How was that Cin ball when they didn't get a first down after the touch?

[Carson]

The ball just went through his hands. I'm sure nobody hates him more than him. He looked devastated. I think it's just a natural reaction for these defensive players to go after the ball.

Thats little league football.

”Poison” means get the Hell out of dodge and don’t touch the ball

 

[The Natural]

Its inexcusable. When a punt or FG is blocked forward you’ll always see defenders waiving each other away from the ball. Everyone knows what to do in that situation except for this knucklehead #27

 

[TheDude]

when casual fans know the rule better than players...you get the Dallas Cowboys

 

[HungryLion]

I know, I get it. I'm not complaining about the call in any way as it was correct. I just don't like the way the rule is written.

I hear ya. I don’t like obscure rules either when they work against the cowboys. lol

 

[ryanbabs]

I just have to tell myself this was a blessing in disguise.

 

[Roadtrip635]

 

[Coogiguy03]

Change of possession when he touched it

 

[TheCoolFan]

Special Teams players are generally some of the dumbest athletes in all of pro sports. It's usually end of the roster guys who never see real playing time so they try to be a hero and end up doing dumb stuff. Same as when you see them commit unnecessary holdings on returns.

 

[SultanOfSix]

The “rule” is an embarrassment. You effectively rewarded the team that got shut down by defense to make it 4th and 26 and then take away a blocked punt because a player who never had possession of the ball just touches it. The receiver can catch a ball and not make two steps and get it knocked out and it’s an incomplete pass — no change of possession. It’s a travesty of epic proportions and completely illogical.

 

[Sydla]

It’s live, but I thought the first down still mattered. So they recovered but didn’t get a first down. Obviously I’m wrong but this is the way I always understood the rule.

No because it’s just like a regular punt.

The ball is live once it crosses the line. You don’t field it cleanly it’s a live ball and the first down line doesn’t matter.

 

[Sydla]

The “rule” is an embarrassment. You effectively rewarded the team that got shut down by defense to make it 4th and 26 and then take away a blocked punt because a player who never had possession of the ball just touches it. The receiver can catch a ball and not make two steps and get it knocked out and it’s an incomplete pass.

LOL

So now it’s the rules fault our team is stupid. All we have to do is just not touch it. It’s that easy.

 

[loublue22]

its similar to the onside kick in WAS we returned for the TD but its still a one possession game, so they actually got a shot at a hail mary. if he goes down its a kneel out. bad teams have players with no situational awareness.

 

[SultanOfSix]

LOL

So now it’s the rules fault our team is stupid. All we have to do is just not touch it. It’s that easy.

Are you stupid?

The rule and players can be stupid too. Both can be true simultaneously.

 

[Loso86]

I swear that didn’t used to a first down. Yeah, we touched it beyond the line. But even when they recovered, it was well behind the first down line. Doesn’t make any sense that it’s Cin ball in that case. Should still be fourth down.

Okay, I’m sure I don’t know the rule but still.

Of course, how in the heck do we still have professional football players that don’t know you’re supposed to leave that ball alone. I swear the ball found the only player that didn’t know that rule. Everyone else in the stadium, including the toddlers in attendance, knew the deal.

What!?

 

[Clove]

Apparently everyone on the ST didn't know this rule. That's on the coach and the player.

 

[HungryLion]

Are you stupid?

The rule and players can be stupid too. Both can be true simultaneously.

Let’s be honest, our only issue with the rule is that it burnt the cowboys tonight.

If it helped the cowboys win a playoff game. People would be on here talking about how smart and well written the rule is.

 

[cowboyec]

bones.

 

[Aven8]

Gotta love the oblong ball. Was heading right for his hands and bam….that’s the beauty in football

 

[CarolinaFathead]

The “rule” is an embarrassment. You effectively rewarded the team that got shut down by defense to make it 4th and 26 and then take away a blocked punt because a player who never had possession of the ball just touches it. The receiver can catch a ball and not make two steps and get it knocked out and it’s an incomplete pass — no change of possession. It’s a travesty of epic proportions and completely illogical.

It WAS a change of possession. Any punt is considered a change of possession. The rule is perfectly logical and consistent. Any kick that goes past the LOS, blocked/tipped or not, is definitionally a punt and a change of possession. If the receiving team touches it, it is a live ball at that point.

 

[ICP]

The ball just went through his hands. I'm sure nobody hates him more than him. He looked devastated. I think it's just a natural reaction for these defensive players to go after the ball.

Agreed, he feels bad enough, and as others have stated it's just instinct on a defensive player to go after a ball like that. If anything blame it on the coaching for failing to drill it into a punt return team what to do in that situation