It appears that ESPN rules analyst John Parry was correct with his “asterisk” claim.
Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt was fined $4,833 for unnecessary roughness on Gang Green’s game-winning touchdown Monday that occurred on a punt return in overtime.
Surratt wasn’t flagged for a penalty on the play, even though it occurred at a key juncture in Xavier Gipson’s touchdown during their 22-16 victory against the Bills.
“You’ve gotta put an asterisk on it because there’s a tripping call that was not made,” Parry said Monday on the ESPN “Monday Night Football” broadcast. “A trip, a leg whip, right near the 23-yard line, No. 55, which would have brought the touchdown back.”
Linebacker Quincy Williams was also fined twice by the league for unnecessary roughness penalties, with each fine costing him $13,333, according to multiple reports.
Surratt, originally a third-round pick by the Vikings in 2021, dove in front of the Bills’ Quentin Morris and stuck out his leg as the tight end veered toward Gipson and the left sideline — causing Morris to trip and creating a clear path to the end zone for Gipson.
It allowed the Jets to escape MetLife Stadium with a season-opening victory despite losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a season-ending injury.
Surratt missed time this preseason with a hamstring injury, but he also emerged as a storyline to follow based on his appearance in the first episode of “Hard Knocks.”
During the Jets’ Hall of Fame Game against the Browns, Surratt intercepted Cleveland quarterback Kellen Mond and received compliments from head coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
“That’s my f–king dog,” Saleh said during the episode about the former North Carolina quarterback who became a linebacker.
Surratt played 44 percent of the Jets’ special teams snaps in 2022, and he hasn’t logged a defensive snap in his NFL career.
The Vikings waived Surratt in August 2022 after just one season with their draft pick, and the Jets signed him to their practice squad before the season began.
The Jets face the Cowboys on Sunday as they attempt to start 2-0 for the first time since 2015.