Change the Charles Rule: It's illegal to chuck a receiver beyond 5 yards of the line of scrimmage -- TMQ contends that calling this the "charles" rule would be more dignified. Illegal chuck is a five-yard penalty and automatic first down; the automatic first down is too much reward to the offense for what is often minor contact. Example: With Jersey/A leading 7-3, New England faced third-and-14; Tom Brady was sacked for an 8-yard loss, making the situation fourth-and-22. But Giants cornerback Corey Webster was called for an illegal charles, and suddenly the Patriots had first-and-10. They scored on the renewed possession to take a 10-7 lead and ultimately won by three. There was contact between Webster and the receiver maybe 6 or 7 yards beyond the line, but the contact was minor and only slightly beyond the legal contact zone. Yet the reward to New England was huge -- fourth-and-long in Patriots territory became first down in Giants' territory, a game-changing moment. Illegal charles should be 5 yards and replay the down, but no automatic first down; the rule as written is too generous to the offense. Remember, zebras call pass interference whenever the defender really slams a receiver. When the two merely make brief contact, the offense should not be rewarded with a first down.
Rules note: it was Giants 28, Patriots 16 when linebacker Gerris Wilkinson was called for pass interference against Randy Moss in the end zone, placing New England on the Jersey/A 1; the touchdown made it 28-23 and was key to the Flying Elvii comeback. I didn't see any pass interference on this play, did you? Wilkinson ran in front of Moss and held his hands up, facing away from the ball, but didn't hit Moss. Where was the pass interference? NFL Network announcers Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth declared that the penalty was for faceguarding. But the rule against faceguarding was abolished in 2005! When Collinsworth played, what Wilkinson did was illegal; now, it's perfectly legal. Once again, the Patriots benefit from a mysterious major officiating call in their favor. And NFLN guys, if you're going to represent the league, know the rulebook, OK?
What a holeass. Now he wants to change the "Charles Rule" when he was the biggest proponent of the re-emphasis after New England beat the Colts in the AFCCG.
Also, with regards to the Moss PI call:
1) There was lots of contact
2) I don't remember either announcer even mentioning faceguarding (I may have missed it)
3) TMQ was suspiciously silent on Hobbs' "faceguarding" call last year against Indy
4) I wonder if TMQ is confusing that call with the one where Moss missed a TD when the ball bounced off of the defender's head.
Anyone have video of this? Pretty please?
No one has less regard for facts than Easterbrook. It's amazing.
