The title above is in quotation marks because I see athletes and fans use the term to mean something different from the apparent meaning.
Of course, the players should decide the game, but they should decide the game based on rules. It would make no sense to say “let the players decide the game” if it meant that an ineligible receiver (in football) could receive a pass, that a tackle could use his helmet as a spear into the chest of an opposing player, or any number of other rules violations. Yet players and fans often use the term to mean that small violations should be allowed.
This issue came up in the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. With just over a minute left, KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw the football to Travis Kelce, who caught it and ran down the field. As he was about to be tackled, Kelce threw the ball backwards to Kadarius Toney, who ran into the end zone and scored a touchdown. Or so we thought. But the play was nullified because a line judge had thrown the flag right at the start of the play when Toney was lined up offside. Here’s the video.
Mahomes and others argued that Toney’s lining up offside didn’t give the Chiefs any advantage. That’s true.
But here’s the problem. Line judges, unless they miss it, are pretty much always going to call offsides. And notice in the video that the flag was thrown right away before the play evolved.
So, for Patrick Mahomes to get his way, he would have to contend one of two things: (1) the line judge should wait until the play is over before throwing the flag on an offside call, something I have never seen happen in years of watching football, or (2) the line judge or another referee, after the play had ended, should have recognized what a great play it was and gone over and picked up the flag, making it a no-call.
With either of those options, the refs, not the players, would be deciding the game, and not in a good way.
The reality is that one player, Kadarius Toney, did decide the game.
The pic above is of Mahomes yelling at the ref.
READER COMMENTS
Jon Murphy
Dec 12 2023 at 8:24am
Agreed. Another point that comes up is Mahomes complaining during the post game press conference about how he’s never seen that call in his career. If he were right and the rule was a dead letter, then he’d have a point. But, as has been pointed out by the NFL and various commentators, the rule has consistently been enforced. Indeed, it’s routine for players to check with the line judge to make sure they’re in compliance. That never happened here.
Garrett
Dec 12 2023 at 9:11am
The Rule of Cool
Walter Boggs
Dec 12 2023 at 11:39am
That rule might be fun. They could create a new official, the Def Ref, to decide what is Cool.
Bill
Dec 12 2023 at 11:21am
In yesterday’s “Pardon the Interruption” on ESPN, guest Peyton Manning suggested a rule change: If a player (offense or defense) lines up offside and the ball is snapped, the officials should blow the play dead at that point to avoid the kind of controversy that developed in the Chiefs / Bills game.
Derek
Dec 12 2023 at 1:37pm
I wouldn’t be in favor of that change. As long as a defensive offsides doesn’t create a risk to the safety of a player, they let it play out so that the offense has a “free play” and can decide whether they want the 5-yard penalty or wish to decline the penalty and accept the outcome of the play. Likewise, the defense should have an option to accept the 5 yard penalty or decline if the outcome of the play was more favorable.
Bill
Dec 12 2023 at 2:02pm
I get your point. Suppose, for example, the Bills had intercepted either Mahomes’ pass or Kelse’s pass.
Jim Glass
Dec 12 2023 at 1:20pm
Was he or wasn’t he offsides? That’s the question.
The answer is yes, therefor the penalty was called.
Nothing more to debate about it. You don’t like the rule? Stay on sides!
David Henderson
Dec 12 2023 at 2:28pm
Exactly!
Jim Glass
Dec 12 2023 at 5:37pm
I’m glad you agree, but it wasn’t with me.
Who is the “Jim Glass” who posted that to-the-point analysis?
It wasn’t me.
David Henderson
Dec 12 2023 at 5:50pm
Oops. Don’t know.
Jim Glass
Dec 13 2023 at 1:58am
At least I’m glad I agree with myself.
David Henderson
Dec 12 2023 at 2:29pm
BTW, although I was cheering for Buffalo, if the play had there been no offside call I would have loved the outcome. I have teams I cheer for, but I also cheer for good, clever football, especially if there are no injuries.
bb
Dec 12 2023 at 2:36pm
“But here’s the problem. Line judges, unless they miss it, are pretty much always going to call offsides.”
That’s not true. It’s quite common for line judges to give multiple warnings prior to throwing a flag, particularly for pre-snap penalties like off-sides. No idea if Toney had received previous warnings, but to say that they always call offsides is not true. In fact, there have been entire seasons in recent years in which that penalty was not called even once.
The most valid reason to complain to referees is about consistency. Arguing about a specific call is usually subjective, but it’s often fair to complain about a referee not calling the game consistently. Again, no idea if the Bills were lining up offsides all game, just pointing out that line judges don’t always call offsides.
That said, I have no problem with the call and Mahomes acted like a baby. I give him credit for apologizing though.
David Henderson
Dec 12 2023 at 3:45pm
You wrote:
Thanks. I didn’t know that.
For what it’s worth, though, Rex Ryan said on “Get Up” on ESPN Monday morning that in all his years of coaching, he’s never seen a ref warn a wide receiver about an offside. I don’t want get in between him and you. I’m just reporting.
You wrote:
Oh good. I didn’t see that. I’ll look.
bb
Dec 13 2023 at 1:34am
Most receivers check with the line judge prior to the play and then they are good so in that sense it’s his fault, however that is usually for illegal formation not offsides. I hear that zero offensive offsides were called between 2016 and 2019 but a ton have been called this year largely because of the tush push but not on receivers. I think they may have point about consistency. It’s not fair to call a penalty in a critical point in a game that isn’t normally called. Offensive offsides is typically called on linemen if called at all. Still, it Toney had looked at the line judge he probably would have waved him back a few inches.
Did his lining up in the neutral zone give him an advantage? I don’t think so. Do receivers often get called for this. I don’t think so. Probably not a great time to make that call. My guess is Toney will check with the line judge every snap going forward.
Thanks for the reply.
Scott Sumner
Dec 12 2023 at 6:56pm
I agree. Another thing I don’t like is when the game is stopped after a coach challenges a play. Even after the review the refs often get it wrong. Many of the modern rule changes make football almost unwatchable.
Comments are closed.