Patriots CB Jonathan Jones escapes ejection after big hit

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills quarterback Josh Allen left the game early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Patriots win after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones. Allen was put in concussion protocol and replaced by Matt Barkley.

Allen took off and ran on a third-and-eight play. He was charging for the first down and was eventually met by Jones, who crashed helmets with Allen while bringing him down. The Pats corner was flagged for a personal foul, but wasn’t ejected from the game.

Bills coach Sean McDermott thought Jones should have been disqualified.

“There’s no room in football for that,” McDermott said. “It’s a shame to see a player like Josh or any player for that matter, go down with a hit like that.”

Per a pool report, Senior VP of officiating Al Riveron was asked why Jones wasn’t disqualified: “Well, we looked at it and in this situation, we didn’t feel that the contact rose to the level of an ejection. The player actually turns. Obviously, there is helmet contact, but we have standards for an ejection, and this did not rise to that standard, therefore we did not eject him.”

The  league will review the play. It’s still possible Jones will face a suspension or fine.

Asked about the play, the Patriots cornerback said he’d never try to hurt anyone intentionally.

“Never (intentional). I don’t think anybody ever really tries to go helmet to helmet,” said Jones. “Everyone’s just flying around wanting to make plays.”

The league tries to protect quarterbacks, but Allen was outside the pocket, making like a running back. Duron Harmon, who was also involved in the play as he was bringing Allen down when Jones and Allen collided, said it can serve as a lesson learned.

“They’re always talking about protecting the quarterbacks. That’s the league we’re in . . . they do a great job protecting them,” said safety Duron Harmon. “We just have to find ways to tackle the right ways . . . when you play fast, and you play physical, sometimes stuff like that happens . . . We all know Jon Jones is a striker. He can hit guys pretty hard. The way the league is, if it looks too hard, they’re going to call a penalty, but we’ll learn from it. We’ll go through it, and we’ll get better from it.”

Slater has dream come true

Special teams captain Matthew Slater has done a lot in 12 seasons, but hadn’t scored a touchdown until Sunday. He picked up J.C. Jackson’s block of Corey Bojorquez’ punt and took it 11 yards into the end zone for the Patriots second score of the game. It came at 6:22 of the first quarter.

“I’m just thankful to be in the right place at the right time and thank God for the opportunity,” said Slater. “It was an awesome experience.”

When he saw the ball lying in reach, what went through Slater’s mind?

“My eyes were huge,” he said. “You dream of being able to score as a kid. At thirty-four years old, I’m still a kid, so I can dream.”

Last week against the Jets, the seven-time Pro Bowl player made a great play to keep the ball out of the end zone and have it downed at the one-yard line.

Gostkowski misses again

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed the point-after on the Patriots first touchdown, pushing it right. It’s his fourth missed PAT in four games. He was clean the rest of the game with a PAT on Slater’s TD and a 23-yard field goal.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick was once asked if he was worried about his kicker. He didn’t answer the question directly.

“I think we’re all going to look back on this game and say there are some things we can improve on,” said Belichick. “Certainly, I know I feel that way. We have a hard-working team. I have a lot of confidence in our team. We’ll just keep working hard to do things better, and do them better next week.”

Watson to return

Tight end help is on the way. Benjamin Watson’s four-game PED suspension is up and he’s eligible to return this week. The Patriots will have to make room for him on the roster. It’s possible quarterback Cody Kessler would be slashed to make room, and the Pats would in turn try to get Kessler through waivers and onto the practice squad.

The injury front

Linebacker Dont’a Hightower (shoulder) was the lone inactive player due to injury.

The healthy scratches were: RB Damien Harris, CB Joejuan Williams, OL Korey Cunningham, DL Byron Cowart, OL Caleb Benenoch and Kessler.

Gronk not in the house

Recently retired Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who grew up near Buffalo and had some of his best games against the Bills, wasn’t one of the spectators. Gronk watched the game from his mother’s home in Florida. The Buffalo News caught up with him before the game. He was asked about the team’s hot start, and if he felt like he was missing out.

“I knew that if I made that decision (to retire), I can’t look back and that’s what I’m not doing – I’m not looking back,” he said in the story. “I knew I had a mission, to take care of myself, to get myself back healthy so I can enjoy life and all that type of stuff again. But they’re 3-0. I’m super happy for the boys.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2mHsZ17