Arians: Leaping field-goal blocks 'bad for football'

Bruce Arians isn't upset about the league's rule on leaping over the center to block field goals just because it cost him Sunday night's game - the Arizona Cardinals head coach says it's a matter of player safety.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner wasn't penalized for making contact with the Cardinals long snapper before blocking a field goal, although the rule states players cannot make contact with the snapper while his head is down. Wagner's foot hit the center's back on a second-quarter attempt, but it wasn't called because officials missed the contact and the play wasn't reviewable.

"The Competition Committee went through that play and officials wanted it taken out," Arians told SiriusXM NFL radio Tuesday. "The committee left it in, but it cannot be officiated.

"Whether he touches, whether it was leverage, was his foot within the framework of the defensive lineman's feet before he jumped, all those things that go into that call, I think it's bad for football."

While the rule was designed to protect long snappers while they can't protect themselves, Arians believes they'll have to start putting themselves in a dangerous position for the play to be officiated properly.

"What you're going to have to do now is start having centers raise their face up and get kicked in the face and things that are just dangerous to the players," said Arians. "I think it's a dangerous play as it is and should be taken out of the game."

If Sunday night's play was called correctly, the Cardinals would have gotten a first down on the drive and likely scored, which could have prevented the eventual 6-6 overtime tie.