When Jawaan Taylor was whistled for a false start late in the Kansas City Chiefs’ loss to the Detroit Lions, NFL Twitter collectively celebrated.
Because they all noticed something that the officials on the field didn’t: The Chiefs right tackle appeared to line up illegally, way behind where he should be during one point. And he started early a bunch, long before that whistle for the false start.
It was kind of mystifying and wild. But when you look back at the proof, it was pretty blatant — both Cris Collinsworth and rules expert Terry McAulay called out refs for missing all this:
Honestly how do the refs keep letting Jawaan Taylor get away with this? #DETvsKC pic.twitter.com/bcV7ALyU80
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) September 8, 2023
For everyone defending Jawaan Taylor’s placement and movement….. pic.twitter.com/kvQjduzMnx
— Wyatt Hunter (@FootballWyatt) September 8, 2023
If I didn’t know any better, I would think Jawaan Taylor is paying off the officials.
He’s doing this EVERY. SINGLE. PLAY. Rocking before snap, then moving early. Oh, and for the cherry on top, he’s not up to the line! WTH.
🎥 (@RussNFLDraft )
— Marc Ryan (@MarcRyanOnAir) September 8, 2023
NBC's Terry McAulay on Chiefs' RT Jawaan Taylor: "He's really not remotely close, and it's really putting the defensive end at a tremendous disadvantage when you can be that far back."
Taylor appeared well behind the LOS and appeared to start early throughout the game. pic.twitter.com/2UrkTH8bTo
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 8, 2023
But hey, here’s a whistle!
Jawaan Taylor finally gets called for a false start!! #DETvsKC pic.twitter.com/pKNnXXOt28
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) September 8, 2023
It took 58 minutes, but Jawaan Taylor just finally got called for a penalty.
Collinworth: "Jawaan Taylor playing slot receiver."pic.twitter.com/PbWziIfNxe
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2023