Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock

SmashMouth · 10-22-2019, 08:38 AM

With the Patriots leading 33-0 in the fourth quarter on Monday night, they took a delay of game penalty with their punt team on the field. After the Jets declined the penalty, the clock started again, and the Patriots’ punt team waited until they were about to get another delay of game, then false started. The Jets declined the false start penalty, too, the clock started again, and then the Patriots finally punted.

When the Patriots’ third-down play ended, 11:05 remained in the fourth quarter. By the time the Patriots actually punted on fourth down, 9:43 remained. The whole point of the play clock is that teams can’t take more than 40 seconds between plays, but the Patriots, thanks to that running clock after their penalties, took 1 minute, 22 seconds.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was shown on television smirking on the sideline after that series of penalties, and he acknowledged after the game that the penalties allowed him to take plenty of extra time off the clock. He added that league rules probably shouldn’t allow that.

“No, it was just the way the rules are set up. We were able to run quite a bit of time off the clock without really having to do anything. That’s probably a loophole that will be closed and probably should be closed but right now it’s open,” Belichick said.

PFT

ScottF · 10-22-2019, 08:40 AM

hate / respect

K Major · 10-22-2019, 08:47 AM

Worst Monday Night Football match up I've seen in a while.

I checked out after half time.

Never bought into the "hype" of Sam Darnold coming out of SC. Then a "redshirt" sophomore, he should have followed his gut instincts and played another year of college ball to perfect his craft.

Beastmode · 10-22-2019, 08:49 AM

Rules are rules. Was it really necessary. No, but he finds much joy in exploiting weaknesses. Been doing it since he was in high school working for his dad studying college football. It has to be very difficult finding these little gems for him now so that was the smirk.

vpheughan · 10-22-2019, 12:00 PM

It will be interesting to see how many other teams take advantage this week.

SmashMouth · 10-22-2019, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by vpheughan

It will be interesting to see how many other teams take advantage this week.

Why didn't SP take advantage of that earlier in the year, or even last year in the payoffs against the Lambs, or even the previous year with the Viqueens?

ScottF · 10-22-2019, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

.

Never bought into the "hype" of Sam Darnold coming out of SC. Then a "redshirt" sophomore, he should have followed his gut instincts and played another year of college ball to perfect his craft.

He ran his mouth after the loss to Ohio State- was pretty clear he was leaving
Agree, though- he could have used another year

CHA_CHING · 10-22-2019, 04:49 PM

People will use this as a new excuse to go on about "the Cheatriots", nevermind that the opposing QB threw 4 INTs, fumbled once and gave up a safety.

CHA_CHING · 10-22-2019, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by ScottF

He ran his mouth after the loss to Ohio State- was pretty clear he was leaving
Agree, though- he could have used another year

IMO they set Darnold up to fail. The Jets seem to have tanked to get him, then didn't bother building an o-line around him. To make matters worse, they paired him with a coach who has only accomplished anything by riding the coat tails of Peyton Manning one year. Anyone that has watched Peyton knows he calls all the plays and runs the offense his way. Gase just held a clipboard.

Vrillon82 · 10-23-2019, 01:51 AM

Adam Gase got alot of that Miami team last year though. But I dunno.

Miami won what? 8 games despite having the worse Offense and defense? some bizarre stats.

As for the loop hole, you can betcha this was discussed with officiating prior to the game starting.

10-22-2019, 08:38 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,125 Blog Entries: 29	Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock With the Patriots leading 33-0 in the fourth quarter on Monday night, they took a delay of game penalty with their punt team on the field. After the Jets declined the penalty, the clock started again, and the Patriots’ punt team waited until they were about to get another delay of game, then false started. The Jets declined the false start penalty, too, the clock started again, and then the Patriots finally punted. When the Patriots’ third-down play ended, 11:05 remained in the fourth quarter. By the time the Patriots actually punted on fourth down, 9:43 remained. The whole point of the play clock is that teams can’t take more than 40 seconds between plays, but the Patriots, thanks to that running clock after their penalties, took 1 minute, 22 seconds. Patriots coach Bill Belichick was shown on television smirking on the sideline after that series of penalties, and he acknowledged after the game that the penalties allowed him to take plenty of extra time off the clock. He added that league rules probably shouldn’t allow that. “No, it was just the way the rules are set up. We were able to run quite a bit of time off the clock without really having to do anything. That’s probably a loophole that will be closed and probably should be closed but right now it’s open,” Belichick said. PFT

10-22-2019, 08:40 AM	#2
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock hate / respect

10-22-2019, 08:47 AM	#3
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,619 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock Worst Monday Night Football match up I've seen in a while. I checked out after half time. Never bought into the "hype" of Sam Darnold coming out of SC. Then a "redshirt" sophomore, he should have followed his gut instincts and played another year of college ball to perfect his craft. 73Saint likes this.

10-22-2019, 08:49 AM	#4
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock Rules are rules. Was it really necessary. No, but he finds much joy in exploiting weaknesses. Been doing it since he was in high school working for his dad studying college football. It has to be very difficult finding these little gems for him now so that was the smirk. SmashMouth and SaintsBro like this.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

10-22-2019, 12:00 PM	#5
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,519	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock It will be interesting to see how many other teams take advantage this week.
vpheughan 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 4,519

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10-22-2019, 01:24 PM	#6
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,125 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock Originally Posted by vpheughan It will be interesting to see how many other teams take advantage this week. Why didn't SP take advantage of that earlier in the year, or even last year in the payoffs against the Lambs, or even the previous year with the Viqueens?

10-22-2019, 01:34 PM	#7
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock Originally Posted by K Major . Never bought into the "hype" of Sam Darnold coming out of SC. Then a "redshirt" sophomore, he should have followed his gut instincts and played another year of college ball to perfect his craft. He ran his mouth after the loss to Ohio State- was pretty clear he was leaving Agree, though- he could have used another year

10-22-2019, 04:49 PM	#8
CHA_CHING 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 1,159	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock People will use this as a new excuse to go on about "the Cheatriots", nevermind that the opposing QB threw 4 INTs, fumbled once and gave up a safety.

10-22-2019, 04:50 PM	#9
CHA_CHING 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 1,159	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock Originally Posted by ScottF He ran his mouth after the loss to Ohio State- was pretty clear he was leaving Agree, though- he could have used another year IMO they set Darnold up to fail. The Jets seem to have tanked to get him, then didn't bother building an o-line around him. To make matters worse, they paired him with a coach who has only accomplished anything by riding the coat tails of Peyton Manning one year. Anyone that has watched Peyton knows he calls all the plays and runs the offense his way. Gase just held a clipboard. SmashMouth likes this.

10-23-2019, 01:51 AM	#10
Vrillon82 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,127	Re: Belichick exploited “loophole” in NFL rules to run extra time off the clock Adam Gase got alot of that Miami team last year though. But I dunno. Miami won what? 8 games despite having the worse Offense and defense? some bizarre stats. As for the loop hole, you can betcha this was discussed with officiating prior to the game starting.
Vrillon82 1000 Posts + Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,127