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.
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Here is some more clarification - DeSean is a bonehead and I am sick of his T.O. antics— Phlyers Phan- Here is some more clarification - DeSean is a bonehead and I am sick of his T.O. antics— Phlyers Phan
- Good job on the clarify. I think the NFL needs to abolish the Offset rule. They should walk both penalities... 5 yards on the Defense. Okay. Walk it Off. 10 Yards on the Offense. Okay. Walk it off. Penalties should only nullify if they are two players fighting on the same play. Or Hold/Illegal Hands to Face on the same two players.— rodnougat
Comment removed.- Thanks for clarifying that for us, but who cares! The bottom line is, DeSean should've never done it to begin with. It's obvious this guy just can't keep his mouth shut. Sooner or later it will cost us a game, it's just a matter of time.— Geno D
- Please have the spokesperson clarify the following:
A.R. 14.35 Second-and-10 on B40. B2 is offside and A1 completes a pass to eligible receiver A3 who is tackled at the
B17. A3 then gets up and spikes the ball in the field of play.
Ruling: A’s ball first-and-10 on B22 (decline B’s foul and enforce A’s from dead-ball spot).— largevee - Can anyone explain why the Eagles wouldn't have been able to decline the penalty? Doesn't a team always have the right to decline a penalty, or is that not the case when there are multiple penalties?— dawk2020
- DeSean, explain to me: how is bullying wrong, and yet it is OK to taunt, disrespect, and make fools of the opposition?— dasher
- B2, A1, at the A10.....in case you didn't know I sucked at algebra....and you're right. The rule is stupid> There is no rational way you should allow the play just because it's a scoring play. Or, now way you should replay the down when it's not. Who wrote these rules? Bill Clinton? It sounds like his definition of what is, and what isn't sex. To him, but not to the rest of America.....just stupid! Like DeSean..........— Mark1npt
- This is a boneheaded rule, and needs to be changed. There should be a difference between a dead ball penalty, and a live ball foul, when each team commits a penalty. The rule rewards the defensive team that committed a live ball penalty. If the Giants did not commit a penalty, the catch stands, and a 15 yd penalty is imposed. But since the Giants committed a penalty, the catch is nullified. How silly! It should be the way, whether there is a score or not.— arrowamy
- dasher, you are exactly correct. How in the world is Destupid setting a good example for the youth of America? If he's gonna go on the talk shows and talk the talk there, shouldn't he walk the walk and not talk the talk on the field in front of the cameras?— Mark1npt
- arrow, I think what happened during the rules committee hearing is they wanted to break for dinner and didn't really get into how stupid this rule would work out in real game situations. Andy must have been on that committee and you know how cranky he gets when it's time to eat.....— Mark1npt
- Great, lets reward the Giants for committing a penalty. If the Giants had not initially committed a penalty, they could have observed the Jackson catch, then the Jackson taunt, and then thought to themselves "hmmm, we don't want that 35 yard catch to stand (50 - 15) so lets hurry up and get a cheap shot in and get a flag so that it's nullified." It's completely ridiculous.— Penfold18
- another Eagles game where I see a rule change in the off season. Remember the illegal procedure call against the Bears when the center snapped the ball over the qb's head ? Right call stupid rule that got corrected. This too must be addressed.— bleedgreen
- The correct ruling that everyone is missing is the following:
Rule 14 Article 9 If there has been a foul by either team during a down and there is a dead ball foul by the other
team in the action immediately after the end of the down, it is a double foul, and all rules for enforcement
of double fouls apply (see 14-3-1).
OFF— arrgy
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