At some point the league made it illegal to advance a muffed punt?

[Reverend Conehead]

I had no idea the league had dreamed up such a stupid rule. It used to be exciting plays could happen if a player tried to catch a punt, but failed. The opposition could pick up that ball and score a TD, or the receiving team could even conceivably pick up the muffed punt and gain a bunch of yards or even score. When did the league decide it would be a swell idea to prohibit advancing a muffed punt? Let me guess, they're trying to make the game safer. We could make the game a whole lot safer and a whole lot more boring if we got rid of tackling and just made it a flag football game. We could get rid of kickoffs altogether -- and some have even suggested that idea. IMO that's an awful idea. Games have been decided by kickoffs returned for a TD, or by kickoffs that got muffed by the return man.

In the Chiefs/Patriots game today, it was the first time I found out you're not allowed to advance a muffed punt. The Patriots player appeared to have muffed it, and KC picked it up and ran into the endzone. Replay later showed that the Patriots guy actually didn't touch the ball, but if he had, it should have been a Chiefs TD. But, no. It would have just been the Chiefs ball where they recovered it. So pathetic. At some point the league must have dreamed up that stupid rule and I didn't notice. Why don't we just quit having men play the game physically at all. We could just turn it into a video game league where players are hooked up to electrodes to play. That way we would end all injuries.

 

[Hoofbite]

Don't think this is a new rule.

 

[LandryFan]

Replay later showed that the Patriots guy actually didn't touch the ball

I never saw a replay that indisputably showed that the punt was, or wasn't, touched. I could never tell with certainty, based on every replay they showed. Did I simply miss the definitive shot, or are you basing your comment on the official announcement that the ball wasn't touched?

 

[viman96]

The replay from face on showed he did not touch the ball

 

[Pape]

I never saw a replay that indisputably showed that the punt was, or wasn't, touched. I could never tell with certainty, based on every replay they showed. Did I simply miss the definitive shot, or are you basing your comment on the official announcement that the ball wasn't touched?

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...mans-4th-quarter-fumble-in-patriots-vs-chiefs

second vid on the page shows it

 

[LandryFan]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...mans-4th-quarter-fumble-in-patriots-vs-chiefs

second vid on the page shows it

Thanks for the link. However, I watched that clip several times and could never tell with certainty that he didn't (or did) touch the ball. In that clip, his left hand (thumb) disappears behind the ball. It's at that point that the tip of his left thumb certainly could have touched the ball, IMO. That being the case, I fail to see how the league determined that, with 100% certainty, he didn't touch the ball. To me, that is just another example of the replay officials citing something as "indisputable", that isn't. JMO, and matters for nothing.

 

[Pape]

Thanks for the link. However, I watched that clip several times and could never tell with certainty that he didn't (or did) touch the ball. In that clip, his left hand (thumb) disappears behind the ball. It's at that point that the tip of his left thumb certainly could have touched the ball, IMO. That being the case, I fail to see how the league determined that, with 100% certainty, he didn't touch the ball. To me, that is just another example of the replay officials citing something as "indisputable", that isn't. JMO, and matters for nothing.

yeah, its moot at this point... its done.. but there is a side view which shows that view so you can see his left hand get missed... cant find a link though ... i'm sure its out there if you really care to look for it...

 

[FloridaRob]

A muff has been around as long as I have been watching football and that started in the 1060s. It aint new. As soon as it happened I told my grandon it was a muff and it could not be advanced.

 

[links18]

A muff has been around as long as I have been watching football and that started in the 1060s. It aint new. As soon as it happened I told my grandon it was a muff and it could not be advanced.

You have been around for a long time. Tell us, what was the Norman invasion of England like?

 

[FloridaRob]

You have been around for a long time. Tell us, what was the Norman invasion of England like?

Lol, I need to go back and read my hieroglyphics notes and I will let you know. That or the pictures I drew on rocks may also do the trick.

 

[erod]

This has always been the rule, and it's a good rule because change of possession was never established.

 

[FloridaRob]

yeah, its moot at this point... its done.. but there is a side view which shows that view so you can see his left hand get missed... cant find a link though ... i'm sure its out there if you really care to look for it...

no one angle told hte story but there were so many angles to that play that you could piece it together and tell he never hit the ball. How he missed it I have no idea but he did. the call was right.

 

[Flamma]

Thanks for the link. However, I watched that clip several times and could never tell with certainty that he didn't (or did) touch the ball. In that clip, his left hand (thumb) disappears behind the ball. It's at that point that the tip of his left thumb certainly could have touched the ball, IMO. That being the case, I fail to see how the league determined that, with 100% certainty, he didn't touch the ball. To me, that is just another example of the replay officials citing something as "indisputable", that isn't. JMO, and matters for nothing.

There is a different angle showing that the thumb on his left hand did not touch the ball. It was one of the last replays they showed during the game. It was an angle coming from his left.

 

[LandryFan]

There is a different angle showing that the thumb on his left hand did not touch the ball. It was one of the last replays they showed during the game. It was an angle coming from his left.

Thanks. I didn't see that replay, apparently.