Jackson's faux pas almost costs Chargers
By: MICHAEL KLITZING - Staff Writer | ∞
Chargers' Vincent Jackson spins the ball after to the ground after a 13-yard reception causing a controversial play late in the fourth quarter. Don Boomer
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SAN DIEGO ---- The only uncertainty in the wake of the Chargers' latest win is the fate facing Vincent Jackson this week in practice.
"We've got to decide whether we're going to fine him or get a game check ---- I can use the money, man," Chargers tight end Antonio Gates said with a laugh.
But at a critical juncture in the fourth quarter Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium, uncertainty reigned after Jackson's premature celebration nearly cost the Chargers dearly. When the dust settled, it hadn't ---- the Chargers beat the Raiders 21-14.
Much to the relief of Jackson.
"It's Thanksgiving, right?" Jackson asked. "Thanks for that."
The play in question came just inside of 12 minutes to play in the fourth quarter with the Raiders leading 14-7. With the Chargers facing a fourth-and-two at the Raiders' 40, quarterback Philip Rivers hit a sprawling Jackson over the middle for a key 13-yard gain.
Jackson leaped to his feet and performed a spinning spike of the ball with his right hand.
He thought he had been touched down by a Raider. He hadn't.
"The whole throwing the ball down, I really don't recall what I was thinking there," Jackson said. "Afterwards, when I saw everybody jumping on the ball, I was like, 'Oh, you've got to be kidding me.' "
Raiders cornerback Fabian Washington alertly corralled what he thought to be a fumble.
The ball was never ruled a fumble, but rather an illegal forward pass, said referee Mike Carey. Even so, the officials initially signaled Raiders ball, bringing the Oakland offense sprinting on to the field and setting off a bizarre scene as the officials conferenced and confusion was the order of the day.
"I misinterpreted the result of the play," Carey said. "I thought the result of the play was short of the line of play (first down), which would have given the ball back to Oakland.
"Once we got the yardage set correctly, when he threw the ball forward, after marking off the 5-yard penalty, he was still past the line of gain. So they had the first down."
Raiders coach Art Shell said he thought Jackson had fumbled.
"Nobody touched him and he spiked the ball, so I thought it would be our ball," Shell said.
It was a significant shift in momentum. Instead of the Raiders taking over looking to pad their lead, the Chargers tied the game five plays later on LaDainian Tomlinson's 19-yard touchdown pass to Gates.
According to Tomlinson, Jackson yelled "God is good!" at the Raiders as he returned to the field with a new lease on life. Once back in the huddle, he apologized to his teammates.
Evidently, no harm no foul.
"He is very bright and he let his emotions get away from him," head coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "That's how you develop young players."
Said Tomlinson: "I think he learned a good lesson today."
Contact staff writer Michael Klitzing at mklitzing@nctimes.com. Comment at sports.nctimes.com.
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flash19sd wrote on Nov 27, 2006 6:18 AM:It was the right call. It's one of those "good call, bad rule" plays like the "tuck rule". Remember the '94 home playoff game vs. Miami when Keith Jackson (what's up with the Jacksons?) caught a Marino pass then attempted a lateral that went forward when he was tackled and recovered by SD? The same rule applied, illegal forward pass, and Miami retained possession. There were a lot of crazy plays in the fourth quarter of that Miami playoff game (Remember Jefferson TD catch ruled OB?). Oddities: in each instance both players penalized were named Jackson (Keith, Vincent), the supervisor of officials (Jerry Seaman)was present at both games, and the most famous "tuck rule" play (OAK vs. NE playoff game) and yesterday's "illegal pass" play both went AGAINST the Raiders. Is the ghost of Gene Klein exacting revenge for the "Holy Roller"? HMMMMM.
MeatBone wrote on Nov 27, 2006 9:36 AM:IT WAS A FUMBLE!!
Gnarlie Charlie wrote on Nov 27, 2006 11:12 AM:You can't intentionally "Fumble", therefore it wasn't a fumble. The Raiders went on to allow 14 points after the play and score 0.
PDX Charger fan wrote on Nov 27, 2006 12:52 PM:I've decided the Chargers deserve to win because they should have gotten the first down regardless of the bizzare penalty interpretation. I think the larger issue is the league not enforcing any "taunting" such as spiking, dancing, or doing backflips (apparently this is a new problem) on non-scoring plays. I'm sorry, but Vincent Jackson's only job is to catch the ball. Why should he celebrate when he catches the ball? That's like me celebrating every time I make a photocopy. p.s. Raider fans - Waaaaah! (best sign at yesterday's game)
Gnarlie Charlie wrote on Nov 27, 2006 1:10 PM:Not sure how much emotion is involved when making a photocopy. Football is emotional game. Players should be allowed to celebrate big plays, although I will agree some of these celebrations are going to far.
Raider Hater wrote on Nov 27, 2006 2:08 PM:<---- Look at my name... LOOK AT MY NAME. And I will still tell you that that call goes into the all-time top 5 of worst calls. That was a FUMBLE no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Terrible call. It's not even a "good call, bad rule" case, because this is the only time in recent memory that an officiating crew has actually called it this way. There have been numerous instances where boneheads celebrate too soon without being touched, roll over and spike the ball, and it has been ruled a fumble and recovered by the other team. It's your idiotic mistake, you pay the price! Chargers got LUCKY to win a game they didn't deserve to win. TRUTH.
scottdee wrote on Nov 27, 2006 5:04 PM:V-Jax, D-Flo and all the other "emotional" Chargers need to take a lead from their teammate #21 and celebrate graciously when they make a play. I think it's a bad rule and maybe, MAYBE a bad interpretation in this instance. It will take a lot more favorable calls vs. Raiders to make up for the Holy Roller which, to this day, is the most frustrating loss I've ever experienced as a Charger fan (37 years). The Chargers have always been one of the most snakebit teams in ALL of sports let alone the NFL so it's about time the breaks started going our way!!!!! Hey Meatbone and all other Raiders fans, Just WAHHHH, Baby :(. I would love to see how many of the 100 or so arrested or cited for drunkeness at the game are disgruntled Raider felons..I mean fans.
Poway1464 wrote on Nov 28, 2006 12:18 PM:RaiderHater - If it was a fumble then what would you say to a play that Jackson spins if forward again BUT let's say Gates recovers it? What is your ruling then? Let's add even more, say Jackson did NOT have the yardage for a 1st down but Gates recovery did? Now what is YOUR ruling? Carey made the correct call and ruling.
timbo wrote on Nov 28, 2006 5:15 PM:raiderhate has it right if you read the rule correctly it makes no sense it was a fumble he was not touched the whistle did not blow. jackson made a stupid bonehead play and i understand why thwe officials made the call that way but that does not mean it is right. the rule needs to be reworded pass intentional fumble yikees give me a break have to use logic properly im glad the chargers won.
timbo wrote on Nov 28, 2006 5:23 PM:hey poway 1464 i have an answer to your question: if he makes the same mistake twice, the coach should have the common sense not to put him in the game otherwise let me play out your crazy little hypothetical scenario if we are back in the same situation and the ball moves forward beacuae it was intentional you cannot do this but the league already has the illegal forward pass in check. just keep the ball spotted where he threw it from originally this is american football not rugby.intention should have nothing to do with it. if the ball moves forward by accident or intentional motives. i say live ball. here is the real issue though every one in the nfl knows you only lateral backwards. so your entire hypothesis will never occur on a regular suinday what happened here was a complete fluke and melt down by a player who forgot his brain. touche!!!
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