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The ‘Belichick’ delay of game loophole is no more.
Last season, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick took advantage of a rulebook loophole to run time off the clock against the Jets during the regular season.
(Via CBS Sports
Thanks to a loophole in the rule book, if the clock is already running, it will continue to run after a penalty as long as there’s more than five minutes left in the fourth quarter (Timing rules undergo a slight change late in the fourth quarter with the clock stopping on all penalties once there’s under five minutes left in the game).”
https://twitter.com/NotScTop10plays/status/1186478235011485696
Bill Belichick says he was just trying to “run a bit of time off the clock” late in the 4th quarter against the Jets when the camera cut to him smirking.
“It’s probably a loophole that’ll be closed and probably should be closed, but right now it’s open.” pic.twitter.com/S6mpX6Xb4L
— Guy Boston Sports (@GuyBostonSports) October 22, 2019
That same loophole was later used against Belichick by Titans head coach (and former Patriots staffer) Mike Vrabel in Tennessee’s win over New England in the playoffs.
https://twitter.com/NotScTop10plays/status/1213681980388323328
Bill Belichick “That’s fucking bullshit” after Mike Vrabel gives him a taste of his own medicine https://t.co/HmB6pJ26j6
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 5, 2020
On Thursday, the NFL decided to close the loophole for the upcoming season months after Vrabel used it against Belichick.
NFL owners ratified a proposal to prevent the sort of manipulation of the game clock, with multiple dead-ball penalties with the clock running, done last season by the Patriots and Titans.
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) May 28, 2020
Mike Vrabel took Bill Belichick to rule loophole school last season after he saw Belichick himself use it, that is now gone. https://t.co/FSA43hIjSH
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 28, 2020
It’s only a matter of time until Belichick exploits another rule for his benefit.