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Absolutely. And, if kids and coaches at the HS level are expected to understand this, guys at the Professional level can reasonably be expected to "get" it as well. Please see my long post above. Under Rule 4-2-2, Slater exercised his team's right to "kick" rather than "receive." Belichick has now said that that is what he instructed him to do.I am a high school referee for which I know it is different in the NFL but I wanted to try and clarify some things that may be confusing people.
The opening coin toss of the game there are 4 options:
Kick - You elect to kickoff which obviously means that the other team will receive and they get to choose which direction they want to go. The other team will also get the option in the 2nd half and will receive both halves if you choose this option.
Receive - You elect to receive the ball.
Defer - You are deferring your option to the second half for which you can kick or receive to start the 2nd half but obviously you will receive.
Defend - You can choose which end to defend but that is your option so the other team will receive ball both halves.
In OT you have 3 options:
Kick - Your option is to kick meaning the other team will receive based on your option and then their option is which end they want to defend.
Receive - You receive the ball.
Defend - You select which end you want to defend and then the other team gets the decision of receive or kick. This is what Slater should've done if they were playing the wind.
Now in answer to why Blakeman asked Slater do you want to kick wasn't to coax him into a decision at least we hope. As officials we always ask both head coaches at the beginning of the game and before OT (if it gets to this point) what is your option if you win the toss. That is why I believe Blakeman asked him because the Pats had already informed him that they wanted to kick if they won the toss.
Belichick should have instructed him to state the goal they would defend instead of saying "kick." That gave the Jets the best of both worlds, they got the ball and they got to choose the goal they would defend. So, if there was a brain fart here, it was on Belichick...UNLESS he is taking the heat to protect Slater, which is possible.