O.T. Clueless in Seattle

[Patrick_Mucci]

Corey,

Maybe you can help me with a rule.

Why isn't the same standard applied to both runners and receivers when they have the ball and cross the goal line.

Why does the receiver have to have more control than the runner ?

If a runner, starting at the 1 yard line leaps over the goal line and after he's crossed the goal line, but before he touches the ground, he gets hit and fumbles the ball, it's ruled a TD, but if a receiver catches the ball as he's leaped from the 1 yard line, has possession in mid air as he crosses the goal line, but before he hits the ground he's hit and fumbles, it's ruled an incomplete pass.

Why the distinction.

Ditto with runners fumbling when they get hit and land out of bounds .
But if a receiver catches the ball, gets hit and fumbles after he's out of bounds, it's ruled an incomplete, why ?

[jeffwarne]

I also would strongly disagree with Jeff, I think you are always better off intercepting the pass.  Just my opinion.

I can think of (at least) one example where trying to do just that didn't work out so well

[Mark Bourgeois]

Corey, I bow before your expertise.

You make a great point about the officials needing to officiate.  I would say the officials would have huddled before before issuing the ruling. And *that* ruling would have had the benefit of all officials' input (at least those who saw something). The odds of that process yielding a correct call would have been much higher than a "process" where two officials simultaneously signalled touchdown and touchback.

Yes?

[corey miller]

Mark

My personal opinion is that the fewer officials "conferences" the better.  I objected to your notion that the call on the field should have been made in a way that would allow for replay.  The call on the field needs to be made promptly and without regard for the replay process.  For better or worse, part of the replay process is it is based on an actual officials call and opinion on the field.  You then need "conclusive" evidence to overturn...therefore, if you make the call in a manor to elicit a replay review, you are messing with the process.

In regards to the actual play, and I did not pay attention to the aftermath but the initial conference needed to be the Referee and the side judge and back judge. Nobody else.

Pat

You have hit on one of the problems with replay, they needed a definition for everything in order to have the system.  Any player with possession who puts the ball across the goal line should have a TD.  Of course, through replay, the definition of "possession" for a receiver is now different.  I am not sure what the previous rule was but it was much closer to "common sense" when a player has possession.  Now two feet down and a football move?  What the heck is that and with the athletic receivers they can cover five yards sometimes before they truly have possession. 

Don't get me started on the new player safety rules because it appears "playing the receiver" as a strategy is no longer viable. 

The rules are now a mess, more difficult for the officials on the field but I guess more empowering for the home official with the benefit of replay.