NFL admits it screwed Buffalo 15 months after-the-fact

[UConn James]

7 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

Idk if making referees full time will help this menace, but something drastic has to change! Overall, officiating is terrible and unacceptable.

 

BASTARDS!🤬

Maybe especially after the NHL ref got caught on a hot mic that a penalty he called was small-time but that he just wanted to give that team one.... Reffing in EVERY sport needs to get more consistent. Such a 💩y thing where make-up calls, most-favored-player/team status, and terrible judgment calls can’t be questioned (and when PI was reviewable, refs gave everyone a HUGE 🖕🏼).

[HurlyBurly51]

7 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

Idk if making referees full time will help this menace, but something drastic has to change! Overall, officiating is terrible and unacceptable.

 

BASTARDS!🤬

I thought the replacement refs were better.

[Utah John]

Several points:

-- The Saints got screwed in their game against the Rams FAR worse than the Bills got screwed on the Cody Ford block.

-- The Ford block was NOT a blind-side hit.  Ford was in front and to the side of the defender.  The defender had every opportunity to see Ford.  The defender ran into Ford more than Ford ran into him.

-- The second-half kickoff referee invention was worse than the Ford call.

-- The Bills would have won on a previous play if (1) three of them had bothered to block one defender on the Josh Allen sweep, or (2) the defender who evaded those blocks and who tackled Allen with an illegal helmet to helmet hit, had been penalized.

-- The Bills would have won if Milano had sacked Watson, instead of bouncing off of him, on the play where Watson's short pass got run almost to the end zone, setting the game winning field goal.  

 

I do not agree that by losing this game, the Bills were motivated to get better.  It was clear all season that we needed better WRs, and Beane would have made the Diggs trade whether we had won that game or not.  Also, there were Bills on that team who weren't on the team the next year, and they deserved a chance to play again.

[Bermuda Triangle]

6 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I’ll find the thread!

Please do.  I'd love to see it.

[BarleyNY]

5 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

That's because it's not AT ALL an admission that it was called wrong..........they called the play the exact same way as they had called it all season.

 

It's simply an amendment to how they want it called going forward..........giving the official leeway to not make an auto-call when a blocker throws a less-than-full shoulder into a blindsided defender.

 

But it would be stupid to assume that you won't get a penalty for it now.........more often than not the blindsided defender is in a very poor position with regard to making the tackle...........so without that very broad definition of a blindside hit......defenders will just be taught to embellish the hit and draw the flag.

 

The bottom line is that if you are in position to throw your shoulder into an unwitting player then you are capable of making a less violent block.

 

The same people who b*tched about this were crying like babies when career long cheap-shot artist Aaron Williams had his bubble gum and popsicle sticks spilled on the field by a traditionally legal but dangerous block by Jarvis Landry.    

 

You can't have it both ways, ladies.😘

As I said at the time, it was a bad rule properly enforced.  Now it’s a better rule.

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

The Bills and Ford need to make a huge stink about the fine. The ref making a bad call in real time is really unfortunate, but that's just part of sports. Someone at the NFL head office reviewed the play and determined not only that the correct call was made, but that it was an egregious foul that warranted a fine. Whoever made that decision was clearly retaliating against the Bills and Ford for complaining about the call after the game. That person needs to face consequences over the decision to fine Ford.  

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

6 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

As I said at the time, it was a bad rule properly enforced.  Now it’s a better rule.

 

That's wrong on every level.

 

The rule was NOT properly enforced at the time, and it is NOT changing now. The "forcible contact" language was always included in the rule, and the ref/NFL ignored that part of the rule when they made the call on the field and decided to fine Ford after the fact. This video is the NFL clarifying that what Ford did should not be considered to be "forcible" and therefore is not a penalty.  

[BarleyNY]

5 minutes ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

That's wrong on every level.

 

The rule was NOT properly enforced at the time, and it is NOT changing now. The "forcible contact" language was always included in the rule, and the ref/NFL ignored that part of the rule when they made the call on the field and decided to fine Ford after the fact. This video is the NFL clarifying that what Ford did should not be considered to be "forcible" and therefore is not a penalty.  

What the NFL considers “forcible contract” has obviously changed.  The enforcement of the Ford penalty was in line with how the penalty was enforced during the rest of that season.  They are now making the threshold for what qualifies more reasonable.

[Chandler#81]

Josh Allen says

 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

6 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

What the NFL considers “forcible contract” has obviously changed.  The enforcement of the Ford penalty was in line with how the penalty was enforced during the rest of that season.  They are now making the threshold for what qualifies more reasonable.

 

I don't see how any reasonable person could watch a replay of what Ford did and say that it was "forcible contact". What Ford did is just about the polar opposite of "forcible" on a football field. 

 

Do you have any examples of blind side block penalties that were called that had this level of contact? 

[BarleyNY]

4 minutes ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

I don't see how any reasonable person could watch a replay of what Ford did and say that it was "forcible contact". What Ford did is just about the polar opposite of "forcible" on a football field. 

 

Do you have any examples of blind side block penalties that were called that had this level of contact? 

I remember seeing the blindside penalty called more than once during that season and thinking they were ridiculous calls.  Likewise I felt that way about Ford’s.  But it just seemed to be how the refs were told to call it at the time - and therefore it was in line with what one would expect.  Coaches and players have to adjust to how the game is called and, ridiculous or not, we didn’t. 

[GoBills808]

9 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

I remember seeing the blindside penalty called more than once during that season and thinking they were ridiculous calls.  Likewise I felt that way about Ford’s.  But it just seemed to be how the refs were told to call it at the time - and therefore it was in line with what one would expect.  Coaches and players have to adjust to how the game is called and, ridiculous or not, we didn’t. 

They had a chance to call it on the Watson TD that he ran in, I think it was the RB who threw a block that should have been called if they were going by Ford's as an example but nope

 

EDIT it was on the first 2pt conversion after the TD

Edited April 10, 2021 by GoBills808

[BADOLBILZ]

48 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

As I said at the time, it was a bad rule properly enforced.  Now it’s a better rule.

 

 

It's a good rule that was too broadly defined.   But that was how it was enforced all season.  

 

Cody Ford struggled with mental errors all season, this was just another.

 

All he had to do was set a screen.   By throwing his shoulder into the defender he unnecessarily put himself in that seasons range of penalty.  

 

For people who think it's a bad rule........consider this:

 

The Bills just invested a second round pick in AJ Epenesa........he came out of games twice last year with head injuries...........how much of a blow would that be to the team if his career were ended by one of these blindside blocks that the league is wisely trying to rid themselves of?

[BarleyNY]

17 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

It's a good rule that was too broadly defined.   But that was how it was enforced all season.  

 

Cody Ford struggled with mental errors all season, this was just another.

 

All he had to do was set a screen.   By throwing his shoulder into the defender he unnecessarily put himself in that seasons range of penalty.  

 

For people who think it's a bad rule........consider this:

 

The Bills just invested a second round pick in AJ Epenesa........he came out of games twice last year with head injuries...........how much of a blow would that be to the team if his career were ended by one of these blindside blocks that the league is wisely trying to rid themselves of?

That’s a better way to say it

[MJS]

18 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

It's a good rule that was too broadly defined.   But that was how it was enforced all season.  

 

Cody Ford struggled with mental errors all season, this was just another.

 

All he had to do was set a screen.   By throwing his shoulder into the defender he unnecessarily put himself in that seasons range of penalty.  

 

For people who think it's a bad rule........consider this:

 

The Bills just invested a second round pick in AJ Epenesa........he came out of games twice last year with head injuries...........how much of a blow would that be to the team if his career were ended by one of these blindside blocks that the league is wisely trying to rid themselves of?

Well, I agree with you for the most part. I think it was dumb of Ford to do that. All he has to do is extend his arms and push the guy. Or even just run and try to get in the way.

 

I felt like it was consistently called within the definition of the rule, albeit a ticky-tack call. I see the point of some people who say it wasn't "forcible" contact, but that's too much of a gray area to expect the officials to say one thing is forcible and one thing is not.

[GoBills808]

22 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

It's a good rule that was too broadly defined.   But that was how it was enforced all season.  

 

It wasn't even enforced consistently in the same game.

[Utah John]

Ford was in front of the guy, so how this is considered "blind side" is a mystery.

[Doc]

I’d like to see any blindside block called where the defender had a good view of the offensive player coming at him and didn’t get laid out.

[H2o]

They should pay him back double of what he was fined, hoes.

[TBBills]

13 minutes ago, H2o said:

They should pay him back double of what he was fined, hoes.

Should be like a double donation to the players charity.

[BADOLBILZ]

3 hours ago, Utah John said:

Ford was in front of the guy, so how this is considered "blind side" is a mystery.

 

Landry was in front of Aaron Williams

r

 

 

On this play Josh Allen was in front of the defender.......Ford came from behind and to the side

 

Both defensive players saw the blocker at the last moment but it wasn't enough time to defend themselves.

 

Ford did not need to lead with his shoulder he just needed to extend his arm and delay the defender for a split second and there would have been no penalty.

[Marv's Neighbor]

13 hours ago, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

I still  don't understand why New England gets a conditional draft pick out of this...🤔

Exactly!  What do we get, a shoulder shrug?

[Punching Bag]

4 hours ago, Utah John said:

Ford was in front of the guy, so how this is considered "blind side" is a mystery.

 

It is blind side like some responses on thread.

[MJS]

5 hours ago, Utah John said:

Ford was in front of the guy, so how this is considered "blind side" is a mystery.

I would suggest reading the rule. The important part is coming back towards your own end zone. Ford did that.

 

The only argument is whether or not his hit was "forcible" contact or not. The word forcible implies "vigorous or strong". It wasn't a big hit, but Ford did thrust forward, leading with his shoulder, and almost left the ground with the force of his contact. The defender was able to defend himself and counter the momentum pretty well, which is partly why the hit did not seem like much, in my opinion.

 

I thought it was a good call at the time, albeit ticky-tack.

[dma0034]

Not nearly as bad as giving the Texans the ball after the TD after half time. I don't care what they meant to do... it's what they did do that's the problem

[Mike in Horseheads]

4 minutes ago, dma0034 said:

Not nearly as bad as giving the Texans the ball after the TD after half time. I don't care what they meant to do... it's what they did do that's the problem

Then have the men in trench coats get involved was a robbery on live TV

[Bermuda Triangle]

Just now, Mike in Horseheads said:

Then have the men in trench coats get involved was a robbery on live TV

Member's Only jackets, but close enough 

[Orlando Tim]

8 hours ago, HurlyBurly51 said:

I thought the replacement refs were better.

I agree- the absurd part was the officials got blamed for the "fail mary" which was two guys fighting for a ball. In real time it is hard to tell what happened. It is 1/10th as bad as the interception by Josh in the Rams game, which was clear on replay.

[BillsfaninSB]

9 hours ago, Utah John said:

Several points:

-- The Saints got screwed in their game against the Rams FAR worse than the Bills got screwed on the Cody Ford block.

-- The Ford block was NOT a blind-side hit.  Ford was in front and to the side of the defender.  The defender had every opportunity to see Ford.  The defender ran into Ford more than Ford ran into him.

-- The second-half kickoff referee invention was worse than the Ford call.

-- The Bills would have won on a previous play if (1) three of them had bothered to block one defender on the Josh Allen sweep, or (2) the defender who evaded those blocks and who tackled Allen with an illegal helmet to helmet hit, had been penalized.

-- The Bills would have won if Milano had sacked Watson, instead of bouncing off of him, on the play where Watson's short pass got run almost to the end zone, setting the game winning field goal.  

 

I do not agree that by losing this game, the Bills were motivated to get better.  It was clear all season that we needed better WRs, and Beane would have made the Diggs trade whether we had won that game or not.  Also, there were Bills on that team who weren't on the team the next year, and they deserved a chance to play again.

Don’t forget about that 3rd and 18 when the play clock expired.   Can’t believe the D gave up a 1st down. 
 

If the Bills won I wonder if the higher draft position would have not been enough to get Diggs.   NE would have had a lower spot. 

[That's No Moon]

NFL *****...You...  You decide after the fact who you screwed and used it as an instructional video. Kiss the wide parts of my ass. 

 

The lesson to be learned here is you want to be is marketable. If you are marketable you get the calls. If not, you aren't.  In 2019 Watson was more marketable than Allen. Now? Not so much. The NFL just told you you, if this happened today this is how it would be called.

Edited April 11, 2021 by That's No Moon

[GoBills808]

https://www.houstontexans.com/video/highlights-watson-converts-the-two-point-conversion

 

Same game, same foul by the letter of the law. No call.

 

 

[T master]

When i first saw the replay of the block i couldn't see where Ford was in the wrong it looked as if he hit him more from the side than on the blind side but it just goes to figure it would go that way .

 

All Bills fans including Cody Ford have a right to be a bit pissed i thought these guys were professionals ...

Edited April 11, 2021 by T master

[Mark Vader]

20 hours ago, Beast said:

Still waiting for the apology for Home Run Throw-up and No Goal.

And for "Just give it to 'em"

[Utah John]

5 hours ago, BillsfaninSB said:

Don’t forget about that 3rd and 18 when the play clock expired.   Can’t believe the D gave up a 1st down. 
 

If the Bills won I wonder if the higher draft position would have not been enough to get Diggs.   NE would have had a lower spot. 

Playoff game wins and losses don't affect the order of draft picks.

[Matt_In_NH]

It was ticky tack for sure but in any game there are close/bad calls that can go either way.  Of course if your team loses and a call could have affected the outcome it is always something to remember.  But in almost any close NFL game, you can find this kind of thing.  The key is to not put it in the refs hand.  That game should never have been so close.  I blame the offensive game plan and conservative approach in the second half more.  Also, for anyone who was at that game watching pre game kicking, I have no confidence Haushka would hit a 55 yards, I am not even sure they would have attempted it which is not the point but there could be more critical calls.....Like the one in NO vs the Rams.

[Inigo Montoya]

14 minutes ago, mattynh said:

It was ticky tack for sure but in any game there are close/bad calls that can go either way.  Of course if your team loses and a call could have affected the outcome it is always something to remember.  But in almost any close NFL game, you can find this kind of thing.  The key is to not put it in the refs hand.  That game should never have been so close.  I blame the offensive game plan and conservative approach in the second half more.  Also, for anyone who was at that game watching pre game kicking, I have no confidence Haushka would hit a 55 yards, I am not even sure they would have attempted it which is not the point but there could be more critical calls.....Like the one in NO vs the Rams.

 

Hauschka was 4/4 that game with a 38 yarder, two 40 yarders , and a 47 yarder as time expired to send the game into overtime.  I would have put the game on his foot in that situation.

 

Edited April 11, 2021 by Inigo Montoya

[Doc]

The most important aspect (common sense part, if you will) of the rule is injury to the defenseless player. The Texans defender was able to brace himself because he saw Ford coming and as a result the hit was no worse than any other “seeing side” collision.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

How many Comp Picks will the Bills lose because of this mistake? 

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

That game almost made me stop watching football. The calls were so one sided it seemed like a rigged game or like watching a WWE scripted match.

[BADOLBILZ]

9 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

https://www.houstontexans.com/video/highlights-watson-converts-the-two-point-conversion

 

Same game, same foul by the letter of the law. No call.

 

 

 

 

Good example of a smart, instinctive, aware player cleverly circumventing the rule.........versus a mental mistake factory like 2019 Cody Ford.

 

Johnson clearly knew the rule so he didn't turn to face Edmunds and draw the attention of the official(smart).........felt the backside pursuit of Edmunds(instinctive).......made a snap decision to fake that he was being forced involuntarily backwards by the defender in order to intercept Edmunds(aware).