Offensive Pass Interference Does Not Exist

[Mike in SW-MO]

Functionally.

DPI involves any act of the defender that affects the receiver when the ball has been thrown unless the defender is actively trying to catch the ball with both hands. (Captain Obvious. I know. I do have a point.) So if the defender body bumps the receiver when trying to catch the ball, it is okay but if he nudges him with the off arm while trying to swat it.... DPI

The receiver on the other hand can only be called for Offensive Pass Interference if he pushes off with a fully extended arm. He can do damn near anything else to the defender.

Case in point. Marcus Peters is setting up to leap for an interception in the endzone when the receiver runs right through without even a glance towards the ball. The receiver clearly interfered with Peters who proceeded to complain and receive an unsportsman penalty.

Case #2. Near the end of the Raiders game last night. CB is running stride for stride with the receiver going towards the endzone. Receiver reaches back with a fully extended arm, grabs the CBs facemask, turns his helmet sideways on his head. The CB understandable loses stride, makes lower body contact with the receiver (incidental contact?), and promptly gets a DPI flag giving the Raiders the ball at the 5. Funny thing is, the CB contacts the receiver at the goal line. The facemask occurs at the 5. So the DPI was called on the CB for getting facemasked.

So the penalty should be changed from "Offensive Pass Interference" to "Pushing Off."

OPI does not exist.