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Jason Kelce unleashes profanity-laden rant about Cam Skattebo penalty
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- Jason Kelce unleashes profanity-laden rant about Cam Skattebo penalty
Jason Kelce delivered a pointed critique of NFL officiating on the latest episode of the New Heights Podcast , focusing on the unnecessary roughness penalty assessed to New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo during the team's 27-21 overtime win over the Houston Texans.
The flag occurred in the first quarter on a seven-yard gain. Officials penalized Skattebo for lowering his helmet while initiating contact with safety M.J. Stewart, erasing the yardage with a 15-yard personal foul.
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It was a rare enforcement of the rule against an offensive player on a standard play this season.
Speaking with his brother Travis, Kelce did not hold back.
"I get it. I understand why they're calling it. But I think it's the dumbest [expletive] thing in the world, and I hate that it's a penalty," he said.
Kelce argued that the responsibility should fall on the defender in such collisions.
"If the running back hits the defensive player with the crown of his helmet, and you get run over, that's the defensive guy's fault," he said. "Hit him in the [expletive] legs. What are we talking about? You're the one who tried to tackle him up top. What the [expletive]? I think it's a [expletive] penalty. I think that the runner should have the ability to lower his shoulder and gain yardage however he wants. And if his head goes down with it, that's the way it should be."
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Kelce added that Skattebo appeared to lower his shoulders more than deliberately lead with his head.
"I'm not a fan of the way this is called. I understand it's a penalty, and this is how they want it officiated. I actually think he more just lowered his shoulders. I didn't think he actually lowered his head as much as I've seen," he said. "That's the [expletive] dumbest [expletive] thing I've ever seen. It's [expletive] stupid."
Travis Kelce called the play "football" and questioned how a runner is expected to lower his pads while keeping his head up.
The Giants voiced similar frustration. Skattebo, who finished with a career-high 124 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, including a 42-yard overtime run that set up the game-winning score, said the NFL promotes his style while punishing it .
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"The NFL loves to post me when I do stuff like that but then also wants to take stuff from me. I'm going to run the ball like I want to run the ball. If I'm going to continue to get flags for it or fined for it, guess I'm going to play for free," he said.
Skattebo had already been fined earlier this season for a similar play against the Tennessee Titans.
Head coach John Harbaugh confronted officials immediately and later sought clarity from the league .
"You can't run in there and give tacklers your chest. When you run low, your head's down there, too. You can't move your head off your shoulders. It's a physical impossibility," Harbaugh said.
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Harbaugh noted that Skattebo leads with his shoulder while protecting the ball and that the team had not yet received guidance on how the rule should be taught.
Skattebo has made clear he has no plans to change his approach.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Jason Kelce unleashes profanity-laden rant about Cam Skattebo penalty
