NFL fines Jets LB Chazz Surratt for block on Xavier Gipson’s winning touchdown

The 65-yard punt return for a touchdown by Jets rookie Xavier Gipson was the most dramatic moment in the NFL as it kicked off the season. But the league indicated Saturday that the play shouldn’t have counted.

The league fined Chazz Surratt for a block on Bills tight end Quintin Morris during Gipson’s score, which came with nine minutes remaining in overtime. The officials didn’t throw a flag, but days later, the league did. The NFL fined Surratt because it deemed the block as an illegal trip. It’ll cost him $4,833. If officials had flagged the play, the touchdown would’ve come off the board and the Jets would’ve been backed up to the 42.

John Parry, a former NFL referee, now works for ESPN. Moments after Gipson scored, he declared that the play should’ve been a no go for what Surratt did. Morris did trip over Surratt’s leg, but who knew if it was intentional.

“You’ve gotta put an asterisk on it because there’s a tripping call that was not made,” Parry said on the ESPN broadcast. “A trip, a leg whip, right near the 23-yard line, No. 55, which would have brought the touchdown back.”