VIDEO: Referees botch early Super Bowl penalty call
Dale Zanine / USA TODAY Sports
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It took all of three minutes, 26 seconds for Super Bowl officials to botch a penalty call.
Seattle Seahawks safety Jeron Johnson rolled up on New England Patriots punter Ryan Allen's leg on a fourth-and-6 punt play. Referee Bill Vinovich called it running into the kicker, a five-yard penalty.
However, Vinovich should have called it roughing the kicker, a 15-yard penalty, and given the Patriots a first down.
The key is where Allen was struck. Johnson hit Allen in his plant leg, which according to the rule book is always a 15-yard foul.
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