Anyone recall a play that occurred at some point during the game when the Dolphins had the ball and a Redskin tackle knocked the ball out of the center's hands just as he was about to snap it to Griese? The Redskins recovered the ball, but the officials evidently spotted it and the Dolphins were able to retain possession.
Have been scouring the internet looking for any links about George Allen, Superbowl VII, etc., but have had no luck finding any mention of this play. I know I'm not crazy, it did happen.

Also, would this have been encroachment or a neutral zone infraction?

Extra linebacker Harold McLinton, crowding the line of scrimmage, slapped the ball away from Dolphins center Jim Langer on fourth down (from Miami's own 27!) in the first quarter. Could have been disaster for Miami. The penalty was illegal procedure.

Regards,

Dave

Thanks, Dave. May I ask what source you referenced when you came up with that detailed reply?

"Illegal procedure"? Never heard of that one being called against the defense.

http://www.supernfl.com/SuperBowl/sb7.html

Note that after winning the coin toss, it was Miami's very first possesion.

After gaining net three yards on the first three downs (Kiik run, Csonka run, Csonka pass), Miami had it with fourth-and-7 on their own 27 yard line. Something like three minutes into the game. After the penalty it was fourth-and-2. Miami punted. (And all of us Miami fans started breathing again --- I lived in Central Florida at the time.)

Of course the play of the game that everyone remembers was just before the two-minute warning at the end of the game. Miami leads 14-0 (but it really wasn't that close --- they had totally dominated). Soccer player and necktie salesman Garo Ypremian picks up a muffed pass from center on what should have been an "icing on the cake" field goal and tried a forward pass. (As far as we could figure out at the time, Garo had never actually touched an actual football with his actual bare hands before that.)

The resulting runback-for-a-touchdown kept Miami from attaining a Superbowl shutout. (Actually Garo could have had an actual shot at actually making the tackle, but --- not bloody likely, was it?) We all still liked the little guy. I'm not sure why.

Oh, well...

Regards,

Dave

Defensive player cannot touch the ball until it is in play. (That's just a guess. Details of some of the rules change from time to time, and I don't know how many different things he could have been charged with.)

Not offsides, since the ball wasn't snapped.

Not encroachment, since the defensive player did not 'move across the line of scrimmage'.

Any others come to mind?

Regards,

Dave

Thanks for the link. Cannot think of any other types of infractions to cover it. Unless it were to be covered under the generic "neutral zone infraction" that I mentioned previously.

Knowing George Allen's motto of "win at all cost", I cannot believe McLinton slapped the ball on his own. Of course, Allen would never admit to having done or recommended anything shady.