Raiders, Gruden can’t believe awful ‘roughing the passer’ call vs. Jets
Every coach in the NFL thinks his team gets a raw deal from the officials, but Jon Gruden has a good gripe Sunday against the Jets.
With the Jets inside the Raiders’ 10-yard line in the second quarter of a 3-3 game, Oakland needed a big play to stop New York from finishing off a long drive. Maxx Crosby delivered one, sacking Sam Darnold back at the 20-yard line to force a third-and-goal from that spot.
But he was joined in pressuring Darnold by Maurice Hurst, who also fell onto the young Jets quarterback. It wasn’t violent and Hurst appeared to be pushed by Jets lineman Tom Compton, but that didn’t save him from an extremely questionable penalty call.
Mo Hurst was called for roughing the passer on this Maxx Crosby sack pic.twitter.com/P5qG4HWNsw
— Tyler Bischoff (@Bischoff_Tyler) November 24, 2019
Jon Gruden couldn’t believe his eyes (and he said as much in an expletive-laden statement to the game’s officials). The Raiders’ social media team found just the right GIF for the occasion:
— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) November 24, 2019
The penalty gave the Jets’ drive new life, trading a third-and-20 for first-and-goal at the Raiders’ 4-yard line. Darnold ran the ball in on the very next play, giving the Jets a 10-3 lead.
Earlier this year, Hurst was fined $21,056 for a roughing-the-passer hit against the Bears. He appealed the fine and won the case.
It sure looks like he’d have a good argument in this instance, too.
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