MIAMI GARDENS — When Miami Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones was referred to as for the go interference that sealed the crew’s destiny late in final Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, Fox broadcast cameras captured him arguing vehemently with officers.
Upon reflection and watching the play, in protection in opposition to Panthers extensive receiver Hunter Renfrow, Jones acknowledges it had the looks of go interference, however he didn’t view himself as in the end culpable.
“With all honesty, that final name, once I watched it on movie, it appears to be like like a PI as a result of he stops, he flares,” Jones mentioned. “On that play, I didn’t seize Hunter or limit Hunter from working his route. I simply positioned my arms there for placement, simply to verify I’m in a great place, however I didn’t gradual him down.”
Jones “completely” seen it as a promote job by Renfrow that acquired Carolina the clinching first right down to run the clock out in the 27-24 choice. Miami was vying for one ultimate cease with below a minute left to get the ball again for the offense.
“That’s an excellent job by Renfrow,” Jones mentioned. “If it vice-versa — they have been on protection, we have been on offense and it was a promote — then, congratulations! We’re completely satisfied about it.
“I’m not knocking Hunter Renfrow. He did what he was purported to do, however I personally really feel just like the refs should be higher with the calls and making it extra of a ‘allow them to play’ as a substitute of ‘I’m solely going to name it when it appears to be like this dangerous.’
“Hunter Renfrow is a professional. He’s a vet. He’s been within the league for (six) years. I do know Hunter, too. That’s not a man I’m taking a shot at. That’s one in all my boys. I mess with, I rock with Hunter.”
Together with the late go interference penalty, Jones was referred to as twice for defensive holding and arguably acquired away with one other penalty Sunday. The fourth-year professional in his first season with Miami had no difficulty with the defensive holding referred to as in opposition to him on Panthers rookie Tetairoa McMillan earlier within the fourth quarter.
“That was legit,” mentioned Jones, who has genuinely spoken his thoughts whereas with the Dolphins, going again to saying Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown “cooked” him in an August joint follow. “I held him, however I needed to. … As soon as he threw me by, he clearly grabs the again of my shoulder pad and throws me by, and once I’m getting thrown by, I’ve to seize.”
Jones mentioned he requested an official what he was purported to do in opposition to McMillan’s actions, and in line with him, the official simply stored repeating, “You may’t try this.”
Six days previous to the loss to Carolina, Jones acquired an offensive go interference name in his favor whereas defending New York Jets extensive receiver Garrett Wilson in the long run zone on “Monday Evening Soccer.”
Jones took exception to Wilson saying, within the interview setting, that he watches soccer and that penalty doesn’t get referred to as. He responded to Wilson’s assertion.
“That’s one in one million,” Jones mentioned. “What are the possibilities of me getting OPI in that scenario in opposition to Garrett Wilson? He mentioned it to the media. He put it on the web: ‘You guys don’t make that decision.’
“From that assertion there, you guys (the league) ought to’ve executed one thing about that. Like, we have to do one thing. ‘The refs don’t make this name?’ OK, properly, we’re going to get the refs that do make this name and make the proper name.”
Jones takes difficulty general with the way in which defenders are officiated in go protection.
“On the finish of the day, this s— not truthful, bro,” Jones mentioned. “It’s an offensive benefit, and it’s like, on the finish of the day, I signed up for this s—. I’m the one who goes on the market, performs DB, selected to play DB and all that. And I perceive that.
“However on the finish of the day, there must be no benefits on both aspect. Offense acquired the benefit, bro. The receivers get to create contact down the sphere, previous 5 yards, and it’s not a penalty. … However then, when the DB does that, it’s a spot foul. Say, hypothetically, it’s offensive PI. It’s solely 10 yards. You throw a fade down the sphere 50 yards, and that’s a spot foul, 50 yards. On the identical time, receivers, they get to push off, they get to chicken-wing, none of that stuff will get referred to as. However when the DB tries to place himself in place to counteract that stuff, which is, you must seize, you must pull, you must battle stress with stress, and in the event you try this, then it’s going to be a PI and a name in opposition to the protection.”
Jones feels typically he will get referred to as for penalties when the receiver initiates all of the contact.
“One other good instance I acquired that they don’t name is: I might be sitting off at 10 yards. If a receiver runs straight into me, it’s purported to be PI. That’s the rule,” Jones mentioned. “However, within the recreation time, when a receiver runs straight right into a DB, it’s going to be defensive PI as a result of the defender was supposed to maneuver or the defender grabbed. Nevertheless it’s like, the dude simply bumped into me and pushed me off. How am I not purported to seize? I’m supposed to take a seat right here, let him catch it and hope you name it?”
In the end, Jones understands it’s what he’s up in opposition to within the NFL.
“It’s robust on us, however I acquired to determine that s— out,” he mentioned.