No flag for referee in assist on Patriots' FG block of Jets' Nick Folk
The Jets' Nick Folk (2) follows through on a field-goal attempt as New England Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington, right, flies past on the final play of a game Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass. Credit: AP / Elise Amendola
Chris Jones' block of Nick Folk's winning field goal attempt was the ultimate gut-punch for Jets fans.
It sealed New England's 27-25 win Thursday night, but it's the actions of a game official during that final field goal try that has Jet Nation fuming.
On Folk's 58-yard attempt, Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower stood over Jets long snapper Tanner Purdum after he approached the line of scrimmage. But a referee moved Hightower over.
No flag was thrown, and Jones came flying through to block Folk's kick.
"It is a standard officiating procedure that occurs regularly," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an email to Newsday. "In fact, it is on Dean Blandino's video that went to the teams yesterday and will be on the version of it that goes to the media today."
Blandino used his Twitter account for explain Friday morning.
"In #Jets #Pats game that is a standard officiating mechanic," he tweeted. "No different than pointing out LOS [line of scrimmage] to wideout."
The umpire will remind players, Blandino added, about the safety rule that says a defensive player must have his entire body outside the shoulder pads of the snapper on field goals and point-after attempts.
This was the second straight Jets-Pats game that involved unusual field-goal play. And the last one involved Jones as well. Last October, he blocked a 56-yard field goal attempt by Folk in overtime. But Jones was called for a 15-yard penalty for pushing teammate Will Svitek into the line of scrimmage. The friendly shove was a violation of a newly implemented NFL rule and Folk was granted another try -- this time from 42 yards out. Folk nailed the kick and the Jets won, 30-27, at MetLife Stadium.
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