Good chance touchback rule for fumbling through the end zone will be changed this offseason

[Jake]

Do the same thing you do for any other forward fumble out of bounds.

The logical thing.

The emotional thing.

Logic tells us the end zones are different. That's why you get points for getting to them.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Yeah I don't support it. If you fumble out of the end zone it should be a touchback.

why should it be diff if bounce takes it out at half yard line vs 1/2 yd into end zone?

 

[JustChip]

If the runner fumbles at the 5 and it goes forward and out at the 1’ line, the offense retains and gets the ball at the 1’ line (except inside the last 2 minutes). But if it goes out inside the end-zone, where should the ball be placed? The 1 yard line? Seems that’s what is going to hang up changing it.

Personally, I’d mark it back 5 yards from where it was lost, or maybe a reverse touchback. The offense retains, but it gets spotted at the 20.

 

[Kevinicus]

The emotional thing.

Logic tells us the end zones are different. That's why you get points for getting to them.

No. The idiot thing would be to do the current rule.

Logic would dictate there is no reason to change things.

It's punishing the offense for being too close to scoring when they have a mistake.

That is objectively dumb.

 

[Kevinicus]

If the runner fumbles at the 5 and it goes forward and out at the 1’ line, the offense retains and gets the ball at the 1’ line (except inside the last 2 minutes). But if it goes out inside the end-zone, where should the ball be placed? The 1 yard line? Seems that’s what is going to hang up changing it.

Personally, I’d mark it back 5 yards from where it was lost, or maybe a reverse touchback. The offense retains, but it gets spotted at the 20.

Not true. The ball would go back to the 5.

A forward fumble out of bounds always go back to the spot of the fumble except for this dumb rule.

 

[Asklesko]

They should keep it. It's a classic.

 

[zerofill]

I think you give it back to the offense on the 15 yard line. You make the person who fumbled suck their thumb and sit in a makeshift corner on the sideline for the rest of the game.

 

[Clove]

Change it to a 15 yard penalty, but allow the offense to keep the ball.

 

[rambo2]

Remember when CeeDee fumbled out of the end Zone?

Yes, they are going to change it.

 

[McKDaddy]

What do they change it too is the question?

make it consistent with all the other fumble situations. ball returns to spot of fumble.

I think I would be ok with a nominal penalty like 5 yards to discourage players from reaching for the goal line so there is risk \ reward.

 

[Risen Star]

why should it be diff if bounce takes it out at half yard line vs 1/2 yd into end zone?

For the same reason it's different when you step out at the half yard line vs in the end zone.

 

[kskboys]

While true it also seems to be unforced and it rewards the defense for something they didn't do. Just seems extreme.

Unless they punched the ball out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KingCorcoran]

If there is no harsh penalty it could create a scenario when fumbling it into the end zone, on purpose, would be worth doing.

 

[JustChip]

Not true. The ball would go back to the 5.

A forward fumble out of bounds always go back to the spot of the fumble except for this dumb rule.

Hmmm. I did not realize that. Thank you for the edification.

Is it still that only the fumbling player can recover a ball fumbled forward in the last 2:00? I remember that being a change in the 70s or 80s after the Raiders did a forward fumble-rooskie.

 

[Bob-Lillys-War]

whats surprising is that every game everything circles around OFFICIATING .

 

[jwitten82]

whats surprising is that every game everything circles around OFFICIATING .

This is about a rule, not the officiating

 

[Bob-Lillys-War]

tomatoe tomato .

 

[JW82]

What do they change it too is the question?

Same as if its on the field, if the D doesn't recover they spot the ball where it was fumbled.

 

[mldardy]

The rule has been like that forever and now one play in the playoffs causes a possible change? LOL at the reactionary rule change off of one play.

 

[Staubacher]

Yeah I don't support it. If you fumble out of the end zone it should be a touchback.

If you're tapping your eye with a steak knife I'm with you