A lot of people question the Easley-fumble-touchback rule

[IndianaHawk]

I don't have a problem with the rule. Everyone knows the rule, so don't break it. Even if you don't agree with it, just don't do it. Nobody is cheated, no rule change in the middle of the game, no surprises, you know the consequences, don't do it.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

Offense is supposed to take care of the football. If you possess the football and you run or kick it or fumble it, its yours to recover or if you dont or it goes ob...its no longer yours. Tis the way it is now, and the way it always has been....forward pass is the only exception. Hang onto it!

But that's not how it work if you fumble out of bounds on the twenty yard line.

 

[BigD]

You can't try to merge two different views. IE you need clear visual evidence on the one view you are looking at. You can't say from one view you see the fumble started as soon as he was hit, but in that view can't determine if that was before or after the goal line. Then in another view see that he was hit before the goal line, but can't tell if the ball is loose in that view.

Both have to be clear in one view to determine if he fumbled. I am betting that they had a view that wasn't shown.

 

[BigD]

^^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^
I suspected this as a possibility also. Some times the TV networks might not have all the same views the officials have. I was just drawing some conclusions but what was given us to judge by. I get the inconclusive aspect and requirement. I honestly felt by looking at the video that he may have fumbles just inches from the goal line and Ibwas upset before they even announced their decision. I had my fingers crossed that they would say otherwise but I certainly was shocked by their decision.

 

[ClintonIAfan]

If the Big Ten conference has additional footage than they need to release it! Until then I have no proof.

 

[proudhawkfan21]

But that's not how it work if you fumble out of bounds on the twenty yard line.

Correct, you fumble it, you put it in jeopardy, it goes out at the 20, its your ball still. It goes out in the end zone....its your ball 3 yds deep in the end zone? Apples to apples, situation 2 CAN'T happen. Translation, turnover.

 

[Bigfist]

September 10th, 1978.
Raiders vs. Chargers.
Dave Casper fumble recovery in the end zone. I am too stupid to find a link to video but one is probably out there some where.

Actually, that occurred at the end of the game, when Stabler intentionally fumbled into the end zone with his team trailing and on 4th down. Stabler had nothing to lose by fumbling forward(he was getting sacked as it happened). But the NFL changed the rule the next year. In the last two minutes of the game, if a ball is fumbled forward, and the offense recovers the ball, it goes back to the point of the fumble, unless the player who actually fumbled is deemed to be the same player to have recovered the fumble.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

On replay you can see from a front view that he fumbled the ball AS SOON as second player hit him. Then from the side view you can see the second player hit him before he and the ball crossed the goal line. Yes it is very close.

That's 4:46 of "indisputable" I can never get back. The only thing "indisputable" is that there is NOTHING conclusive about Easley fumbling BEFORE the ball breaks the plane.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I think you are misinterpreting the rule a little bit. You can call PI on a tipped ball as long as PI happens BEFORE the ball is tipped. So in this case:

NT defender interferes with Iowa WR -> NT defender tips pass -> Pass interference is the correct call

Just because a ball is tipped doesn't automatically mean PI doesn't exist. Otherwise you could theoretically tackle a receiver, stand up and bat the ball away and there would be no PI because the ball was tipped.

Good point, it never occurred to me that the interference happened before the ball was tipped. Didn't even look for that, frankly!

 

[hawkeyebob62]

The interference happened prior to the ball being tipped.

And I hadn't even contemplated that. It never occurred to me that it could have been called before the ball was tipped. That DOES make a huge difference.

 

[Robowe]

Actually, that occurred at the end of the game, when Stabler intentionally fumbled into the end zone with his team trailing and on 4th down. Stabler had nothing to lose by fumbling forward(he was getting sacked as it happened). But the NFL changed the rule the next year. In the last two minutes of the game, if a ball is fumbled forward, and the offense recovers the ball, it goes back to the point of the fumble, unless the player who actually fumbled is deemed to be the same player to have recovered the fumble.

Here's video of the Holy Roller play for those too young to remember. This caused the rule change in the NFL where only the player who fumbles the ball can recover it on 4th down (I believe). Stabler obviously throws the ball forward to start the play (he admits it towards the end of the video). And, no replay!

 

[Bigfist]

Here's video of the Holy Roller play for those too young to remember. This caused the rule change in the NFL where only the player who fumbles the ball can recover it on 4th down (I believe). Stabler obviously throws the ball forward to start the play (he admits it towards the end of the video). And, no replay!

Actually, anyone can actually recover the fumble, but if it is not the same player who fumbled to start with, the ball goes back to the spot of the fumble. Looking at the replay today, it clearly should have been called a forward pass, with intentional grounding to boot.

 

[Robowe]

Actually, anyone can actually recover the fumble, but if it is not the same player who fumbled to start with, the ball goes back to the spot of the fumble. Looking at the replay today, it clearly should have been called a forward pass, with intentional grounding to boot.

Yep, you said it correctly (and I didn't).