re: NFL says Broncos blocked PAT return was a legal play

Yea, who saw this coming.

By rule it could have been called illegal contact or defensive holding.

quote:

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ARTICLE 6. DEFENSIVE HOLDING. It is a foul for defensive holding if: (a) a defensive player tackles or holds any opponent other than a runner, except as permitted in Article 5 (b) during a punt, field goal attempt, or Try-kick attempt, B1 grabs and pulls an offensive player out of the way, allowing B2 to shoot the gap (pull-and-shoot) in an attempt to block the kick, except if B1 is advancing toward the kicker Note: Any offensive player who pretends to possess the ball, and/or one to whom a teammate pretends to give the ball, may be tackled until he crosses the line of scrimmage between the tackles of a normal tight offensive line. Penalty: For defensive holding: Loss of five yards and an automatic first down.
ARTICLE 7. ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS BY DEFENSE. It is a foul if a defensive player thrusts his hands or arms forward above the frame of an opponent to contact him on the neck, face, or head. Note: Contact in close-line play that is not direct and forcible is not a foul.

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The guys holding down the long snapper never appear to make an advancement towards the ball. The four turnovers cost the saints the game though. If the game comes down to whether an official makes the call or not, then you didn't play well enough to win the game.