BIG game changing play in HOU v TN (1 Viewer)

[enfuego]

Sure, there were a lot of offensive fireworks in this game, but, perhaps one of the most interesting plays and maybe the game changer was the punt where the Houston return man bobbled a fair catch. The ball popped up in the air and the Tennessee defender snatched it. But instead of TN getting the ball inside the 10, it was ruled fair catch interference because the rule says the ball MUST hit the ground before the defender recovers it. Right call, bad rule.

Discuss...

 

[abishagenaden]

Sure, there were a lot of offensive fireworks in this game, but, perhaps one of the most interesting plays and maybe the game changer was the punt where the Houston return man bobbled a fair catch. The ball popped up in the air and the Tennessee defender snatched it. But instead of TN getting the ball inside the 10, it was ruled fair catch interference because the rule says the ball MUST hit the ground before the defender recovers it. Right call, bad rule.

Discuss...

I think it's a reasonable rule.

 

[walkwithme]

I gotta say that is a bad rule. If this happens again they would think about changing the rule but what is the likelyhood of this happening again?

 

[walkwithme]

I don't know the details of the rule but I thought the defense could hit the returner if he bobbles the ball. If the defense can't touch the ball to after it touches the ground then that doesn't make since to me.

 

[skbatmen]

I am not an NFL referee. But is seems like this played out the way the rule is worded and intended. For the record, let state....the ruling is Fair Catch. By defination, he has the opportunity to catch the ball until it is incomplete. To be incomplete, the ball must hit the ground. Until either of these happen (catch or the ball hits the ground), the cover team must give the return man a fair opportunity. It seems like this is exactly what happened. So, it is the right call. I'll the the "good rule" to the NFL executives.

 

[MacGruber]

I am not an NFL referee.

 

[Futeki]

I don't remember the rule exactly, but I do not believe it has to hit the ground. The ball merely has to be out of the returner's control/reach for the punting team to recover.

 

[Lobary]

I don't remember the rule exactly, but I do not believe it has to hit the ground. The ball merely has to be out of the returner's control/reach for the punting team to recover.

And you are 100% wrong. Of course it has to hit the ground. It's a fair "catch" rule, not a fair "control" rule. Skbatmen explained it perfectly.

 

[Lobary]

Sure, there were a lot of offensive fireworks in this game, but, perhaps one of the most interesting plays and maybe the game changer was the punt where the Houston return man bobbled a fair catch. The ball popped up in the air and the Tennessee defender snatched it. But instead of TN getting the ball inside the 10, it was ruled fair catch interference because the rule says the ball MUST hit the ground before the defender recovers it. Right call, bad rule.

Discuss...

Agreed. Jacoby Jones let the ball hit off his chest, but the Titans player interfered with his ability to complete the catch when he took it in mid-air off the ricochet. The ball must hit the ground first.

 

[Twilight]

I don't remember the rule exactly, but I do not believe it has to hit the ground. The ball merely has to be out of the returner's control/reach for the punting team to recover.

We have the rulebook pinned above. Pg 67...

Item 3: Muff. After a valid fair catch signal, the opportunity to catch a kick does not

end if the ball is muffed. The player who signaled for a fair catch must have a reasonable

opportunity to catch the muffed ball before it hits the ground without interference

by members of the kicking team, and regardless of whether the ball strikes

another player or an official.

 

[GregR_2]

How else could you define the "end" of an opportunity to make a fair catch and have it fulfill the idea behind a fair catch, other than having it be the ball hitting the ground? The only other option you'd have is once the returner makes contact with the ball the fair catch opportunity ends. Which would defeat the purpose of allowing a fair catch as players would try to slap the ball out the moment it makes contact with the return man.

I wasn't aware that was how the rule read... but thinking about it after the fact, I don't see any other way it could be worded and have a fair catch be what it is intended to be.

 

[Jake22]

this exact play happened a few years ago in a Steeler game, ball bounced off the players facemask right to a Steeler player and the ball never hit the ground, faircatch was signaled and the call was reversed, bad rule but they got the call right both times i saw it.

 

[belljr]

this exact play happened a few years ago in a Steeler game, ball bounced off the players facemask right to a Steeler player and the ball never hit the ground, faircatch was signaled and the call was reversed, bad rule but they got the call right both times i saw it.

I agree because if you muff one off you helmet and it bounces forward 15 yards, you had no chance to get it anywa.