Ok TMQ may have had a good thesis in their article but they failed to fully understand the rule they were complaining about. Here is what TMQ said:
As the Packers approached the line, Favre looked left to wide receiver Greg Jennings, saw Jennings had single press coverage, and nodded to him. The nod was a “hidden audible” — Favre and Jennings were changing the play to a quick slant, but nobody else knew that. At the snap, the Green Bay offensive line fired out for the power rush they thought was happening; Favre threw a quick slant; Jennings strolled to the end zone. Sweet! Except Packers’ guard Daryn Colledge was 5 yards downfield, run-blocking. Green Bay should have been flagged for ineligible man downfield.
Ok first lets get one thing straight, at the time the ball left Favre's hand (thats when all restrictions for OL advancing downfield end) there was NO Packer OL further downfield than 2 yards.
Second, At the time the ball left Favre's hand Colledge was still engaged in a block with Scott Wells on a DT that started at the LOS and advanced about 1.5 yards down the field.
Third, After the ball left Favre's hand Colledge disengaged with the DT block and advanced downfield where he engaged in a block with the LB. This block was very close to starting (if not already started) by the time that Jennings first touched the ball. (if he touched the LB before Jennings touches the ball its technically PI though I have NEVER seen this called on a OL)
Second here is the actual rule and I will highlight the critical parts that show where TMQ is missing the boat:
Section 2 Pass Interference/Ineligible Player Downfield
Pass Interference Not Allowed
Article 1 Pass interference can only occur when there is a forward pass thrown from
behind the line of scrimmage. This applies regardless of whether the pass crosses the
line.
Pass Restrictions
(a) The restriction for the offensive team begins with the snap.
(b) The restriction for the defensive team begins when the ball leaves the passer’s
hands.
Ineligible Player Downfield
Article 2 It is a foul when an ineligible offensive player (including a T-formation quarterback),
prior to a legal forward pass:
(a) advances beyond his line, after losing contact with an opponent at the line of
scrimmage;
(b) loses contact with an opponent downfield after the initial charge and then continues
to advance or move laterally; or
(c) moves downfield without contacting an opponent at the line of scrimmage.
The above restrictions end when the ball leaves the passer’s hand.
Note: The guideline for officials to use for an ineligible player(s) to be illegally downfield: the
offending player must be more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage prior to the
pass.
Penalty: Ineligible offensive player downfield: loss of 5 yards from previous spot.
Not Ineligible Player Downfield
Article 3 It is not a foul for an ineligible receiver downfield when ineligible receivers:
(a) block an opponent at the line of scrimmage drives him downfield, loses the block
and remains stationary;
(b) are forced behind their line;
(c) move laterally behind their line (before or after contact of their initial charge) provided
they do not advance beyond their line until the ball leaves the passer’s hands; or
(d) have legally crossed their line in blocking an opponent (eligible offensive player A1
may complete a pass between them and the offensive line).
Ineligible Players Legally Downfield
Article 4 After the ball leaves the passer’s hand, ineligible forward pass receivers can
advance:
(a) from behind their line;
(b) from their own line; or
(c) from their initial charge position, provided they do not block or contact a defensive
player(s) until the ball is touched by a player of either team. Such prior blocking
and/or contact is forward pass interference.
Because Colledge was involved in a block that started at the LOS and then advanced downfield from him driving his player he was completely legal when the ball was thrown. He could have run his guy to the goalline before the ball was thrown and still not have been illegally downfield as long as he sustained his original block.
The ticky tack area that comes into play here is that as/after the ball is thrown he disengages from his block, advances another yard or two and then hits a linebacker. Now because the ball was thrown its ok for him to advance however he can't contact the LB until after the ball is touched by an eligible reciever, (Jennings for instance). I think he may have contacted the LB too soon BUT I have NEVER seen PI called on an OL.
Hope that helps clarify things for everyone.
PRC
