chest bump

[ajmc]

I would guess that describing a "chest bump" to 100 officials would paint at least 75 different pictures. As with almost any behavior on a football field, the degree or intensity of the contact has a lot to do with deciding whether, or not, a "talking to" or a flag is the appropriate reaction.

Other factors that usually impact that decision are the game situation, the tone and temperment of the contest, and in a situation like a "chest bump" the spontinaety of the act itself.

The bottom line is that sometimes a chest bump may go over, "the line" and sometimes not. The idea that all such acts are the same and should be treated alike, just like so many other actions in a football game, is nonsense.