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Following the flags: Tracking Patriots penalties for 2012 season 01.01.13 at 2:48 pm ET
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This season, the Patriots were flagged for 97 penalties (24th in the league) for a total of 840 yards (19th in the league). Here’s a breakdown of the calls that have gone against the Patriots this year, not including penalties that were declined or offset:

Most penalized players, listed by total flags and with total yardage lost:
Team: Seven penalties (illegal formation, two illegal shift, illegal block above the waist, defensive holding, two 12 men on the field), 36 yards
DL Vince Wilfork: six penalties (three encroachment, defensive offsides, facemask, unnecessary roughness), 49 yards
LB Jerod Mayo: five penalties (two defensive pass interference, unnecessary roughness, illegal contact, roughing the passer) 43 yards
LB Brandon Spikes: five penalties (two defensive holding, unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer, encroachment), 41 yards
TE Aaron Hernandez: five penalties (two offensive pass interference, two false starts, illegal motion), 35 yards
CB Kyle Arrington: four penalties (three defensive pass interference, defensive holding), 65 yards
TE Rob Gronkowski: four penalties (two offensive holding, false start, offensive pass interference), 35 yards
G Logan Mankins: four penalties (three false starts, low block), 18 yards
S Pat Chung: three penalties (facemask, defensive pass interference, unnecessary roughness), 70 yards
CB Devin McCourty: three penalties (defensive holding, two defensive pass interference), 51 yards
OL Donald Thomas: three penalties (false start, two offensive holding), 25 yards
CB Alfonzo Dennard: three penalties (defensive holding, two unnecessary roughness), 21 yards
OT Sebastian Vollmer: three penalties (illegal formation, false start, offensive holding), 20 yards
OT Nate Solder: three penalties (offensive holding, two false starts), 20 yards
TE Daniel Fells: three penalties (false start, offensive pass interference, offensive holding), 18 yards
DE Chandler Jones: three penalties (encroachment, two defensive offsides) 15 yards
CB Aqib Talib: two penalties (two defensive pass interference), 49 yards
LB Dont’a Hightower: two penalties (defensive holding, roughing the passer), 25 yards
QB Tom Brady: two penalties (two intentional grounding), 19 yards
CB Ras-I Dowling: two penalties (defensive pass interference, defensive holding), 19 yards
WR Julian Edelman: two penalties (false start, offensive pass interference), 15 yards
ST Nate Ebner: two penalties (false start, offensive holding), 15 yards
ST Niko Koutouvides: two penalties (defensive holding, illegal block above the waist), 14 yards
DL Jermaine Cunningham: two penalties (encroachment, defensive holding), 10 yards
RB Stevan Ridley: two penalties (false start, chop block), 5 yards
S Steve Gregory: one penalty (personal foul), 15 yards
ST Mike Rivera: one penalty (offensive holding), 10 yards
OL Dan Connolly: one penalty (holding) 10 yards
WR Brandon Lloyd: one penalty (offensive pass interference), 10 yards
C Ryan Wendell: two penalties (two offensive holding), 20 yards
S Tavon Wilson: one penalty (offensive holding–punt return team), 10 yards
ST Marquice Cole: one penalty (offensive holding), 7 yards
LS Danny Aiken: one penalty (false start) 5 yards
ST Matthew Slater: one penalty (offsides on free kick), 5 yards
DE Trevor Scott: one penalty (neutral zone infraction), 5 yards
DL Jake Bequette: one penalty (encroachment), 5 yards
ST James Develin: one penalty (offensive holding), 3 yards
DE Rob Ninkovich: one penalty (encroachment) 3 yards
CB/ST Derrick Martin: one penalty (illegal block above the waist on punt return) 8 yards

Most penalized by position:
Offensive line: 16 penalties for 113 yards
Cornerback: 14 penalties for 200 yards
Defensive line: 14 penalties for 87 yards
Tight end: 12 penalties for 88 yards
Linebacker: 11 penalties for 89 yards
Specialists (punter, kicker, long snapper, kick/punt units): 11 penalties for 77 yards
Team: Seven penalties for 36 yards
Safety: Four penalties for 85 yards
Wide receiver: Three penalties for 25 yards
Quarterback: Two penalties for 19 yards
Running back: Two penalties for 5 yards

Most frequently called penalties:
Offensive holding: 15
False start: 15
Defensive pass interference: 11
Defensive holding: Nine
Encroachment: Eight
Offensive pass interference: Six
Unnecessary roughness: Six
Defensive offsides: Four
Roughing the passer: Three
Illegal block above the waist: Three
Illegal shift: Two
Illegal formation: Two
Intentional grounding: Two
Facemask: Two
12 men on the field: Two
Personal foul: One
Offsides on free kick: One
Illegal contact: One
Chop block: One
Neutral zone infraction: One
Low block: One
Illegal motion: One

By way of comparison, here’s a penalty breakdown from the 2011 season.

Read More: penalties, Print  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • brandon

    This is quite the list to create from scratch.  What is the most common big flags or penalty that players commit?

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