I Didn’t Even Know a Penalty This Dumb Existed

All right, today we’re all learning something new because I think I just learned about the dumbest penalty that I didn’t even realize existed to this point. Let’s go to the Chiefs Jaguar games. And the Chiefs, God, this hurts to say, have already been getting screwed by penalties on one kickoff return. I mean, Smith takes it 63 yards just straight line running. And I thought he was going to hit his head on the upright at the end of this, but he gets taken down. And apparently there was a holding call. And when we go back and look at it, I mean, this guy just falls down. And I guess Cochran has a piece of his jersey, but there’s no tugging and he didn’t force him down. The dude just trips and you see a slight jersey extension which calls back this 66-yd return. And I’m not even sure if I classify this as a technically correct call, but it got called anyway. But on their next return, we get to see the dumbest roll that I and probably you and probably the Chief’s off returner didn’t even know existed. So the ball is kicked and then ran back to the 30 yd line when the flag comes out and we get to hear the call being made against Riho 81 and that’s a foul because he was deep. He came up with somebody who was short and they blocked together and double team that’s illegal. That’s right. The explanation is that somebody from the back came up and made a block with another player. And if you don’t know football, you might think, all right, this sounds like a pretty standard penalty. What’s the big idea? But the big idea is this. This penalty is called on the off returner. The off returner’s job is to do one thing. He is a lead blocker and 90% of the time his assignment is to go get the most dangerous man to the return. Aka whoever looks like they’re about to bust this return up. So, as we see it unfold, he’s looking downfield and this blocker looks like he’s losing leverage on the rusher right here. So, he goes to take on that block as well as the other blocker staying on the same block. But, I just want to say how dumb of a penalty this is. I mean, holy crap. You’re talking about guys having to make the tiniest split-second decision that could potentially cost him tons of yards. I mean, this kickoff was moved all the way back to the 13 yd line. And it just makes no sense because if this guy is losing his block, what is he supposed to do? Is he literally obligated to allow that man to go and make the play, does he just have to stand there until his teammate is ran past to engage? It’s one of those rules that might sound good on paper, but in practice looks so dumb and is such a terrible rule to witness. And I’m actually dumbfounded to know that it exists. And that’s a foul because he was deep. He came up with somebody who was short and they blocked together and double team. That’s illegal.

The Chiefs Getting an illegal Double team penalty that I didn’t even know existed is just ridiculous…

38 comments

  1. A lot of people seem to think I'm a Chief's fan. I'm most certainly not, but this illegal double team penalty is just dumb, so I wanted to talk about it, Congrats Jaguars on the win and FTC!

  3. That first penalty had to be called. He was holding his shoulder pad. If he let go and let the guy fall they would've have called that (unless the refs are going after the Chiefs). That blocking rule does suck, however. How in the world do they come up with this?

  8. Eh. I think it is a result of changing rules on special teams to increase player safety. I can understand not liking it, but it isn't "simply ridiculous." Apply the same logic in the video to a chop block: "What is the running back supposed to do? The lineman was losing the block! Is he just supposed to let him go?" Well, no. But he isn't supposed to cut him. So, in this one, the first guy shouldn't lose the block. But if he does, that is where the second guy comes in. He can't come in early. We could quibble about if it really was a double, but that isn't on the rule. [Probably, they will end up just getting rid of kickoffs all around.]

  10. I am reposting this because it is a great explanation.

    @DeletedReality2025

    2 days ago

    The logic of the rule is that the "deep" players on the kick off are able to get a full speed completely unimpeded running head start towards their blocking assignment once they realize they will not be handling the ball. If you allowed them to plow into an already engaged player on the kicking team at full speed (who likely would not even see the "deep" player coming, as he will be focused on the player blocking HIM and the ball carrier) the potential for injury is catastrophic. While on this specific play it was more like the deep player just sorta "got in the way" of the kicking team player, it is still an illegal block. This is about player safety, maybe the league has gone "too far" towards turning the NFL into two hand touch but the rule itself, makes perfect sense.

  11. You can point these calls out all you want. You can point out EVERY bad call that the Chiefs got screwed by for the past decade and it won't matter to the legions of m0r0n$ who will STILL argue that the refs were somehow favoring the Chiefs even though the Jags were called for 4 penalties for 25 yards while the Chiefs were called for 13 for over 100 yards. The comments section of this video as well as thousands of others bears that out. Now I a NOT arguing that the Chiefs didn't deserve a LOT more flags than the Jags because the Chiefs most certainly DID deserve more flags for being sloppy and undisciplined. But it's amazing how people who are less intelligent than rocks will ALWAYS point to one call that helped them and claim that it's rigged, while blissfully ignoring ALL of the others that screwed them. It's nothing new. We saw the same thing when the Patriots were winning too.

  20. Right off the bat you lost all credibility! The Chiefs have been getting away with murder on the field! The holding you referred to was blatant! Both hands grabbing the shoulder pads. Come on Dude…..try harder…..you get the bad content award for this one….

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