Time for a new NFL fumble rule
 

Everybody has their horror story about the crappy call that cost their team the game. I've come up with the solution. It remains to be seen if the NFL will finally do something to fix the problem.

My solution is so simple, it's brilliant; any ball that hits the ground behind the line of scrimmage is live, whether thrown, kicked, or dropped. Period.

If the quarterback can't throw a screen pass well enough to be caught, too bad, it's live. If he can't get the ball past the LOS, tough, it's a live ball. If a receiver can't catch a hitch, too bad, it's live. If the ball hits the ground behind the LOS, it's live.

End of problem.

So if a guy is tackled, piled up on, and someone strips it loose from under the pile, that's a fumble?

If he's not down by contact, and he's behind the LOS, yep.

Then your rule only solves roughly half the problem.

It would solve the issue of whether the receiver had possession before he lost the ball.

But it wouldn't do anything for situations where there is a fumble, but questionable as to whether he was down by contact when the ball was lost.

That's already taken care of with the instant replay. I'm talking about the issue of the quarterback's control of the ball behind the LOS. How many times do we have to see a quarterback lose the ball, only to have to waste time reviewing the play, and then it's not called the right way? Behind the LOS, the offense should be held responsible for controlling the ball. If they mishandle it in any way, it should be a live ball. Once downfield, the normal rules should apply.

Raiders fans should be happy with the existing rule. Or was that Brady & the Patriots beating the Raiders in the snow?

Yeah, it was Brady and the Pats stickin' it to Da Raydahs.

the Raiders got their own rule when Stabler kicked that ball into the end zone, I was actually at that game

Are we talking about the Chargers/Broncos game

Yes, the illegal forward fumble rule.

So a pass that travels over the line of scrimmage, and is batted down and lands behind the LOS is live?

Sounds like more video replay, not less.

How about this: a ball knocked or thrown from the qb's hand that lands in front of the LOS is live.

How about the guy last night that throws the ball behind him before he crosses the goal line - after futher review, they retain possesion on the 1?????? I say give it to the other team just for being a bonehead!!!

"The Snake" was one of my favorites back in the day (being left handed had a lot to do with my initially liking him). He was a wiley vetaran by that point in time, couldn't throw the long ball anymore as I recall, and I remember that play very well :)

I like those old football videos from the 40s. Back then, in order to be officially down, you had to be held down and not able to get up. So the defense would just pile on until the ref decided the guy with the ball wasn't going anywhere.

Also, they had very little padding. It was a different game back then. More like rugby.

Dave Casper kicked it into the end zone and fell on it....Great play for my team.....:D

Ahhh yes, the Holy Roller.

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Much better w/Bill King's call, however

Similar to the "inadvertent whistle", the refs signaled TD on the play, at which point, it's a dead ball, and Dallas could not recover the "fumble".

The receiver, Deshawn Jackson, did something similar in a high school game. He went to do a somersault into the end zone. However, he landed on the 1 yard line, and lost control of the ball.

Since he went to Cal, I'll cut him some slack. He'll be a great pro when it's all said and done.

Nope, that's rugby.

The official blew the ball dead. No new fumble rule or any OTHER rule change will fix that. An inadvertant whistle on a loose ball goes back to the team in last possesion of the ball. They can elect to have the result of the play, where they lost the ball or have a "Mulligan".....UNLESS there is a penalty...

We discussed the play tonight at my refs meeting. They guy admitted that he blew it, was subsequently fined....another official claims...by the NFL. Not much you can do on it.

Now there CAN be an issue where a white hat can CLAIM there's an inadvertant whistle on a fumble.....case in point. An umpire observes a high snap over the QBs head in shot gun formation. While moving up to the line of scrimmage he sees a quarterback with knees on the ground, one hand on top of the ball. The white hat is screened by lineman and is off to the side.

The umpire blows the ball dead, a defender jostles the ball loose....another defender then piles on.....umpire throws a flag. Asshat, whitehat rules that the ball was still loose, saddles the ump with an inadvertant whistle call......

Film backs up the Umpire.....

Ask me how pissed off I am......guess which official I am....

Interesting. Do you mean batted down by a defender who is on the other side of the LOS? I'm OK with a live ball in that situation. My rule is designed to place the responsibility on the offense to control the ball. If the offense can't do that, they deserve to lose possession. Make an accurate pass. How would you like to be a D-lineman your whole career, batting down passes that just get blown dead because it's an incomplete pass. BS, I say, if your offense can't move the ball safely over the LOS, you lose possession. You wanna see excited linemen, keep the ball live.

Yes, the defender is downfield, so the ball crosses the line of scrimmage then is batted back.