an official version of the rulebook to guide them on the rules, and therefore should have known the current official wording of the rule, but it is very likely that the change was explained to them in a misleading fashion during league meetings, memos, training, etc.
It is amazing to hear Pats fans complain about a crucial (but correct) call going against them. The Pats have benefited from so many calls and non calls since 2001. The tuck rule was one of the biggest injustices in NFL history. The Pats DBs mugged the Colts receivers for years and got away with it. Brady draws roughing the passer calls if a D lineman looks at him the wrong way. The Pats OL holds liken crazy. No team in the NFL has been gifted wins more than the Pats in the last decade. So put a sock in it Pats fans. The rule exists and it was a clear penalty as confirmed by Piereira. It's a penalty in the first quarter and its a penalty in OT. Too bad your genius coach didn't know the rule, or he just continues to try to bend the rules.
I hate the patriots so its even sweeter they will cry about that call forver. It was the correct call, but I would be bonkers if situation was reversed. Lol
I heard Bellichek disagreed with the rule...Just like when he disagreed with the 'Tuck' rule. You know that cheater needs to stfu. He definitely is salty today.
^^ To this day I still see a fumble and no conclusive evidence to overturn the fumble ruling on the field
this...seriously...pats fans complaining about this is laughable... all i have to say is...sucks dont it?
that is one of the most sorry moments in football history. The idea of the rule was he was "trying" to tuck the ball? That's like taking away an int because the receiver was trying to get a TD.
The real question is why would you push your teammate on a 56 yard FG attempt by the opposition? No real urgency to block the kick (which is next to impossible to do), since the guy probably isn't making it anyway. Ironically, if the penalty was not called, nobody from either side would have spotted the infraction, nor would they have said a word about it. A sucker for nostalgia here, since I miss the old days when you were allowed to climb on guys backs to block a kick.
That is one way of looking at the issue; the other is that he knew full well precisely how the rule worked...
Butt hurt Pats supporters alleging there's a conspiracy afoot. http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/nfl-changed-the-push-rule-after-they-called-it/
There's enough evidence here that the rule originated with the guys in the trenches and was legitimately installed in the rulebook without taking away an essential part of the game so the BAD RULE theory should be discounted. The BAD CALL theory should also be discounted because of all the people in the know quoted about the rule, the only one (exclusive of interweb whiners) claiming a bad call was Belichek - and he had a reason to do so. Will the league investigate to see if the Pats were coaching the move?
The problem with that fanbase is that the majority came along with the success,so they think it's always supposed to go a certain way. Along with it is the fact that they are always on the plus side of calls. Their team has gotten away with murder as far as non calls ad strange calls being awarded to them. When it gets handed to them the other way(finally) they don't know how to handle it
