Running Over Your O-Line: Illegal?

[matmat]

I'm not sure. The rule is incredibly vague.

I wish the NFL rules were like Golf Rules....extremely detailed.

heh... golf is silly.

[BrutallyHuge]

I'm not sure. The rule is incredibly vague.

I wish the NFL rules were like Golf Rules....extremely detailed.

heh... golf is silly.

I like how tough and accurate the rules are in golf. In golf, there should never be any question that you violated the rules.

In football, it's up to the ref's discretion. Holding to one ref might be fine to another.

[saundman2000]

I'm not sure. The rule is incredibly vague.

I wish the NFL rules were like Golf Rules....extremely detailed.

heh... golf is silly.

I like how tough and accurate the rules are in golf. In golf, there should never be any question that you violated the rules.

In football, it's up to the ref's discretion. Holding to one ref might be fine to another.

That sounds about right. Looks like they kind of left the rule as a grey area on purpose. If they defined it too specifically then there would be a loophole where a guy could get "leverage" in a shady way that didn't quite fit the definition. The thing is, there are lots of ways to gain an unfair advantage with the aid of other players.

They wanted to be able to see something "new" and be able to make a judgement on it when it happened as opposed to anticipating how it could happen.

[PACKman1144]

Looking over the rules, there's a 10 yard penalty for: "4. Helping the runner."

There are 15 yard penalties for "Leaping" and "Leverage."


Here's a funny rule:

Touchdown Awarded (Palpably Unfair Act)

1. When Referee determines a palpably unfair act deprived a team of a touchdown. (Example: Player comes off bench and tackles runner apparently en route to touchdown

I would love to see that.

i've seen it happen before...but I think it was in a college game. some dude was screaming down the sideline and somebody stepped out and threw a shoulder into him. it was funny because he was totally blindsided by it. i think they awarded the TD too.
seems like it was at least 15 years ago.

yeah my dad always tells me about that play. I believe it some dude of Duke that just pissed and ran of the bench. I'd love to see that.

[jjigglers]

I was watching one of the games this weekend and the announcers were talking about it.

Even pushing (a la Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart) is illegal, but rarely called. The announcers said it only gets called when the RB is thrown or when he climbs on others I believe.

[Free Bagel]

Looking over the rules, there's a 10 yard penalty for: "4. Helping the runner."

There are 15 yard penalties for "Leaping" and "Leverage."


Here's a funny rule:

Touchdown Awarded (Palpably Unfair Act)

1. When Referee determines a palpably unfair act deprived a team of a touchdown. (Example: Player comes off bench and tackles runner apparently en route to touchdown

I would love to see that.

i've seen it happen before...but I think it was in a college game. some dude was screaming down the sideline and somebody stepped out and threw a shoulder into him. it was funny because he was totally blindsided by it. i think they awarded the TD too.
seems like it was at least 15 years ago.

yeah my dad always tells me about that play. I believe it some dude of Duke that just pissed and ran of the bench. I'd love to see that.

I thought it was Alabama. Way longer than 15 years ago, because I've seen the replay and it was in black and white. He came out and took out the guys legs. I believe the ball was given to the team at the 1 yard line.

[Sixxgunn]

Everyone here has to recall the massive William "The Refrigerator" Perry picking up a tiny Walter Payton and carrying him into the end zone for the apparent score, only to have the play called back because Sweetness didn't advance under his own power. It was truly one of the funniest moments in football history because the Fridge was so country-dumb about it, and like Walter needed any help getting into the end zone to begin with!

[Pete123444]

Looking over the rules, there's a 10 yard penalty for: "4. Helping the runner."

interesting. in one of the games yesterday, the ball carrier, after a pick (i.e a defensive back) was about to fall over. One of his teammates grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him up to his feet. I think the guy ran for a score after that... did anyone see that? is that "helping the runner"?

Yes, I saw that. And it is helping the runner. It could have been called. Same thing with USC's QB getting helped by Reggie Bush against ND. An offensive player cannot keep the runner up or push the runner.

[Halcyon]

I've seen the play with the guy from the bench (perhaps there was more than one, but I've seen at least one). It was on an old football bloopers VHS that my dad bought me.

A running back gets a hand off and busts through and goes screaming down the sideline with nobody in sight. Then at about the other team's 40 yard-line, a guy comes flying out of the opposing team's bench and flattens the runner. They gave the back a TD.

The cool thing, though, was that it had an interview with the player that came off the bench. He said something like "You know, that guy had three touchdowns in the game already, and seeing him come down the sideline I just couldn't bear the thought of him scoring again."