NFL Tells Officials To Look For Holders Using Illegal Objects On FG And PAT Attempts

harrison butker game winning field goal officials

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Here’s something new to keep an eye out for as the NFL heads into the playoffs. The league’s officials have been warned about field goal holders attempting to use a small foreign object to help in placing the ball when holding for a field goal or extra point attempts.

The NFL believes it observed this being done, and going unpenalized, during a Week 14 game by Eagles emergency holder Britain Covey after punter Arryn Siposs was injured. (In video shared by Football Zebras, Covey can clearly be seen picking something up off the ground after the kick.)

The league had previously noticed something similarly suspicious move during Week 2 of the 2020 season by Chiefs holder Tommy Townsend after a game-winning 58-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Butker. (Football Zebras also has incriminating video of this kick.)

Football Zebras reports…

In the NFC East clash between the Eagles and Giants, Philadelphia emergency holder Britain Covey, who pressed into service when punter Arryn Siposs was injured earlier in the game, was seen picking up a small white object from the field after a field goal attempt by kicker Jake Elliott. When the tape is rolled back, the object was seen directly under the ball when the snap was received, and was subsequently kicked forward naturally during the field goal attempt.

This maneuver was also believed to have been observed (an not penalized by officials) in Week 2 of this season by Lions holder Jack Fox after extra-point and field goal attempts by kicker Michael Badgley. In the same game, Commanders holder Tress Way did the same for kicker Joey Slye. (A video showing each team appearing to cheat was also posted by Football Zebras.)

Mechanically, it would be appropriate to warn a head coach if a kicker/holder tandem is observed attempting this tactic. Either the referee or umpire, who line up behind the kicker on a field goal attempt, should be glancing at the spot directly in front of the holder for any foreign object. If either official notices something being placed down by the holder, they should simply walk over and pick it up, and inform the coach following the play. Preventative officiating should prevail and officials should attempt to thwart this behavior before the ball is snapped.

Interestingly, the Eagles and Chiefs, two of the teams that appear guilty of trying this tactic on kicks over the past couple of seasons, are also two of the betting favorites to win Super Bowl 57.

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Before settling down at BroBible, Douglas Charles, a graduate of the University of Iowa (Go Hawks), owned and operated a wide assortment of websites. He is also one of the few White Sox fans out there and thinks Michael Jordan is, hands down, the GOAT.