So pats fans are all happy this rule exists, and it seems to have been properly applied in sundays win against the jets the rule basically states that if a team fumbles the ball into and out of the endzone over the side line or the end line that its a touchback and the other team takes over on the 20 yard line. Mar 27, 2018 the nfl youtube channel is your home for immediate ingame highlights from your favorite teams and players, full nfl games, behind the scenes access and more. At least once a week in the nfl, theres one play that makes question everything you know about the catch rule. Cute illustration, in the style of a childrens book, of various players biting, jameela wahlgren. So, if you fumble it forward into the end zone and your teammate recovers it, you retain possession at the point of the tackle. The game kobe bryant showed off vs michael jordan, epic duel highlights 1997. Serious question what is the purpose of ruling a fumble out.
The butt fumble was a notorious american football play from a national football league nfl game played on thanksgiving day, november 22, 2012 between the new york jets and new england patriots in front of the home crowd of over 79,000 fans at metlife stadium and a primetime television audience of over 20 million, jets quarterback mark sanchez collided with. After the ball has been declared ready for play, it becomes a live ball when it is legally snapped or legally kicked a free kick or fair catch kick. Oct 05, 2016 nfl official defends fumble recovery call in redskins game, despite bad visual. It is not a fumble if the player immediately regains control of the ball. If a defensive player, in the field of play, intercepts a pass or catches or recovers a fumble, backward pass, scrimmage kick, free kick, or fair catch kick, and his original momentum carries him into his end zone where the ball. How that rule has survived for as long as it has is kind of amazing. Wright admits to intentionally batting fumble from calvin johnson after seattle safety kam chancellor knocked the ball lose in the seahawks 10 win over the detroit lions. Whats the justification for this rarelyinvoked nfl. The ground cant cause a fumble unless the runner is not down by contact, but the ground can definitely cause an incompletion, pereira said. With the advent of free agency in the nfl in 1993, the team maximized its spending on available players, hoping to hit the. It is also a fumble if the action occurs in the end zone of the player who caught the loose ball. The reason the ground cant cause a fumble is because when the ballcarrier hits the ground, the play is over.
Nfl rules state that the ground cant cause a fumble. See specific fumble, pass, or kick rules and especially 621. The nfls convoluted rules cost the jets a touchdown, and. Oct 15, 2017 the referees technically made the right call when they ruled austin seferianjenkinss late fumble a touchback. But the play exposed a part of the nfl rule book that could use revision. Once the season was over, the rule as you have quoted was put into effect. The rule was put in the rule book after the raiders beat the chargers on an intentional forward fumble in 1978. Rule 7 ball in play, dead ball, scrimmage section 1 ball in play article 1. Baltimore ravens, clean up rule, fumble, nfl photo by mitchell laytongetty images. I started thinking about this on saturday when my college football team lost a touchdown on the exact same rule call, then of course again when the ravens did. If this is in advance of the scrimmage line, or not from scrimmage, it would be an illegal forward pass. Fumbles changed the rules of the game, and many earned their own. No the real reason the rule exist is because it carried over when football was adapted from rugby.
Rule 8, section 1, article 3, item 1 of the nfl rule book page 51 states that if a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass with or without contact with an opponent, he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in. Ravens suggest nfl clean up the rule on fumbles in the. Nfl makes slight change to rules regarding fumbles. The ground can cause a fumble if there is no contact. A fumble is any act other than a pass or legal kick which results in loss of player possession. The new nfl rule book contains a page that says delete. Serious question what is the purpose of ruling a fumble. Sep 25, 2017 the meme claims that page 6263 of the nfl rule book dictates that during the national anthem, players must stand, face the flag, hold their helmet in their left hand and refrain from talking. Nov 10, 2006 the reason the ground cant cause a fumble is because when the ballcarrier hits the ground, the play is over. Official nfl playing rules 35 iv if there is a foul by either team during any of the above, penalty enforcement is the same as for.
The nfl video rulebook explains nfl rules with video examples. If you fumble and then you reestablish possession of the ball in the end zone, its a score. It seems rare that a play called on the field as a fumble recovered by the offense would be changed to a fumble recovered by the defense. And they need to make adjustments, at least until or if the nfl changes the rule. All players are eligible to touch, catch or recover a fumble exceptions. Weitere bedeutungen sind unter american football begriffsklarung. Nfl will again revisit most unfair rule in the game. The rule that says a fumble into the end zone and out of bounds goes to the defense on the 20yard line seems illogical. Why cant nfl players pick up the football during a fumble.
If the ball had fallen out of bounds before the end zone, washington would have retained possession at the spot of the fumble. When a runner goes down on his own, the ground can cause a fumble, and the ball continues in play. What the nfl rule book says about the national anthem. Nfl slightly revises definition of fumble profootballtalk. The ground cannot cause a fumble when the player in possession is down by contact from an opponent. Please note that nfl digital care representatives are unable to answer requests regarding specific rules or play calls, and have no contact with those involved in the rule changing process. Football question offensive fumble into the end zone.
It seems like an archaic rule with no actual purpose. Member clubs of the league may amend the rules from time to time, pursuant to the applicable voting procedures of the nfl constitution and bylaws. Nfl not considering rule change on fumbles through the end. Should the nfl make a new rule where a team is not allowed to punt if they only need one yard to get a 1st down. Complete history of the nfls dumb catch rule confusing people. The nfl doesnt know what a catch is and now seems confused about fumbles, too the craziness surrounded jets austin seferianjenkins, whose touchdown was overturned and ruled a fumble. Nfl catch rule, explained after controversy sports. Lions should have kept the ball despite fumble marlowe alter, detroit free press published 12. Just guessing here, but there was a famous raiders playoff game in the 70s, in which on the last play of the game the raiders player was getting tackled, and then he deliberately fumbled forward into the end zone, where they recovered it for a touchdown to win. We have the fumble, and i want you to watch the line judge at the top of the screen. The official forum nfl rule fumbling oob in the final minute. If a player pretends to fumble and causes the ball to go forward, it is a forward pass and may be illegal 812pen. A fumble in gridiron football occurs when a player who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed tackled, scoring, or going out of bounds.
Sep 07, 2017 the nfl released its rule book for the 2017 season, which means its a big day if youre the kind of person who wants to pore over a 93page pdf with field dimensions in it. Ravens suggest nfl clean up the rule on fumbles in the end zone. The rule has survived because it encompasses the definition of a touchback. Eligibility to touch a kick is governed by kick rules rule 6. The nfl has made several altercations to the rule book this season. It is not meant to connote illegality under any public law. You know the rule about fumbles on fourth down, only the. They keep stumbling and kicking it away most of the time. Nov 20, 2015 and heres the official page in the rule book, rule 8 section 1. And heres the official page in the rule book, rule 8 section 1. The nfl released its rule book for the 2017 season, which means its a big day if youre the kind of person who wants to pore over a 93page pdf with field dimensions in it. The leagues competition committee will take a look, possibly as soon as its meeting. If a pass is thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage, unnecessary roughness may apply for action against the passer.
By rule, a fumble that goes out of bounds through a defensive teams end zone is a touchback, and the defensive team gets the ball. The ball remains dead if it is snapped or kicked before it is made ready for play. When ball is ready for play a dead ball is ready for play when. It is more likely that a play called not a fumble on the field and recovered by the defense would be challenged and changed to a fumble recovery by the defense.
Jul 05, 2018 nfl makes slight change to rules regarding fumbles. Rule 12 player conduct section 1 blocking, use of hands, arms, and body legal and illegal block article 1 a player of either team may block obstruct or impede an. Losing 20 to 14 with a few seconds remaining in the game, the raiders qb ken stabler fumbled the ball forward from the 24 yard line. Overturned fumble in seahawkscardinals leaves twitter. Nfl official defends fumble recovery call in redskins game. Many fans are calling for changes, but which one should be overhauled first.
Raiders comeback fails when derek carr fumbles through. As a practical matter, it will potentially reduce, but not increase, the number of total fumbles charged to a player. The phrase, lateral pass, does not exist in the nfl rule book. Rule 12 player conduct section 1 blocking, use of hands, arms, and body legal and illegal block article 1 a player of either team may block obstruct or impede an opponent at any time, provided that. A fumble may be forced by a defensive player who either grabs or punches the ball or butts the. Nfl official defends fumble recovery call in redskins game, despite bad visual. If another player recovers, the ball is placed at the spot of the fumble.
By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking, punting, or successful handing that results in loss of player possession. Explaining the nfls catch rule, controversy sports illustrated. Eligibility to touch a forward pass is governed by pass rules rule 7. A fumble in the final two minutes of a game, or on fourth down at any time in the game, now may not be advanced by the offense beyond the spot of the fumble unless the player who fumbled recovers the ball. Catches, an integral part of the game, have become too confusing and that needs to be addressed first. Quote michaelb just guessing here, but there was a famous raiders playoff game in the 70s, in which on the last play of the game the raiders player was getting tackled, and then he deliberately fumbled forward into the end zone, where they recovered it for a touchdown to win. Fumble article 4 a fumble is any act, other than a pass or kick, which results in loss of player possession. Fans witnessed examples of the two worst rules in the nfl the unexplainable catch rule and unjustifiably ridiculous endzone out of bounds turnovertouchback. The league created a rule after that so that a player cannot. What the bottom of an nfl fumble pile is really like. Nfl official explains why one of footballs worst rules exists in the first place. If a player pretends to fumble and causes the ball to go forward, it is a forward pass and may be illegal.
If a ball is fumbled in a teams own end zone and goes forward into the field of play and out of bounds, it will result in a safety, if that team provided the impetus that put the ball into the end zone. That only applies if the runner is going to ground after contact. Mar 23, 2018 the rule that says a fumble into the end zone and out of bounds goes to the defense on the 20yard line seems illogical. Five ways to fix the dumbest rule in football the ringer.
Nfl official explains why one of footballs worst rules. Where the word illegal appears in this rule book, it is an institutional term of art pertaining strictly to actions that violate nfl playing rules. In rugby it makes sense because a lose ball that goes oob is restarted where it went oob, but since that isnt true in the nfl, the rule is illogical but has never been changed. Fox had turned a great scoring opportunity into a turnover. Its not considered negative points on an offensive player unless they lose the fumble. Why not rule it as down at the spot of the fumble, or at worst place it on the 25 yard line with no change of possession. Oct 02, 2009 the game kobe bryant showed off vs michael jordan, epic duel highlights 1997. Whats the justification for this rarelyinvoked nfl fumble rule. Dec 18, 2017 the nfl rule book states in rule 8, section 1, article 3, item 1, a player is considered to be going to the ground if he does not remain upright long enough to demonstrate that he is clearly a. Is it still a forced fumble if the team forcing the fumble, does not recover it. Sep 18, 2009 rule 8, section 1, article 3, item 1 of the nfl rule book page 51 states that if a player goes to the ground in the act of catching a pass with or without contact with an opponent, he must maintain control of the ball after he touches the ground, whether in the field of play or in the end zone. Nov 15, 2017 by rule, a fumble that goes out of bounds through a defensive teams end zone is a touchback, and the defensive team gets the ball. We have the fumble, and i want you to watch the line judge at. Its a rule that impacts games on what seems like a weekly basis.
The meme claims that page 6263 of the nfl rule book dictates that during the national anthem, players must stand, face the flag, hold their helmet in. This edition of the official playing rules of the national football league contains all current rules governing the playing of professional football that are in effect for the 2019 nfl season. The nfl youtube channel is your home for immediate ingame highlights from your favorite teams and players, full nfl games, behind the scenes access and more. Nfl rule if a player pretends to fumble and causes the ball to go forward it is a forward pass. The new nfl rule book contains a page that says delete this. In the field of play, if a catch of a forward pass has been completed, after which contact by a defender causes the ball to become loose before the runner is down by contact, it is a fumble, and the ball.
The ground cant cause a fumble because when the player hits the ground with any inner joint the play is dead. The nfl rule book states in rule 8, section 1, article 3, item 1, a player is considered to be going to the ground if he does not remain upright long enough to demonstrate that he is clearly a. Trying to figure out our playoffs and it comes down to this play. Rare nfl rulebook explanation creates catchfumble controversy in. I dont think anyone would intentionally fumble if this were the rule. If a fumble goes forward and out of bounds, the ball is next put in play at the spot of the fumble by the team that was last in possession. This week, that play came during the first half of the seahawkscardinals game. This edition of the official playing rules of the national football league contains all current rules governing the playing of professional football that are in effect for the 2018 nfl season. Detroit lions should have had the ball despite fumble. A kicking team player may use his handsarms to ward off or to push or pull a receiver. Where the word illegal appears in this rule book, it is an institutional term of art. Sep 07, 2011 the ground cant cause a fumble unless the runner is not down by contact, but the ground can definitely cause an incompletion, pereira said. The referees technically made the right call when they ruled austin seferianjenkinss late fumble a touchback.
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