In a 2016 interview with the Mercury News, former NFL defensive end Jared Allen discussed the chaos that can occur during certain plays, stating that “there are no restrictions” in those situations.
A Buffalo Bills player recently made a serious accusation against the Detroit Lions following a controversial onside kick in their 48-42 loss to Buffalo. Bills cornerback Taron Johnson revealed some of what happens in the pile of players after the kick, giving fans a rare insight into the mayhem of the play. The incident took place with 12 minutes remaining, as the Lions, trailing by 10 points, opted for the onside kick. The Bills recovered the ball and returned it to the 5-yard line, where they later scored to extend their lead.
Lions opt for an onside kick with 12 minutes left in the 4th and the Bills recover
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/1RYsGyitb5
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 16, 2024
However, Johnson caught attention when he shared details of the chaos during the play.
“A lot of yanking, a lot of pinching, putting fingers where they’re not supposed to be and all that stuff. We just did a good job on that play,” he said, according to The Post.
Wanna know what it was like at the bottom of the pile on that last onside kick?
Let Taron Johnson explain#Bills pic.twitter.com/LILFPpgmoy
— Thad Brown (@thadbrown7) December 16, 2024
His comment raised some questions about what exactly occurred, as pile-ups in football often become situations where the usual rules seem to be disregarded.
Jared Allen’s 2016 statement reflects this sentiment, as he noted that “there are no restrictions” during such plays. Former Bills player Fred Smerlas further explained the intense nature of these pile-ups in a 2019 SB Nation interview, saying,
“You’ve got guys grabbing your balls, hitting you in the chest and gouging your eyes out. In the pile of loose balls, it’s all chaos. You’ve got 330-pound men jumping on you. Let me tell you, if you’re hit by guys that size with pads and helmets, things get ugly quickly.”
"I think that the winner of this game is the new "America's Team.'"
– Jim Nantz is HYPED for Bills vs. Lions 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vCAjjkn2WQ
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 15, 2024
This chaotic behavior isn’t new. In 2008, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers recalled a similar experience, saying, “I was looking down and someone was biting my arm, so I had to get the teeth off my shoulder.”
In the aftermath of the Lions’ onside kick, head coach Dan Campbell later expressed regret over his decision, telling reporters, “I wish I hadn’t done that.”
