AP source: NFL to evaluate roughing-the-passer rule

The NFL plans to debate roughing-the-passer penalties amid outrage over two disputed calls in Week 5, an individual with direct data of the matter informed The Related Press.

The particular person, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of the conversations are inner, stated adjustments to the rule are usually not anticipated in the course of the season. The particular person additionally stated the league has not given officers a directive to emphasise roughing calls following Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion.

NFL homeowners will meet in New York subsequent week. The league’s Competitors Committee — comprised of six crew homeowners/executives and 4 head coaches — makes many of the suggestions for rule adjustments. Groups may also suggest rule adjustments to be voted on by homeowners, which require 24 votes to move.

One concept, steered by Chiefs defensive sort out Chris Jones on Monday night time after he was flagged, may be to permit video evaluation of roughing calls.

Defending quarterbacks is a precedence for homeowners, who pay massive bucks for the faces of their franchises. Twenty-five QBs are making a minimum of $25 million this season.

The questionable name towards Jones — the second in two days — practically value Kansas Metropolis in its 30-29 comeback victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Chiefs had simply scored to trim their deficit to 17-7 when Jones stripped Raiders quarterback Derek Carr from behind simply earlier than halftime. The Professional Bowl defensive sort out landed on Carr whereas additionally arising with the ball — replays confirmed it was clearly unfastened and that Jones cleanly recovered — however referee Carl Cheffers threw a flag for roughing the passer.

“The quarterback is within the pocket and he’s in a passing posture. He will get full safety of all of the features of what we give the quarterback in a passing posture,” Cheffers informed a pool reporter after the sport. “My ruling was the defender landed on him with full physique weight. The quarterback is protected against being tackled with full physique weight.”

On Sunday, Falcons defensive sort out Grady Jarrett was flagged by referee Jerome Boger for a seemingly innocent sack on Tom Brady. The penalty gave the Buccaneers a primary down and allowed them to expire the clock on a 21-15 victory.

Boger made an analogous vital name late within the fourth quarter of the Ravens-Payments sport per week earlier on a play that many additionally thought didn’t to warrant a flag.

Boger referred to as one other borderline roughing penalty within the Falcons-Buccaneers sport when Vita Vea was pushed into Atlanta quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Roughing the passer is the one rule the place referees are instructed to err on the aspect of warning.

The NFL rulebook notes: “When doubtful a few roughness name or probably harmful tactic towards the quarterback, the referee ought to at all times name roughing the passer.”

Jones, who has been flagged for roughing the passer 9 occasions in his profession, has an answer.

“We’ve bought to have the ability to evaluation it within the sales space, you understand what I imply?” Jones stated. “I believe that’s the following step for the NFL as an entire. If we’re going to name it a penalty at that prime (of fee), then we’ve bought to have the ability to evaluation it and ensure, as a result of generally appears to be like will be deceiving.”

The league already went down that street, making move interference reviewable for one season after an egregious missed foul late within the fourth quarter within the 2019 NFC championship value the New Orleans Saints a visit to the Tremendous Bowl.

The experiment failed miserably and the rule wasn’t thought of the following yr.

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AP Sports activities Dave Skretta contributed.

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Comply with Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi

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