Skip to 3:05 to see the ref announce they’re wiping the TD off the board for an invalid fair catch signal (and ensuing replay for you to make up your own mind).
IMO, DeJean was just running and not attempting to signal, and I think all the players, commentators, and fans viewed it that way live. The refs on the other hand…
It doesn’t matter what he was attempting to accomplish by waving his hand like that. Intent has nothing to do with it. The waving constituted an invalid fair catch signal. It was a pretty straightforward and uncomplicated application of the rulebook.
Strictly speaking, yes, the rule ended up being correctly applied, but it’s disingenuous to say it’s straightforward or even uncomplicated. It’s a rule which rarely comes up, so these hair-splitting judgments haven’t been meted out. No one on the field understood the infraction, the refs didn’t even flag it live, and the whole review was not clearly communicated. And worst of all, it’s not clearly established this type of infraction is reviewable (which has not stopped refs from overstepping boundaries before).
Heck, I wanted Minnesota to win, but not with this sort of controversy.
If I’m not mistaken, a fair catch signal specifically requires waving a hand over your head, which he never does. He crosses his arms over his chest to signify no attempt to catch ( which is only a signal to his teammates, not the kicking team. Huge call that is totally wrong in my opinion.
I was watching this in a bar with no wound and was so confused as to what was happening. No part of me thought that he was signalling for a fair catch, and by the response of the defense I don’t think any of them thought so, either. Such a huge call at that point in the game.
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