default-cbs-image

During Sunday night's epic 6-6 tie between the Seahawks and Cardinals, multiple issues on field goals helped create the final outcome. That included Bobby Wagner leaping over the Cardinals line to make an incredible block, one that Arizona coach Bruce Arians thought was illegal.

He complained about it on the field, tried to throw a challenge flag (which cost him a timeout, which might have cost him points in the first half) and then after the game complained about it even more. Except Arians directed his anger towards the NFL, saying he expects another "bullshit explanation" from the NFL about the non call.

"I'll talk to the league and we'll get some kind of explanation that's all bullshit, like normal," Arians said.

First of all: Bruce Arians riffing off the cuff with swear words is the best Bruce Arians. And the only Bruce Arians.

Second: he's not wrong. During the game, NFL VP of Officiating Dean Blandino tweeted that you "have to land on the player" for a leap over the long snapper to be considered a foul.

What can you possibly call this?


Here's the verbiage from Section 3, Article 1 (n) of the NFL Rule Book:

Running forward and leaping in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or Try Kick and landing on players, unless the leaping player was originally lined up on the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.

And you could even file it under Section 3, Article 1 (p) if you wanted, although it would be nitpicking to say Wagner jumped on or stood on the snapper.

Jumping or standing on a teammate or opponent to block or attempt to block an opponent's kick.

Wagner was not on the line of scrimmage to begin with, he did run forward and he most certainly made contact.

bobbywagnerblockedfieldgoalcardinalsseahawks.jpg
via NFL Broadcast

The argument from the league is the contact is incidental, but all contact is incidental in this situation. The entire point is Wagner isn't trying to touch anyone. No, he's not using the defensive player's back as a trampoline, but what if he misses badly and he steps on this guy's back incidentally? That would be a flag.

If players and teams want to run the risk of shooting the gap and leaping over other players then they have to face the consequences of accidentally touching players on the kicking team and handing the offense a new set of downs.

For whatever reason, the NFL let the Seahawks off the hook here. Arians has every right to be upset.