Lavonte David believes Geno Smith was still in bounds

Sep 8, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) is hit late out of bounds by Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Lavonte David (54) drawing a personal could penalty and setting up a game winning field goal by the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets won 18-17. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers should have earned a win against the New York Jets in Week One, but a late-hit penalty on Bucs linebacker Lavonte David cost the team fifteen crucial yards that ended up being the difference maker.

The penalty put the Jets in field goal position and allowed New York to nail the game-winning field goal with time running out.

While no one who saw the reply is crying foul about the call, David still believes that it was a legal hit and Smith was in bounds.

“I wouldn’t have hit him if I thought he wasn’t going to stay in bounds,” David said, via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “They said he was out of a bounds so the guy called the flag. To me, he was in bounds.”

It is understandable that David doesn’t realize how far out of bounds the hit took place, but that is what happens when momentum takes over.

All you have to do is watch the GIF of the hit and you can see how far out of bounds Smith really was. It was a bone-headed penalty and unfortunate because of how it cost the team, but David is a good enough player to get past the mistake.

Home/New York Jets