New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo might be the most physical ballcarrier in the NFL, and sometimes that gets him in trouble. Officials in the Week 7 game against the Houston Texans called Skattebo for a controversial penalty on a first-quarter run when they deemed him guilty of a rarely enforced unnecessary roughness infraction. The penalty flag thrown on the play drew immense scrutiny, and Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce on the "New Heights" podcast joined the chorus of prominent football figures to stand up for Skattebo.
The officials penalized Skattebo for lowering his helmet against a Texans defender. It was just the fourth time this season that foul has been called and the first time it went against an offensive player on a non-special teams play. Cam Skattebo was penalized for this run... pic.twitter.com/tEHPezmJ3F Travis Kelce, a physical player in his own right, scoffed at the penalty and said, "That's football." Jason Kelce took an even more passionate stance against the call.
"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," Jason Kelce said. "Hit him in the f---ing legs. What are we talking about?
You're the one who tried to tackle him up top. I think it's a dumbass 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. "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." This might be the dumbest penalty in football pic.twitter.com/RQ2Kw1JlA1 The 15-yard penalty did not prove costly for the Giants, as they proceeded to defeat the Texans in overtime. But it did set a precedent that could impact Skattebo's future games.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
