Clock error or rule loophole (1 Viewer)

[SofaCoach]

In the Jets last drive during MNF they got a delay of game penalty. After the refs marked off the 5 yard penalty they started the game clock again.

That can't be right can it? Teams with the lead at the end of game could just take delay after delay at the end of game to burn the last couple minutes off the clock.

Must've been an error by the refs/clock huh?

 

[shnikies]

I'm guessing that isn't the case inside 5 minutes.

 

[Not Sleeping]

I saw this earlier in the year, and still haven't been able to find the definitive rule, but it seems to be the case that the clock restarts except for the final 2 minutes of the first half and the final 5 minutes of the second half.

Which means that yes, the correct strategic move for a coach to make up by 17 points, and possibly even when up by 14 points, is to run out the entire second half clock until you reach 5 minutes of game time remaining. Can you imagine? Team A is winning 31-14 and receives the second half kick-off. They run the ball once to get the clock moving, and then...nothing. Just delay of game after delay of game. The other team might use their time-outs, but just resume the strategy on your next possession. You'd hear some good Collinsworth color commentary that night, that's for sure.

Someone shoot Belichick an email suggesting this. I'd love to see a team try it, and he's the guy to do it.

 

[Steve Tasker]

I saw this earlier in the year, and still haven't been able to find the definitive rule, but it seems to be the case that the clock restarts except for the final 2 minutes of the first half and the final 5 minutes of the second half.Which means that yes, the correct strategic move for a coach to make up by 17 points, and possibly even when up by 14 points, is to run out the entire second half clock until you reach 5 minutes of game time remaining. Can you imagine? Team A is winning 31-14 and receives the second half kick-off. They run the ball once to get the clock moving, and then...nothing. Just delay of game after delay of game. The other team might use their time-outs, but just resume the strategy on your next possession. You'd hear some good Collinsworth color commentary that night, that's for sure.Someone shoot Belichick an email suggesting this. I'd love to see a team try it, and he's the guy to do it.

This would be awesome.

 

[nysportsfan]

I saw this earlier in the year, and still haven't been able to find the definitive rule, but it seems to be the case that the clock restarts except for the final 2 minutes of the first half and the final 5 minutes of the second half.Which means that yes, the correct strategic move for a coach to make up by 17 points, and possibly even when up by 14 points, is to run out the entire second half clock until you reach 5 minutes of game time remaining. Can you imagine? Team A is winning 31-14 and receives the second half kick-off. They run the ball once to get the clock moving, and then...nothing. Just delay of game after delay of game. The other team might use their time-outs, but just resume the strategy on your next possession. You'd hear some good Collinsworth color commentary that night, that's for sure.Someone shoot Belichick an email suggesting this. I'd love to see a team try it, and he's the guy to do it.

This would be awesome.

Pretty sure there is some sort of "spirit of the game" rule. I remember reading this in another thread a while back.

 

[Not Sleeping]

I saw this earlier in the year, and still haven't been able to find the definitive rule, but it seems to be the case that the clock restarts except for the final 2 minutes of the first half and the final 5 minutes of the second half.Which means that yes, the correct strategic move for a coach to make up by 17 points, and possibly even when up by 14 points, is to run out the entire second half clock until you reach 5 minutes of game time remaining. Can you imagine? Team A is winning 31-14 and receives the second half kick-off. They run the ball once to get the clock moving, and then...nothing. Just delay of game after delay of game. The other team might use their time-outs, but just resume the strategy on your next possession. You'd hear some good Collinsworth color commentary that night, that's for sure.Someone shoot Belichick an email suggesting this. I'd love to see a team try it, and he's the guy to do it.

This would be awesome.

Pretty sure there is some sort of "spirit of the game" rule. I remember reading this in another thread a while back.

The "spirit of the game" is to win. If I'm a head coach making 5 million a year to win football games, then I would do whatever it takes to win football games. Of course, the other "spirit of the game" is to pull in hundreds of millions in TV revenue, and this strategy would clearly threaten that. Still, they need to change the rules if they don't want it done.

 

[Utter Chaos]

If the Vikings had used that strategy they'd have 2 or 3 more wins under their belt.

 

[sports_fan]

Rule 4 Game Timing

Section 7 Actions to Conserve Time

Illegal Acts

-Note 1: More than two successive delay penalties during the same down, after a warning, is unsportsmanlike conduct (12-3-1-n).

http://www.blogandtackle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011NFLRuleBook.pdf

 

[flc735]

i investigated this a year or two ago. it happens more than you think. usually when a player runs out of bounds, the clock will run, usually in the middle of the 1st and 3rd quarters, when it matters the least. eventually i found out that they are doing it to coordinate with the tv broadcast. commercials 'n stuff.

 

[flc735]

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/8707/

 

[CalBear]

Rule 13, Section 1, Article 7:

A non-player shall not commit any act which is palpably unfair.

Penalty: For a palpably unfair act, see 12-3-3. The Referee, after consulting the

crew, shall make such ruling as they consider equitable (15-1-6 and Note) (unsportsmanlike

conduct).

Rule 12, Section 3, Article 3:

For a palpably unfair act: Offender may be disqualified. The Referee, after consulting

his crew, enforces any such distance penalty as they consider equitable and

irrespective of any other specified code penalty. The Referee could award a score.

 

[Godsbrother]

I saw this earlier in the year, and still haven't been able to find the definitive rule, but it seems to be the case that the clock restarts except for the final 2 minutes of the first half and the final 5 minutes of the second half.Which means that yes, the correct strategic move for a coach to make up by 17 points, and possibly even when up by 14 points, is to run out the entire second half clock until you reach 5 minutes of game time remaining. Can you imagine? Team A is winning 31-14 and receives the second half kick-off. They run the ball once to get the clock moving, and then...nothing. Just delay of game after delay of game. The other team might use their time-outs, but just resume the strategy on your next possession. You'd hear some good Collinsworth color commentary that night, that's for sure.Someone shoot Belichick an email suggesting this. I'd love to see a team try it, and he's the guy to do it.

This would be awesome.

If by "awesome" you mean "suck" then we agree.

 

[Jayrod]

Rule 13, Section 1, Article 7:

A non-player shall not commit any act which is palpably unfair.

Penalty: For a palpably unfair act, see 12-3-3. The Referee, after consulting the

crew, shall make such ruling as they consider equitable (15-1-6 and Note) (unsportsmanlike

conduct).

Rule 12, Section 3, Article 3:

For a palpably unfair act: Offender may be disqualified. The Referee, after consulting

his crew, enforces any such distance penalty as they consider equitable and

irrespective of any other specified code penalty. The Referee could award a score.

I knew this was a rule in HS, but wasn't sure if it extended to the NFL or not.Basically if someone is exploiting a rule to cause consequences not intended by the rule that creates an unfair advantage, it is at the referee's discretion to enforce any penalty he sees fit to even the playing field. On something like this, I'd just make the successive delay of game penalties a loss of down so they'd either have to punt or give up the ball on downs.

 

[gandalas]

Rule 4 Game Timing

Section 7 Actions to Conserve Time

Illegal Acts

-Note 1: More than two successive delay penalties during the same down, after a warning, is unsportsmanlike conduct (12-3-1-n).

http://www.blogandtackle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011NFLRuleBook.pdf

Since nobody seems to acknowledge the posting above...Relax guys...the NFL has it covered already.

 

[Joe Summer]

Rule 4 Game Timing

Section 7 Actions to Conserve Time

Illegal Acts

-Note 1: More than two successive delay penalties during the same down, after a warning, is unsportsmanlike conduct (12-3-1-n).

http://www.blogandtackle.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/2011NFLRuleBook.pdf

Since nobody seems to acknowledge the posting above...Relax guys...the NFL has it covered already.

Not necessarily. A team could still get 6 delay penalties every 3 downs without being penalized.

 

[mrspree15]

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/8707/

love this

 

[stbugs]

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/8707/

love this

Best part is the end where Wisconsin recovers a fumble in FG range, but can't do anything because they ran out the clock.