Clarification on the DeSean taunting penalty
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Clarification on the DeSean taunting penalty
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
I received several e-mails and Tweets today about what exactly happened on the DeSean Jackson taunting penalty during Sunday night's game, and why his catch didn't count.
As you may recall, Jackson hauled in a 50-yard pass from Vince Young, but then flipped the ball at Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell (video below). Also on the play, Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph was called for illegal use of hands.
The play was a confusing one because Joseph's penalty was during the play, or a live-ball foul, while Jackson's penalty was after the play, or a dead-ball foul.
The officials announced offsetting penalties, but the catch did not count, and the Eagles returned to their original line of scrimmage, their own 2-yard line.
I reached out to a league spokesman, who referred me to the following rule:
Section 3: Fouls by Both Teams
Double Foul Without Change of Possession
Article 1 If there is a double foul (3-11-2-c) without a change of possession, the penalties are offset and the down is replayed at the previous spot. If it was a scrimmage down, the number of the next down and the necessary line is the same as for the down for which the new one is substituted.
In other words, in the case of offsetting penalties, they just replay the down. There is no differentiation because Jackson's taunting penalty came after the play was over. Had Joseph not been whistled for a penalty, Jackson's catch would have counted and the taunting penalty would have been assessed from the new line of scrimmage.
There's one other rule that a couple of you have sent to me, wondering why it didn't apply here:
A.R. 14.195 DOUBLE FOUL—TAUNT AND LIVE-BALL FOUL
Third-and-3 on A30. B2 intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown. When B2 is at the A10, he turns and taunts A1 who is chasing him. A2 clips B5 during B2’s run.
Ruling: Touchdown Team B. Kickoff B35. The taunting foul is treated as a dead-ball foul, thus making this a "clean hands score." The fouls offset on the kickoff. (12-3-1-c)
I asked the league spokesman why this rule didn't apply and was told it only applies to a scoring play. Had Jackson scored, the touchdown would have counted.
"If DeSean Jackson would have scored a touchdown, the Eagles would have declined the penalty on the Giants, the touchdown would have counted and the 15-yard penalty against the Eagles for taunting would have been enforced on the kickoff," NFL vice president of football communications Michael Signora wrote in an e-mail. "The difference is purely because penalty enforcement in this situation when a score is involved is different from a non-scoring play."
So, if Jackson wants to taunt the opposing team, he should make sure he scores first.
Overall, the rule doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but the officials did make the correct call.
If your head has not exploded yet, I did Man Up on the defense earlier today.
You can follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
B2, A1; you sank my battleship— burholme- I'm surprised people are confused by this. It seems to happen frequently in games- its just that most plays aren't 50 yard plays.— jtj06
- The NFL needs to change this rule because it makes absolutely no sense.— jimqk
- absurd -- so if ball is on 1 yard line and team scores, taunting penalty applies after the score is counted, but if team has a 98 yard play from its own 1-yard line to the opposition 1 yard line and in the course of the run, the opposition commit various penalties and at the end there is some taunting, the entire 98 yarder is called back?... and that's supposed to make sense ?— warbiscuit
- DeSean may be a bonehead but Eagles don't win yesterday's game wihtout him --nor many others --would rather have talented jerk than nediocre nice guys— warbiscuit
- Apparantly, the play was called per the rules. That does not mean that the ruke makes sense, or that the second call isn't one of the most subjective that is amde in all of football.— monster69
- I enjoyed the ball flipped to the Giant's coach, but not as much I liked the block on Eli, when we tried to place him in the front row.— oakmontleo
- The lesson here is Jackson should wait longer to taunt and not do it immediately following the play.— djack10
- Jackson needs to grow up- he costs the Eagles as many points as he scores. Show some class and act like you deserve all that money you want. The Eagles need a Super Bowl not some overpaid hotdog— turnitover
there was no player in the n.b.a. that talked more trash and taunted other players and sidelines then Micheal Jordan...was he a punk?
- So, let's say there was no Joseph penalty and De Sean taunts after a 50 plus yard catch. The penalty is assessed at the spot of the ball. UNLESS then a Giant taunts, kicks, roughs the passer etc in front of an official so the official sees it. I mean, why wouldn't a defensive player then do something after the taunting foul is called to make sure the ball came all the way back? Just askin'....— Phillyhomer
- So, let's say there was no Joseph penalty and De Sean taunts after a 50 plus yard catch. The penalty is assessed at the spot of the ball. UNLESS then a Giant taunts, kicks, roughs the passer etc in front of an official so the official sees it. I mean, why wouldn't a defensive player then do something after the taunting foul is called to make sure the ball came all the way back? Just askin'....— Phillyhomer
- So, let's say there was no Joseph penalty and De Sean taunts after a 50 plus yard catch. The penalty is assessed at the spot of the ball. UNLESS then a Giant taunts, kicks, roughs the passer etc in front of an official so the official sees it. I mean, why wouldn't a defensive player then do something after the taunting foul is called to make sure the ball came all the way back? Just askin'....— Phillyhomer
- Why are defensive linemen allowed to celebrate after a sack? Why was Victor Cruz allowed to do his "salsa dance" in the endzone with any flags being thrown? The NFL is full of double-standards.— Deathstalker
- Would be curious to know if any Eagles player(s), stepped-up and got into Desean's face for this nonsense! If no one did then that to me
shows there are no leaders on this team!— larryv
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