Have Eagles been cheating on field goals and extra points? If so, suspicious NFL officials want it to stop

[Procus]

https://www.nj.com/eagles/2023/01/have-eagles-been-cheating-on-field-goals-and-extra-points-suspicious-nfl-officials-want-it-to-stop.html

Have Eagles been cheating on field goals and extra points? If so, suspicious NFL officials want it to stop

    Updated: Jan. 13, 2023, 6:01 a.m.|Published: Jan. 13, 2023, 6:00 a.m.

Jake Elliott, Arryn Siposs

Have the Eagles been cheating on field goals and extra points? NFL officials are suspicious. Kicker Jake Elliott, with punter Arryn Siposs holding, kicks against the Washington Commanders on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo | Chris Szagola)AP

By Kevin Manahan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

When the playoffs start this weekend with Wild Card Games, NFL officials will be watching for cheaters — thanks to suspicious activity by Philadelphia Eagles punter and holder Arryn Siposs.

According to FootballlZebras.com, "In the NFC East clash between the Eagles and Giants, Philadelphia punter Arryn Siposs, who acts as the Eagles holder, was seen picking up a small white object from the field after a field goal attempt by kicker Jake Elliott. When the tape is rolled back, the object was seen directly under the ball when the snap was received, and was subsequently kicked forward naturally during the field goal attempt.”

(While the report sites Siposs possibly cheating while holding for a field-goal attempt against the Giants, it would have been an extra-point attempt if the game in question is from this season. Siposs played in only one game against the Giants this season, a 48-22 victory on Dec. 11. He was injured in the second quarter and did not return, eventually going on IR. In the game, Siposs held on three extra-point attempts before he was injured. He was out of the game when Elliott attempted his first field goal less than a minute before halftime.)

Using any object to lift the ball off the ground is illegal. Rule 11-4-5, "No article of any type may be placed on the field, or used in any manner, to assist a player in the execution of a field goal and/or [extra-point] try attempt.”

NFL game officials "will have a heightened sense of awareness” this weekend, the report said.

The original Football Zebras report included videos that showed holders on field-goal attempts allegedly picking up small objects after the ball is kicked, but at least one of the videos was removed for "violating terms of service.” It’s not clear what Siposs — and other holders — might have used, but even an object the size of a silver dollar or another coin could be enough to help a kicker and would be a violation.

Football Zebras said this "is just the newest of a wave of illegal strategies that have been seen in 2022 in attempts to improve the kicking game, including wiping down a wet field before a field goal and using a holder and a tee on a kickoff.”

As the top NFC seed, the Eagles have a bye this week, which gives them time to clean up their act — if needed. The report didn’t say what the penalty would be if a team were caught, but did suggest that officials be proactive:

"Mechanically, it would be appropriate to warn a head coach if a kicker/holder tandem is observed attempting this tactic. Either the referee or umpire, who line up behind the kicker on a field goal attempt, should be glancing at the spot directly in front of the holder for any foreign object. If either official notices something being placed down by the holder, they should simply walk over and pick it up, and inform the coach following the play. Preventative officiating should prevail and officials should attempt to thwart this behavior before the ball is snapped.”

[Portyansky]

You'd think this reporter would do a little extra digging and show the play in question....