NFL will look at the fumble-out-of-end-zone rule (3 Viewers)

[DJ1BigTymer]

What is the definition of the endzone?

I thought @ARSaint 's explanation was spot on!

So without going into the rule book, I gotta say the FIELD of PLAY is limited to 100 yards x 50 yards. It's bordered by the side-lines (OUT of BOUNDS) and the END ZONE. The END ZONE is 10x50 yards, there is no OUT of BOUNDS area bordering the end zone. The ball remain live within the field of play until it touches the ground without being possessed or or the player possessing the ball is tackled. The play is also dead if the ball or the player possessing the ball leave the field of play by going OUT of BOUNDS.

The ultimate goal is to matriculate the ball down the FIELD of PLAY into the END ZONE where points are scored. If the team that possess the allow the ball to leave the FIELD of PLAY through the END ZONE via a fumble, their possession ends because the ball left THE FIELD of PLAY through the END ZONE with no one possessing the ball.

Long story short, the only way for the ball to pass through the END ZONE is for the offense to score points or they lose possession.

 

[Brennan77]

The rule makes perfect sense. Don't change it.

 

[Jazz Cabbage]

I say give the offense the ball back at the opponents 20 for their next down. That would make things interesting depending on the previous down. You most likely lose 4 points but you still have an opportunity to score.

 

[Stalwart385]

Worth a look, but I'd rather they look at the PI rules. Those calls change games regularly.

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

I thought @ARSaint 's explanation was spot on!

So without going into the rule book, I gotta say the FIELD of PLAY is limited to 100 yards x 50 yards. It's bordered by the side-lines (OUT of BOUNDS) and the END ZONE. The END ZONE is 10x50 yards, there is no OUT of BOUNDS area bordering the end zone. The ball remain live within the field of play until it touches the ground without being possessed or or the player possessing the ball is tackled. The play is also dead if the ball or the player possessing the ball leave the field of play by going OUT of BOUNDS.

The ultimate goal is to matriculate the ball down the FIELD of PLAY into the END ZONE where points are scored. If the team that possess the allow the ball to leave the FIELD of PLAY through the END ZONE via a fumble, their possession ends because the ball left THE FIELD of PLAY through the END ZONE with no one possessing the ball.

Long story short, the only way for the ball to pass through the END ZONE is for the offense to score points or they lose possession.

Yeah he did....totally didn't see that.

But yeah, still don't agree with the changing of posession on a fumble out the side of the endzone. There's already a rule mechanism in place to deal with forward fumbles out of bounds...specifically on 3rd downs where forward fumbles out of bounds anywhere on the field are spotted at the spot where posession was lost. Expand that ruling to include fumbles out of the side of the endzone and viola - the source of frustration for fans all over is gone.

 

[los226]

I say give the offense the ball back at the opponents 20 for their next down. That would make things interesting depending on the previous down. You most likely lose 4 points but you still have an opportunity to score.

That’s a great idea

 

[SystemShock]

Worst rule in all of sports

At worst, it should be other teams ball at the 1 yard line.

Why don't just give them the TD? And while they are at it, remove the safety too: if tackled inside the endzone, give the offense the ball back at the 1?

Maybe make it different if the defense managed to touch the ball before it goes out but stop rewarding them for nothing

It's not rewarding the defense, it's the consequence of the offense being too clumsy to hold on to the ball.

 

[Jazz Cabbage]

That’s a great idea

Thanks, I think it's a nice compromise between a change of possession and the offense getting the ball back at the one.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Yeah he did....totally didn't see that.

But yeah, still don't agree with the changing of posession on a fumble out the side of the endzone. There's already a rule mechanism in place to deal with forward fumbles out of bounds...specifically on 3rd downs where forward fumbles out of bounds anywhere on the field are spotted at the spot where posession was lost. Expand that ruling to include fumbles out of the side of the endzone and viola - the source of frustration for fans all over is gone.

You're forgetting that the FIELD OF PLAY ends at the goaline and the END ZONE begins. How can a ball leave the FIELD of PLAY past the goaline unpossessed? There's a rule that governs what happens when an unpossessed ball passes through your END ZONE and that rule is titled a TOUCHBACK.

 

[ilvdsnts]

What is the definition of the endzone?

Its called the END zone because when the ball reaches that zone its the END of the drive. If the O is in possession at that point, TD, if the O is not in possession at that point, TB. Pretty simple and logical to me.

 

[FullMonte]

I actually like the rule. From the surface it seems unproportionally unfair to the offense, however when you look at how the end zone is treated compared to the rest of the field at play it begins to make sense.

My biggest rule issue regarding the endzone is this:

1) Ball carrier is grabbed at the 1 yard line by a defender, before the whistle blows, the ball carrier reaches out, the nose of the ball breaks the plane of the goal line, and it is ruled that the ball is in the endzone and is a touchdown.

2) Punt is bouncing towards the endzone, it hits on the 2 yard line and bounces into the endzone. A gunner dives from the 1 yard line, catches the ball in the air about 3 yards deep in the endzone, tosses it over his head before hitting the ground to a teammate standing on the 1 yard line. The ball is ruled down on the 1.

Why is the ball considered "in the end zone" in one case, but not in the other?

 

[Yatman]

unsurprising that chris simms favors the existing bad rule

biggest moron in the pantheon of "sports expert" morons

 

[J.T.]

The only change that I would be in favor of would be one that gives the defense the ball at the spot of the fumble or the one yard line. I don't think it's fair giving the offense the ball back because they fumbled it in the first place. If you give the offense the ball back at the spot of the fumble there's a chance players might stretch out towards the goal line corners with little chance of a defensive recovery. If you don't like the fumble out of the endzone rule.... don't fumble.

 

[26ISTHEMAN]

Dumb rule. Hope they get rid of it. Ball should remain with the team that last had possession. Give it back to the offense at the spot of the fumble.

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

You're forgetting that the FIELD OF PLAY ends at the goaline and the END ZONE begins. How can a ball leave the FIELD of PLAY past the goaline unpossessed? There's a rule that governs what happens when an unpossessed ball passes through your END ZONE and that rule is titled a TOUCHBACK.

So why not call incomplete passes that fly out the back of the endzone a touchback?