Does Jerome Boger understand how football works?
The Buccaneers had third-and-five from the Atlanta 47-yard line late in the fourth quarter and Grady Jarrett gave his team a chance to win the game after getting a key sack on Tom Brady. However, the referees threw the yellow flag and called an egregious penalty that gave the Bucs a first down.
Tampa Bay went on the bleed the clock and get the win.
The penalty was bad, but the excuse as to why it was thrown was even worse. After the game, referee Jerome Boger spoke to pool reporter Greg Auman regarding the decision to flag Garrett.
Asked Auman, “There was a third down penalty where the Falcons had a roughing the passer called after sacking Tom Brady that extended the drive. Just looking for clarification on what constituted that roughing the passer?”
“What I had was the defender grabbed the quarterback while he was still in the pocket, and unnecessarily throwing him to the ground,” Boger said. “That is what I was making my decision based upon.”
Auman asked Boger about the situation where a similar play caused Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to be concussed and stretchered off the field.
“That play was similar to the play the injured Miami’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa,” Auman said. “Is that something you have made a specific measure to try to watch out for — the takedowns on quarterbacks like that?”
“No, not necessarily,” Boger said.
You can’t have mistakes like that, especially in that game-deciding decision.
