Many NFL fans are adamant that New York Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt should have been flagged during the game-winning overtime punt return against the Buffalo Bills Monday night.
The officials did not throw a flag, but the league office threw out a mea culpa Saturday, fining Surratt $4,833 for tripping Bills tight end Quintin Morris.
It’s an insignificant amount, really, given the importance of the play and the critical nature of the block. Morris was in position to tackle Jets punt returner Xavier Gipson, until Surratt tripped him. Either way, Gipson’s TD would have been nullified by the penalty.
In related news, Jets linebacker Quincy Williams was fined $26,666, for two separate unnecessary roughness plays against the Bills.
After the game, many Bills fans were unhappy about the missed call on Surratt, and the NFL’s decision to fine Surratt a token amount a few days later didn’t satisfy anyone.