Neil Rackers 75 Yard Field Goal Attempt (1 Viewer)

[Browns Rule!]

How many of you were watching the end of that Cardinals/Rams game? Just a quick recap, St Louis, up 16-14 punted the ball with 5 seconds left. Arizona calls for a fair catch at the 33 yardline of Arizona. Arizona was offsides on the play, in which multiple Rams coaches were seen declining it. The ref even announced the penalty and that it was declined. Then it got interesting, according to some goofy NFL rule, if you fair catch a punt, even with no time left, your allowed to kick a free kick from that spot.

Rackers came running on the field, and I'm sitting there like, why even try this, he can't make a 75 yard attemp. Then, Rackers starts jumping around and practicing his kick, I seriously believe that he thought he could make this kick. He was pumped, and getting himself more pumped throwing his body into the practice kicks and landing like 3-4 yards downfield. Finally, I started getting excited, he made me believe he could make it also, I truely thought maybe this guy that was so excited to kick a 75 yard field goal might make it. It was all for nothing though, as the refs went back and somehow allowed the Rams to accept the penalty.

Here's my question, how many people believed or thought he was going to make that kick?

 

[Blackjacks]

It would have had to been a drop kick not a field goal attempt. There's no freaking way.

 

[diesel7982]

Hed have trouble hitting that kick off of a tee, nevermind having it held on the ground and having to kick it over the line.

Id think 75 yards would be nearly impossible given the angle needed to get it over the rushing DL.

EDIT: Blackjacks is right....and yes, no freakin way.

 

[TD Ryan]

didn't someone put a kickoff thru the uprights last year?

I don't remember who, but I do recall a kickoff sailing right thru the goal posts.

 

[Shiggy Shaol]

I was laughing because it looked to me like Rackers was giving the old "Oh MAN, I think I woulda kicked it if they gave me the chance" dejected face.

 

[Wingnut]

Then, Rackers starts jumping around and practicing his kick. He was pumped, and getting himself more pumped throwing his body into the practice kicks and landing like 3-4 yards downfield.

Anyone have a clip of this???

 

[Browns Rule!]

I was laughing because it looked to me like Rackers was giving the old "Oh MAN, I think I woulda kicked it if they gave me the chance" dejected face.

I know it, I loved it. I think he had it, he is now my favorite kicker and I don't even own him in any fantasy league. I think he would have been allowed to tee it, I don't think it would have had to be a drop kick, am I wrong in thinking that?

 

[Sputnikv8]

didn't someone put a kickoff thru the uprights last year?I don't remember who, but I do recall a kickoff sailing right thru the goal posts.

Maybe... I don't know. But, there wouldn't have been 2 lines of 6 foot+ lardbutts standing in front of him at that time. Theres just no way to get that type of angle with a line in front of you.

 

[davearm]

How many kickoffs have you ever seen sail through the uprights?

Because that's basically what we're talking about here. 3 yards closer, but no tee.

 

[Geaux Cowboys]

I was laughing because it looked to me like Rackers was giving the old "Oh MAN, I think I woulda kicked it if they gave me the chance" dejected face.

I know it, I loved it. I think he had it, he is now my favorite kicker and I don't even own him in any fantasy league. I think he would have been allowed to tee it, I don't think it would have had to be a drop kick, am I wrong in thinking that?

I think the Cowboys teed one up about 15 years ago...I remember this faint memory of it. Might've been Zendejas.

 

[derek245583]

He wouldnt have to have kicked it over a DL. I believe no defense is allowed on the field during the play.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

its a Free Kick - no defence on the field

Not sure if he gets to kick it off a tee or not.

 

[The Jerk]

I was laughing because it looked to me like Rackers was giving the old "Oh MAN, I think I woulda kicked it if they gave me the chance" dejected face.

I know it, I loved it. I think he had it, he is now my favorite kicker and I don't even own him in any fantasy league. I think he would have been allowed to tee it, I don't think it would have had to be a drop kick, am I wrong in thinking that?

No tee allowed. It must be either a dropkick or from a teammate's hold like any other field goal attempt. However, with no snap and rushing (because the ten-yard cushion applies like in a kickoff), he could use a full kickoff-type runup, so you'd think distance would be increased over a normal placekick.And yes, I would have loved to have seen it attempted.

 

[TD Ryan]

And yes, I would have loved to have seen it attempted.

 

[The Jerk]

He wouldnt have to have kicked it over a DL. I believe no defense is allowed on the field during the play.

Defense is allowed, but the ten yard kickoff cushion is in effect, so unless the kick is extremely low, they are more or less irrelevant.Still looking for a better link, but here's a Wiki link.

 

[bryhamm]

What you guys are failing to realize is that there is not rush on a free kick attempt. I am not sure if he get to tee it up or if it is held like a FG, but he is given an uncontested attempt at it.

Edit to add ... beat to the punch.

 

[Jackal King]

Here's what makes no sense to me.

The Cards had the option to try to kick the field goal if they had accepted a penalty on St. Louis...because the game can't end on a penalty. But...after running the team out there for the free kick...Denny decides to accept the penalty.

The Rams kneel and the game ends.

The Cards didn't even get to try to kick.

Now...Rackers had about a snowballs chance of making that...but...give the guy a whack at it.

What did you have to lose?

 

[Geaux Cowboys]

I was laughing because it looked to me like Rackers was giving the old "Oh MAN, I think I woulda kicked it if they gave me the chance" dejected face.

I know it, I loved it. I think he had it, he is now my favorite kicker and I don't even own him in any fantasy league. I think he would have been allowed to tee it, I don't think it would have had to be a drop kick, am I wrong in thinking that?

I think the Cowboys teed one up about 15 years ago...I remember this faint memory of it. Might've been Zendejas.

This happened last year...The Cowboys had another play up their sleeve for the end of the first half. After Kansas City failed to convert on a third-and-13, the Cowboys called time out with six seconds left to make the Chiefs attempt a punt. They then sent out punt returner Patrick Crayton in hopes of a short kick. If Crayton had been able to fair catch the ball around midfield, he said the Cowboys would have attempted a free kick - line up for a field goal attempt in a kickoff formation in an untimed down. But the punt flew over Crayton's head to the Dallas 36, and Chiefs cornerback Benny Sapp downed the ball to end the half.

 

[SundaySchooler]

didn't someone put a kickoff thru the uprights last year?I don't remember who, but I do recall a kickoff sailing right thru the goal posts.

yes last year it was Rackers who put a kickoff thru the uprights. it was in Mexico City vs. the 49ers, when they had that hyped-up game on Mexican soil. stadium was at a super high elevation, so it was possible for Rackers to do that.

 

[Footballhead]

75 yard is possible, how else do they kick it into the end zone on kickoffs. The problem would be because of angle of projection, it would be easily block by a 5 feet linemen with a 1" vertical leap.

 

[The Jerk]

A better link

 

[moleculo]

didn't someone put a kickoff thru the uprights last year?I don't remember who, but I do recall a kickoff sailing right thru the goal posts.

Maybe... I don't know. But, there wouldn't have been 2 lines of 6 foot+ lardbutts standing in front of him at that time. Theres just no way to get that type of angle with a line in front of you.

no...no one would be in front of him to try to block it. As it understand it, a "free kick" can occur two ways - 1) after a safety and 2) after a fair catch. We are fairly familiar with what happens after a safety - the punter comes in, and basically punts a kickoff. i tihnk the same thing can happen after a fair catch with the same rules, that is, the defense must be back at least 10 yards.If he were to make it, I doubt that it would be an NFL record, as that would be a free kick attempt, not a FG (I think).

 

[The Jerk]

Here's what makes no sense to me.The Cards had the option to try to kick the field goal if they had accepted a penalty on St. Louis...because the game can't end on a penalty. But...after running the team out there for the free kick...Denny decides to accept the penalty. The Rams kneel and the game ends.The Cards didn't even get to try to kick.Now...Rackers had about a snowballs chance of making that...but...give the guy a whack at it.What did you have to lose?

I think you've got this confused. St. Louis initially declined the penalty believing the game would be over. Only after they realized the fair catch kick was an option did they accept the penalty.We can debate if the officials should allow the reversal by St. Louis and whether or not the officials explained the fair catch option before St. Louis made their initial decision and if it should be the coach's responsibility to know the rules, etc.

 

[CrossEyed]

Hey, if the guy can hit the uprights on 4 kicks in a row, he can certainly kick it through from 75.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

He wouldnt have to have kicked it over a DL. I believe no defense is allowed on the field during the play.

Defense is allowed, but the ten yard kickoff cushion is in effect, so unless the kick is extremely low, they are more or less irrelevant.Still looking for a better link, but here's a Wiki link.

This has happened before and been successful. I remember an attempt in a Thanksgiving game in Detroit once just before the half.

It usually happens when a punter in kicking from inside his 5. The fair catch often gets caught the good side of the 50.

The play is basically a kickoff with a holder. No tee is allowed, but a holder is. The defense stands 10 yards back just like on a kickoff. The kicker can get a running start at it.

As for big kicks last year, AZ and SF played at altitude in Mexico City last year, and Rackers boomed some kickoffs (and FGs) that night.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

If he were to make it, I doubt that it would be an NFL record, as that would be a free kick attempt, not a FG (I think).

No, it would have counted as a field goal. Three points.

 

[Jackal King]

Here's what makes no sense to me.The Cards had the option to try to kick the field goal if they had accepted a penalty on St. Louis...because the game can't end on a penalty. But...after running the team out there for the free kick...Denny decides to accept the penalty. The Rams kneel and the game ends.The Cards didn't even get to try to kick.Now...Rackers had about a snowballs chance of making that...but...give the guy a whack at it.What did you have to lose?

I think you've got this confused. St. Louis initially declined the penalty believing the game would be over. Only after they realized the fair catch kick was an option did they accept the penalty.We can debate if the officials should allow the reversal by St. Louis and whether or not the officials explained the fair catch option before St. Louis made their initial decision and if it should be the coach's responsibility to know the rules, etc.

Oh...I thought the penalty was on St. Louis. Thanks.Shouldn't they have reset the time on the clock? There was more than 1 second left when St. Louis punted the first time wasn't there?

 

[Colin Dowling]

Titans did this last year. It was a 55 yarder against Houston and they missed, if I recall correctly.

 

[rupricht]

Was watching the Georgia Colorado game and the commentators said something about the colorado kicker hitting an 80yarder. I'm sure altitude & wind were huge factors ...aklso did not hear if this was during an actual game....anyone have any details?

 

[JohnDoe]

The Titans attemped a free kick last year. Link

PK Rob Bironas 2 - 3 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 10 points

The rookie kicker hit from 52 yards out in the second quarter. He missed a 58 yard free kick field goal attempt with four seconds remaining in the first half, but was later successful from 49 yards and made all of his extra points.

 

[Wingnut]

Then, Rackers starts jumping around and practicing his kick. He was pumped, and getting himself more pumped throwing his body into the practice kicks and landing like 3-4 yards downfield.

Anyone have a clip of this???

Anyone?

 

[moleculo]

If he were to make it, I doubt that it would be an NFL record, as that would be a free kick attempt, not a FG (I think).

No, it would have counted as a field goal. Three points.

no, i agree - 3 points. I'm not sure if it owuld be officially ruled a "Field Goal" or "Fair Catch Kick". It doesn't seem fair that a kick like this sould go in the NFL record books as longest ever. Nitpicky point here.

 

[The Jerk]

Here's what makes no sense to me.The Cards had the option to try to kick the field goal if they had accepted a penalty on St. Louis...because the game can't end on a penalty. But...after running the team out there for the free kick...Denny decides to accept the penalty. The Rams kneel and the game ends.The Cards didn't even get to try to kick.Now...Rackers had about a snowballs chance of making that...but...give the guy a whack at it.What did you have to lose?

I think you've got this confused. St. Louis initially declined the penalty believing the game would be over. Only after they realized the fair catch kick was an option did they accept the penalty.We can debate if the officials should allow the reversal by St. Louis and whether or not the officials explained the fair catch option before St. Louis made their initial decision and if it should be the coach's responsibility to know the rules, etc.

Oh...I thought the penalty was on St. Louis. Thanks.Shouldn't they have reset the time on the clock? There was more than 1 second left when St. Louis punted the first time wasn't there?

No. Time ran off the clock on this play just like any other in which the defense is offsides. The play is allowed to continue on defensive offsides unless there is "unobstructed path to the QB" or some words like that. In that specific case, time may be put back on the clock -- I don't know. If it was a false start on the offense, then the play does not count and any time that runs off is reset.

 

[BlueOnion]

"Oiy-idge"

 

[Jackal King]

Here's what makes no sense to me.The Cards had the option to try to kick the field goal if they had accepted a penalty on St. Louis...because the game can't end on a penalty. But...after running the team out there for the free kick...Denny decides to accept the penalty. The Rams kneel and the game ends.The Cards didn't even get to try to kick.Now...Rackers had about a snowballs chance of making that...but...give the guy a whack at it.What did you have to lose?

I think you've got this confused. St. Louis initially declined the penalty believing the game would be over. Only after they realized the fair catch kick was an option did they accept the penalty.We can debate if the officials should allow the reversal by St. Louis and whether or not the officials explained the fair catch option before St. Louis made their initial decision and if it should be the coach's responsibility to know the rules, etc.

Oh...I thought the penalty was on St. Louis. Thanks.Shouldn't they have reset the time on the clock? There was more than 1 second left when St. Louis punted the first time wasn't there?

No. Time ran off the clock on this play just like any other in which the defense is offsides. The play is allowed to continue on defensive offsides unless there is "unobstructed path to the QB" or some words like that. In that specific case, time may be put back on the clock -- I don't know. If it was a false start on the offense, then the play does not count and any time that runs off is reset.

Got it. No matter how you slice it....the Cards really gave that game away.

 

[The Jerk]

If he were to make it, I doubt that it would be an NFL record, as that would be a free kick attempt, not a FG (I think).

No, it would have counted as a field goal. Three points.

no, i agree - 3 points. I'm not sure if it owuld be officially ruled a "Field Goal" or "Fair Catch Kick". It doesn't seem fair that a kick like this sould go in the NFL record books as longest ever. Nitpicky point here.

It would be interesting to see if this gets classified the same as a normal field goal given there is no snap, etc. It is a unique play. Do we know what the longest such successful "fair catch kick" is in NFL history?

 

[The Jerk]

Here's what makes no sense to me.The Cards had the option to try to kick the field goal if they had accepted a penalty on St. Louis...because the game can't end on a penalty. But...after running the team out there for the free kick...Denny decides to accept the penalty. The Rams kneel and the game ends.The Cards didn't even get to try to kick.Now...Rackers had about a snowballs chance of making that...but...give the guy a whack at it.What did you have to lose?

I think you've got this confused. St. Louis initially declined the penalty believing the game would be over. Only after they realized the fair catch kick was an option did they accept the penalty.We can debate if the officials should allow the reversal by St. Louis and whether or not the officials explained the fair catch option before St. Louis made their initial decision and if it should be the coach's responsibility to know the rules, etc.

Oh...I thought the penalty was on St. Louis. Thanks.Shouldn't they have reset the time on the clock? There was more than 1 second left when St. Louis punted the first time wasn't there?

No. Time ran off the clock on this play just like any other in which the defense is offsides. The play is allowed to continue on defensive offsides unless there is "unobstructed path to the QB" or some words like that. In that specific case, time may be put back on the clock -- I don't know. If it was a false start on the offense, then the play does not count and any time that runs off is reset.

Got it. No matter how you slice it....the Cards really gave that game away.

And after the Rams tried to give it to them first. Love that wacky NFC West.

 

[Browns Rule!]

All I know is I was depressed after my Browns lost at the end of the game, and this gave me new found excitement. Thinking about this, I'm thinking the Cardinals may have had options. I'm thinking on a free kick you can attempt an onside kick, I think the Browns did it once after giving up a safety. I don't know if you can advance the ball on an onside kick recovery though. Rackers believed he was going to make it, I sure wish it would have been allowed. If anything, it would have been fun to watch.

 

[The Jerk]

All I know is I was depressed after my Browns lost at the end of the game, and this gave me new found excitement. Thinking about this, I'm thinking the Cardinals may have had options. I'm thinking on a free kick you can attempt an onside kick, I think the Browns did it once after giving up a safety. I don't know if you can advance the ball on an onside kick recovery though. Rackers believed he was going to make it, I sure wish it would have been allowed. If anything, it would have been fun to watch.

Yes, you can advance the ball on any kickoff. It's live for either team to possess which is why the onside kick is recoverable in the first place. Another interesting question: has an onside kick ever been recovered for a TD by the KICKING team (it definitely has by the receiving team)?

 

[JohnDoe]

Here is an explanation of the rule.

Fair catch kick (High school or NFL only, 3 points)

A free kick (see below) may be taken on the play immediately after any fair catch of a punt. If the receiving team elects to attempt this and time expired during the punt, the half is extended with an untimed down. The ball must be held on the ground by a member of the kicking team; a tee may not be used. This is both a field goal attempt and a free kick; if the ball is kicked between the goal posts, three points are scored for the kicking team. This is the only case where a free kick may score points. This method of scoring is extremely rare; it is only advantageous when as a team catches a very short punt with no time left. Note that a team is unlikely to be punting with only a few seconds left in a half, and it is rarer still for punts to be caught near field goal range. The officials' signal for a successful fair catch kick is the same as for a field goal.

Link

 

[Browns Rule!]

Then, Rackers starts jumping around and practicing his kick. He was pumped, and getting himself more pumped throwing his body into the practice kicks and landing like 3-4 yards downfield.

Anyone have a clip of this???

Anyone?

I hope someone finds a clip. All I know, just watching him sent me from depressed to LMAO.

 

[BlueOnion]

It doesn't seem fair that a kick like this sould go in the NFL record books as longest ever. Nitpicky point here.

Moleculo -Not sure what you are contesting here. All field goals are measured from where the kicker kicks the ball to where the goal post are. I don't think it matters where the line of scrimmage is.

 

[TheWick]

Regardless if the team that is losing the game commits a defensive penalty to end the game the game should end. There is no reason for them to get another chance when THEY committed the penalty. Otherwise couldn't a team commit a penalty on the last play at the end of every game to get another chance?

Doesn't make any sense to me.

As for the Cardinals giving the game away, the Rams had the game in hand before Bulger's fumble a few plays before Warner's fumble. The Rams gave the game away the Cardinals simply didn't take it.

 

[moleculo]

If he were to make it, I doubt that it would be an NFL record, as that would be a free kick attempt, not a FG (I think).

No, it would have counted as a field goal. Three points.

no, i agree - 3 points. I'm not sure if it owuld be officially ruled a "Field Goal" or "Fair Catch Kick". It doesn't seem fair that a kick like this sould go in the NFL record books as longest ever. Nitpicky point here.

It would be interesting to see if this gets classified the same as a normal field goal given there is no snap, etc. It is a unique play. Do we know what the longest such successful "fair catch kick" is in NFL history?

nope - it is counted as a FG - link

How many times has a fair catch kick been attempted in an NFL game?

Art McNally, the NFL assistant supervisor of officials, admitted in 2004 that the NFL has no idea. It's impossible to determine through box scores; a successful fair catch kick is recorded as a field goal, and an unsuccessful one is recorded as a missed field goal.

 

[The Jerk]

Regardless if the team that is losing the game commits a defensive penalty to end the game the game should end. There is no reason for them to get another chance when THEY committed the penalty. Otherwise couldn't a team commit a penalty on the last play at the end of every game to get another chance?Doesn't make any sense to me.

I think what you're missing here is the fact that the fair catch kick is part of the play in which time initially ran out. St. Louis thought that by declining the penalty there would be no further action. However, a fair catch automatically brings with it the right to attempt a free kick. So St. Louis had to accept the penalty to avoid the fair catch kick. Any accepted defensive penalty requires an untimed down.So the choice was either to accept the penalty and untimed down, or decline the penalty and allow the fair catch kick to proceed.

 

[The Jerk]

nope - it is counted as a FG -

link

How many times has a fair catch kick been attempted in an NFL game?

Art McNally, the NFL assistant supervisor of officials, admitted in 2004 that the NFL has no idea. It's impossible to determine through box scores; a successful fair catch kick is recorded as a field goal, and an unsuccessful one is recorded as a missed field goal.

Cool. Thanks.

 

[moleculo]

It doesn't seem fair that a kick like this sould go in the NFL record books as longest ever. Nitpicky point here.

Moleculo -Not sure what you are contesting here. All field goals are measured from where the kicker kicks the ball to where the goal post are. I don't think it matters where the line of scrimmage is.

if it indeed would have been a 75 yard attempt, it would have been an NFL record. That seems odd to me, that an untimed kick, with no defense within 10 yards by law, could superscede Elam and Dempsey's 69 yard record.My beef isn't with the spot, it's that this kick would basically be uncontested, whereas the previous records were not.

 

[Wingnut]

It doesn't seem fair that a kick like this sould go in the NFL record books as longest ever. Nitpicky point here.

Moleculo -Not sure what you are contesting here. All field goals are measured from where the kicker kicks the ball to where the goal post are. I don't think it matters where the line of scrimmage is.

if it indeed would have been a 75 yard attempt, it would have been an NFL record. That seems odd to me, that an untimed kick, with no defense within 10 yards by law, could superscede Elam and Dempsey's 69 yard record.My beef isn't with the spot, it's that this kick would basically be uncontested, whereas the previous records were not.

Elam and Dempsey's record is 63

 

[JohnDoe]

If he were to make it, I doubt that it would be an NFL record, as that would be a free kick attempt, not a FG (I think).

No, it would have counted as a field goal. Three points.

no, i agree - 3 points. I'm not sure if it owuld be officially ruled a "Field Goal" or "Fair Catch Kick". It doesn't seem fair that a kick like this sould go in the NFL record books as longest ever. Nitpicky point here.

It would be interesting to see if this gets classified the same as a normal field goal given there is no snap, etc. It is a unique play. Do we know what the longest such successful "fair catch kick" is in NFL history?

I don't if it is the record or not but Paul Horning kicked a 52 yarder against the Bears in 1964.

Paul Hornung, once again the Packers' placekicker after sitting out a one-year suspension in 1963, advanced to kick the ball out of Starr's hold -- and it sailed through the uprights, padding the Packers' lead to 17-3 as the first half ended.Hornung's 52-yard success tied the team's existing field goal distance record, which had been set by Ted Fritsch on Oct. 19, 1950, against the then New York Yanks at Manhattan's Polo Grounds.

From the same article:

Four years later, they invoked the same rule to turn the tables on the Green and Gold and pull out a victory in Lambeau Field.It was Nov. 3, 1968, in the year Phil Bengtson succeeded Lombardi as Green Bay's head coach, with Lombardi staying on as general manager.In retrospect, it seems somewhat surprising that the Midway Monsters needed a field goal to settle the issue that afternoon because Gale Sayers, the Bears' gifted running back, was having a career day, amassing 205 yards rushing to set a then-Lambeau Field record.But it was a tightfisted, 10-10 standoff with just 38 seconds remaining in the game, when Cecil Turner, back to receive the Packers' punt from leftfooted Donny Anderson, signaled for a fair catch and fielded the football at the Green Bay 43-yard line.The Bears immediately made known their intentions to Referee Pat Haggerty and lined up in kick formation, whereupon their specialist, Mac Percival, sent the free kick over the crossbar to seal a 13-10 Chicago victory.

Known attempts * On September 13, 1964, the Green Bay Packers attempted it against the Chicago Bears and succeeded. * On November 3, 1968, the Chicago Bears attempted it against the Green Bay Packers and succeeded. * On January 1, 1989, the San Francisco 49ers attempted it against the Minnesota Vikings and failed. * On October 9th, 2005, the Tennessee Titans (Rob Bironas, 58 yards) attempted it against the Houston Texans and failed. * On September 24th 2006, the Arizona Cardinals almost attempted it gainst the St Louis Rams. However, Arizona was flagged for offsides on the punt. After much confusion, St Louis accepted the penalty, allowing Marc Bulger to take a knee and close out the game

 

[Kirby]

I was laughing because it looked to me like Rackers was giving the old "Oh MAN, I think I woulda kicked it if they gave me the chance" dejected face.

I know it, I loved it. I think he had it, he is now my favorite kicker and I don't even own him in any fantasy league. I think he would have been allowed to tee it, I don't think it would have had to be a drop kick, am I wrong in thinking that?

No tee allowed. It must be either a dropkick or from a teammate's hold like any other field goal attempt. However, with no snap and rushing (because the ten-yard cushion applies like in a kickoff), he could use a full kickoff-type runup, so you'd think distance would be increased over a normal placekick.And yes, I would have loved to have seen it attempted.

Can the holder put it on his foot?