After Further Review: Rulebook hits same crew again, just 2 weeks later

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers tacked on a 15-yard unsporstmanlike conduct penalty for confronting an official.

 Here’s what made news this week:

• Bill Leavy’s crew has hit a rough patch with two rule misapplications in the first three weeks of the season. Sunday, he penalized the Vikings 15 yards for a non-permitted challenge, even though they had all three timeouts. Leavy spoke to a pool reporter after the game (transcript included). [Ben Austro, Football Zebras] Video [Deadspin]
• From the quick calls: Tom Symonette and Ron Marinucci had close calls on the plane for touchdown; Dana McKenzie and Carl Johnson had two non-touchdown calls in a three-play span. All held up to replay scrutiny. [Football Zebras]
• Tony Corrente’s crew picked up a chop block flag it should not have. [Mike Pereira, Fox] (our summary)
• Also, Pereira says the receiver Dez Bryant got away with a push-off on the Cowboys first touchdown.
• Bengals safety George Iloka did not receive a penalty for a hit that made Packers tight end Jermichael Finley too woozy to walk a straight line. It really should have been, and no doubt there is a fine this week. (animated image) [Fansided]
• Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, arguing an offensive pass interference call, said “nothing I can’t repeat … I didn’t say one thing that was out of line. But that’s no excuse.” [Michael Gehlken, U~T SD]
• Vikings special team coach Mike Priefer “That sets us up for a touchdown, not a field goal. It’s amazing to me the mistakes that are made. But this is the NFL. We’ve got to live with them.” [Kent Youngblood, MPLS Star Trib]
• Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, on fumble rules for head-first slides: “It can be a sucky rule, but it’s still one of the NFL rules, and they said it’s a fumble.” [Brian McNally, WAS Times]
• Jets were penalized 20 times by Scott Green’s crew, two short of the NFL record. Head coach Rex Ryan benched cornerback Kyle Wilson when he notched three consecutive flags. [Kevin Armstrong, NYDN]
• We are still working on expanding on the major policy shift reported by Jarret Bell in USA Today that grades are to play a lesser role in determining playoff assignments.
• And, of course, “False start, everybody but the center” — Walt Anderson during Thursday’s Chiefs-Eagles game [NFL video].

Pete Carroll: “The most important thing to report is we had 4 penalties. That’s awesome.”

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) September 23, 2013

The Interneters and the Twitterers liked Walt Anderson’s call. Apparently, Walt does, too:

Well how about that. Walt’s working on a meme RT @davidroot32 Not Anderson’s first time either! http://t.co/53csPSFMUl

— Football Zebras.com (@footballzebras) September 20, 2013

Second-highest rated primetime program last week? “Football Rain Delay,” 17.84M viewers http://t.co/sKbtONxs3w

— Football Zebras.com (@footballzebras) September 19, 2013

 Image: Donn Jones/Tennessee Titans