Football Rule Question (1 Viewer)

[Regis]

One guy in my league is really bothered by the defense getting credit for a sack AND a fumble on the same play.

He believes a QB is not sacked until he is tackled with the ball. He believes that if the QB fumbles, he was never down and there was no sack.

Does anyone have a link to a site that explains this rule? He said he'd accept that better than my "that's the way it's always been" explanation...

 

[Bri]

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/definitions

 

[Avery]

I understand the rule that you can get a sack and a fumble but it never really made sense to me.

If someone asked me what a sack was, I would say the QB getting tackled for a loss. But if the QB is tackled it is the end of the play and thus, he can't fumble the ball... right?

Again, I understand the rule, just never made much sense to me.

It would make more sense to me to call it a forced fumble rather than a sack.

 

[jerseydevil20]

It shouldn't be a sack and a fumble (personal opinion). If the play is over (ie, the QB was "sacked"), how can there also be a fumble? It's just a way to pad the stats of defensive players.

<Hijack alert> Since we're being philosophical, why can a holder in college on a FG possess the ball with his knee down and the play not stop? Could he get up and run after his knee was down?

 

[videoguy505]

The kind-of-reason-why: It's unfair to the defender who does such a good job wrapping up the QB if he doesn't get credit for a sack, just because the QB is butterfingers enough to cough up the ball on the way down. It's not the defender's fault. He should get all due credit for ending the offensive play and the fact that the offense loses possession, even if only momentarily, shouldn't be counted against him--it should be rewarded.

 

[Avery]

The kind-of-reason-why: It's unfair to the defender who does such a good job wrapping up the QB if he doesn't get credit for a sack, just because the QB is butterfingers enough to cough up the ball on the way down. It's not the defender's fault. He should get all due credit for ending the offensive play and the fact that the offense loses possession, even if only momentarily, shouldn't be counted against him--it should be rewarded.

But he gets credit for a forced fumble.Following that logic, the DB who rips the ball from the hand of the WR should get a tackle and an interception becuase it's not the defender's fault that the WR couldn't hold onto the ball?Just doesn't make "football sense" to me.

 

[Phlash]

<Hijack alert> Since we're being philosophical, why can a holder in college on a FG possess the ball with his knee down and the play not stop? Could he get up and run after his knee was down?

THAT is a good freakin' question.

 

[the rover]

<Hijack alert> Since we're being philosophical, why can a holder in college on a FG possess the ball with his knee down and the play not stop? Could he get up and run after his knee was down?

College football rules make a specific exception for the holder on a kick--and yes, he can get up and run, as long as the kicker is still behind him. This came up during the Washington/USC game this season.

 

[Regis]

<Hijack alert> Since we're being philosophical, why can a holder in college on a FG possess the ball with his knee down and the play not stop? Could he get up and run after his knee was down?

This is hilarious because I have another co-worker who asked me the very same question about a month ago! I don't know why they all come to me with their football questions...

 

[Regis]

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/definitions

Thanks for the link, but I don't see any rules on this page pertaining to my question.If anyone comes across one, please let me know. I thought I could Google anything, but am having a hard time finding exactly what I'm looking for...

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Does anyone have a link to a site that explains this rule?

This is not a rules question; it's a stats question. The answer will definitely not be in the NFL rulebook. It would be in something like the Elias Sports Bureau handbook or whatever.

 

[Avery]

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/definitions

Thanks for the link, but I don't see any rules on this page pertaining to my question.If anyone comes across one, please let me know. I thought I could Google anything, but am having a hard time finding exactly what I'm looking for...

Just spit-balling here, but perhaps this is not in the jurisdiction of the NFL rulebook for officiating games. It seems to be a statistical question whereas the officials simply rule that the ball has been fumbled but they do not count the number of sacks or tackles any player has.The question might be, who keeps the official statistics, what rules do they need follow and who is resposible for those rules?

Edit to add: What Tremblay said above. Me... type... slow...

 

[Regis]

Very good points! The referees probably couldn't care less how it's scored in the books.

Now it's on to the statisticians to solve this mystery...

 

[Bri]

http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/definitions

Thanks for the link, but I don't see any rules on this page pertaining to my question.If anyone comes across one, please let me know. I thought I could Google anything, but am having a hard time finding exactly what I'm looking for...

huh?a sack is a tackle of the QB behind the line of scrimmage

a fumble is when the player loses posession

not that it matters but-there are more to the above like QB's intent to run or pass and where his arm is(tuck rule).

fumble definition is on the link you missed above and at this link too http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/protectionofpasser.

sack feel free to go to Wiki, NFL.com, About, Ask, Google or any site of your choosing.

http://football.about.com/cs/football101/g/gl_sack.htm

this topic comes up every year and IDP playing folks always know it is entirely possible to get a sack, fumble, and tackle creditted on one single play

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/lofiv...hp/t283395.html

Feel free to ask IDP staffers like Aaron or Cracker

 

[Bri]

Does anyone have a link to a site that explains this rule?

This is not a rules question; it's a stats question. The answer will definitely not be in the NFL rulebook. It would be in something like the Elias Sports Bureau handbook or whatever.

The NFL decides what stats are kept and defines them. Elias goes from there. Remember sacks weren't an official stat years ago?

 

[Regis]

I'm glad to see it's come up before. I am an IDP player too and always knew it was possible. I just never questioned WHY is was possible until my friend brought it up.

this topic comes up every year and IDP playing folks always know it is entirely possible to get a sack, fumble, and tackle creditted on one single play

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/lofiv...hp/t283395.html

Feel free to ask IDP staffers like Aaron or Cracker