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Daopoulos: Browner Did Exactly What He's Supposed To Do

BOSTON (CBS) -- Is it time for the NFL to make illegal hit penalties a reviewable play? One former official believes the time has come.

Such a review is a big topic in New England on Monday, following the Patriots' 23-14 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night.

In the third quarter, Patriots corner Brandon Browner lowered his shoulder and put a big hit on Chargers tight end Ladarius Green after he attempted to haul in a Philip Rivers pass. The ball flew out of Green's hands as he went to the turf, and safety Devin McCourty grabbed it and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown -- a game-changing play in a 14-13 game.

But instead, Browner was flagged for going helmet-to-helmet on Green, the touchdown was called back and the Chargers were given a new set of downs and 15 yards.

The hit didn't end up costing the Patriots, with Akeem Ayers picking off Rivers four plays later, but looking at replays you can see it certainly wasn't a helmet to helmet hit.

Jim Daopoulos, former supervisor of NFL officials, joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Felger & Mazz on Monday to discuss the penalty called on Browner, and said it is time for the NFL to make illegal hits a reviewable play.

"It was a bad call and an unfortunate call," Daopoulos said of the Browner penalty. "I have been lobbying for years, they have to start reviewing these 'illegal hits.' Browner did exactly what the league has been telling players to do: lead with your shoulder and hit them in the chest area. He did exactly what he's supposed to do, it just looked so bad that they threw the flag. It's an unfortunate call but I don't blame the officials; they're being charged with making that call.

"It's so difficult [to make those calls], so go to replay," he said. "They need to go to replay for these illegal hits."

The NFL has placed an emphasis on contact after five yards this season, and they are at least being very consistent with the flags they throw. But Daopoulos believes that places an even bigger need for the league to start utilizing replay on those types of calls.

"I think they're reacting to the hit, and it's hard to differentiate when you're 15-30 yards away," he said. "It's so close whether the helmet is hitting or not, so they're going to make that call. They're better off making that call, because if they don't and it's helmet-to-helmet, then there are more implications that transpire.

"[Browner] may have gotten him in the neck area, but gosh, that's a football play and you have to let these guys play football. You're really limiting the defensive backs as to what they can do and where they can hit when you [make calls like that]," said Daopoulos. "You're also telling guys to go low, and now you're having more knee injuries. It's very difficult for the officials, and it's very difficult for the defensive backs."

Daopoulos also talked about Travis Kelce's fumble in Sunday's Chiefs-Cardinals game, and referees giving each other a fist bump after a Broncos touchdown:

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