09-21-2007, 02:18 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,225
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If yelling signals at the line is cheating, Dolphins guilty, too
If yelling signals at the line is cheating, Dolphins guilty, too -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Quote:
This NFL season it seems as if broken rules or allegations of cheating are an everyday occurrence. But Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder has to laugh at the latest team in the spotlight.
Earlier this week, as the dust was starting to settle on the Patriots' punishment for videotaping defensive signals, Ravens coach Brian Billick accused Jets defenders of yelling out signals to simulate the snap, in an effort to pull the Ravens' offensive line offside. It worked three times, but the Jets still lost 20-13 Sunday.
"Oh, [linebacker Zach Thomas] does that all the time, yell at the offensive linemen to try to get them to go before the snap. Everybody does it," Crowder said. "That Green Bay game last year, we got called out for it three times. You make noise, or grunt and groan, put your hand up. Everybody does it."
Crowder was referring to last season's 34-24 loss to the Packers, when Thomas called out a signal, which the officials ruled was a "disconcerting call," or an illegal attempt to cause opponents to false start.
Ironically, Packers kicker Dave Rayner made a 55-yard field goal, but because it was a pre-snap penalty, the field goal was not allowed. He eventually made a 40-yarder, but a Packers' penalty negated that as well, so Thomas' ploy worked.
"I tried to make them jump, and they caught me," Thomas said after the game. "I've got to say it not as loud next time."
Thomas was unavailable Wednesday after missing practice with a migraine.
In preparation for facing the Jets' defensive line this Sunday, left tackle Vernon Carey said they've had players from their scout team in Jets jerseys shouting out false signals in practice.
"We know [the Jets] like to do it; we heard about it," Carey said. "We're going to practice that, and hopefully it won't affect us. We have the scout team guys who do different things to try to imitate the other team, so right now we're practicing everything they do."
Billick said on Monday that he wants the league to nip this practice in the bud.
"They did an outstanding job. I credit the New York Jets. Their defensive line and linebackers did a very, very effective job of illegally simulating the snap count," Billick said Monday. "They did it the whole game long. It needs to be caught."
Mangini said that he and Billick have resolved the issue.
"I talked to Brian yesterday to clear up any misunderstanding," Mangini said. "We had a good conversation about it. I told him that we don't coach things that cause penalties, and that's not something that we ever want to do."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the ploy is not a league conduct matter because it's covered in the unsportsmanlike conduct section of the rule book: The defensive use of acts or words designed to disconcert an offensive team at the snap. An official must blow his whistle immediately to stop play and issue a 15-yard penalty.
"It seems like nowadays everything's got something going on behind it," Jets safety Kerry Rhodes said. "We don't [simulate snap counts], and we don't condone it anyway, so I'm guessing they're making a couple of excuses. I guess it comes with the territory."
Information from Newsday contributed to this report.
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If yelling signals at the line is cheating, Dolphins guilty, too
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