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The NFL recognizes that Jordan Whitehead should have been penalized Sunday for the sure shot of the Cleveland Browns quarterback, Baker Mayfield, said Tuesday a source familiar to the thought of the league.
Whitehead could have been identified for one of two offenses: unnecessary harshness for a hit on the head of a slippery player, or unsportsmanlike conduct for using his helmet to hit a player, the source said.
The NFL does not comment on the hit. Fines are usually announced on Fridays. If the league imposes a fine on Whitehead, it will be a public assertion that the game should have been penalized.
The win came in the Bucs' overtime win 26-23 on Sunday. Mayfield slipped at the end of a 35-yard run on the second and 26th goals in the fourth quarter. Shortly after Mayfield's knee hit the ground, Whitehead's helmet hit the side of Mayfield's head.
Whitehead lowered his head to hit and used the crown of his helmet. Both are classic examples of what the league does not want and are included in the descriptions of shots that may result in the expulsion of a player.
Officials initially scored the game, but after a conference, referee Shawn Hochuli announced that the flag would be picked up.
"The quarterback was always a runner, and so is allowed to be hit in the head," Hochuli told the crowd. "He had not started slipping yet."
Mayfield was dominated by the 41-yard line at Tampa Bay with 7 minutes and 47 seconds and the Browns trailing 23-16. A 15-yard penalty would have pushed the Browns to 26 points. The Browns still managed to score 1 Bucs, but they failed to score on the quarter stealth.
When Mayfield begins to slip, it's a judgment; blows to the head are not. Sliding players are protected by the league rule of blows to the head.
The league knows that the penalty should have been called, according to a source.
"There is a lot going on protecting the quarterback," said Mayfield after the game. "It does not seem like the Browns are getting a lot of calls, but they can check it out and they can say that I was running, but I started my slide.This is a helmet-to-headphone contact. "
Browns coach Hue Jackson said after the match he did not understand that the flag was up. other players complained. On Monday, Jackson said the team would seek clarification from the league.
"It was disappointing," Jackson said. "That's all I can say."
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