this a really a stretch to further this "conspiracy theory" about the officiating. This particular practice is in fact done all the time to every team. The officials will move the players lined up in the wrong position. They do it ALL THE TIME. The penalties that get called for this sort of thing, usually are for trying to hurdle or, being assisted by a teammate to get better height. Its not for where players are lined up. Its called "preventative officiating" and there's nothing wrong with it.
I guess it's now in vogue to blame everything on the officiating, but guys, come on. This is a reach by any standards.
If this were a standard operation, there would be no reason for the rule, the officials would just nudge the player and tell him to move. I know I have seen a team penalized for lining up over the long snapper, cant remember which team but most likely the Rams as I never miss a Rams game and dont watch to many other games. This is only standard when it is a media/goodell darling team that is lined up illegally.
I understand the player safety crap, but if the league were really interested in player safety they would call a personal foul for all horse collar take downs, which we Rams fans know they dont. They would protect all QBs from blows to the head or late hits after sliding, which we Rams fans know they do not. So player safety is not why they moved the patriot player. All they have to do is blow their whistle and run in to stop the snap, like they do for replays, and penalize the offending team.
