The Tuck Rule

A few things here:

1) The tuck rule is a rule, period, whether anyone agrees with it or not. I personally think that a spot penalty for P.I. is extreme, that doesn't mean it isn't a rule.

2) It was a rule before the Pats playoff game, in fact it was called against the Pats earlier that season against the Jets.

3) The rule is in place to take the judgement of the intent of the QB away from the ref. When they review it he isn't looking at intent, just mechanics. Again, if you don't agree with the rule that's fine it doesn't make it less of a rule.

4) The Patriots were not "given" their first Superbowl, they still had to kick two ridiculous FGs in the snow and THEN beat Pittsburgh on the road and the Rams in the dome. They took advantage of an opportunity that was presented to them like ALL GOOD TEAMS DO.

5) The rule clearly states "forward pass." Since doing so after the line of scrimmage would constitute an illegal forward pass, all of the extreme scenarios presented in this thread where the QB runs 20 yards downfield are silly.

6) That said, the refs screwed the Saints a few times today. I didn't see the game on tv but from my seat in the dome I don't know how fair catch interference wasn't called on the Ravens when they knocked Reggie over in the 2nd qtr.