Bruce Arians says leaps over line dangerous, 'bad for football'

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians still isn't over Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner's leaps over Arizona's line on two field goal attempts not being penalized, calling such plays "bad for football" in a radio interview Tuesday.

Arians, told SiriusXM NFL Radiothatofficials wanted player leaps on field goal attempts made illegal but the NFL's competition committee decided not to change the rules.

"The competition committee went through that play, and officials wanted it taken out," Arians said in the interview. "The committee left it in, but it cannot be officiated. Whether he touches, whether it was leverage, was his foot within the framework of the defensive lineman's feet before he jumped, all those things that go into that call, I think it's bad for football.

"Because what you're going to have to do now is start having centers raise their face up and get kicked in the face and things that are just dangerous to the players. I think it's a dangerous play as it is and should be taken out of the game."

NFL vice president of football Dean Blandino explained Tuesday in an interview with NFL Network why Wagner's leap Sunday night wasn't penalized.

"There's contact, and then there's incidental contact," he said. "He can run up and jump, but he can't land on players. Now if he brushes a player or brushes a teammate with incidental contact, that would be legal.

"So he's gonna run, jump and clear the line, block the kick. You look at the TV copy replay, and you can see that there is some contact. His foot is going to brush the back of the snapper, but that is not significant contact. It's incidental. He didn't land on players. So that's what made it legal."

Arians was furious after Sunday night's 6-6 tie with the Seahawks, saying that because Wagner touchedCardinals long-snapper Aaron Brewer as he hurdled him both times, flags should have been thrown. Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzarohad his 39-yard attempt blocked in the second quarter and ended up missing the 24-yard attempt in overtime.

"I'm sure I'll talk to the league and we'll get some kind of explanation that is all bulls---, like normal," Arians said.

On Monday, Arians said he discussed the play with the NFL.

"I've already talked to the league, and it's illegal to comment on officiating," Arians told reporters.