Seahawks get away with roughing the kicker on punt

The Seattle Seahawks got the first break from officials in Super Bowl XLIX when they were only called for running into the kicker instead of roughing the kicker on the opening possession of the game.

The Patriots punted from their 35 on 4th and 6 and Jeron Johnson ran into punter Ryan Allen. Johnson made contact with Allen’s plant leg before it hit the ground, which by the rules should constitute a roughing the kicker penalty. The Seahawks should have been penalized 15 yards and the Pats should have had a first down at midfield. Instead, the running into the kicker penalty was called which only cost Seattle five yards. The Pats declined the penalty because they were not going to go for it on 4th and 1.

Though most people said roughing should have been called, FOX rules expert Mike Pereira said there was minimal contact and it was up to the referee.

Collinsworth is right but the contact was so minimal that to me it is not enough for 15. That is still a decision for the ref to make.

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) February 1, 2015

He later changed his mind and agreed it was a bad call:

Just went back on my non-Tivo TV. It should have been roughing. There was contact on the knee. It was enough.

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) February 1, 2015