Switzer punt return

[JohnnyHopkins]

Refs said he "gave himself up" on the play. He did the same thing in college and the yards were allowed, so I'm not really sure

My interpretation is that the refs got caught with their pants down like the Giants players and used that as an excuse.

 

[CowboysRule]

They just blew the whistle too early and made something up. It happens all the time, like the Sean Lee/Jaylon Smith fumble.

I remember years ago P. Manning did a fake spike, no one on the defense suspected anything. He took off running with his weird Manning legs and scored a TD. Unfortunately, the refs also expected nothing and had blown the whistle prematurely. No TD for Manning. I'm sure the Colts got an apology from the league office though so everything is okay.

 

[DogFace]

I'm sure college coaches told players to watch this too. He's just really good at nonchalantly catching it and staying calm. They seem to fall for it a lot.

That said, he better be careful.

 

[DogFace]

Lets not forget he has catch interference protection. Yea they can hammer him but only after he has caught the ball. They would have to time it very well to hit him full speed and not get flagged. It was a smart play on his part but unfortunately his 1 second "pause and cringe" they ruled as "giving himself up" whatever that means.

Right he does it when everyone is already there on a high shorter kick gathered around waiting for him to catch it.

 

[CF74]

Did they blow the whistle after he played possum?

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

If he advanced it after 'giving himself up' that's a delay of game penalty. They just blew the spot.

And I disagree with everybody saying he better not do it again. It was a clean play, and it should have netted extra yards. He definitely should do it as long as he stays on the right side of the delay of game calls.

You're wrong. Often times a player will not get "touched down" by contact but will get up and throw the ball to the ref. They don't consider this a lateral or fumble they just call the play dead as he gave the ball the the official.

If he catches a punt and stands still as if it were a fair catch and a giants player drilled him the player would be flagged for unnecessary roughness. Not good sportsmanship to toy with the live ball/dead ball line.

 

[Idgit]

You're wrong. Often times a player will not get "touched down" by contact but will get up and throw the ball to the ref. They don't consider this a lateral or fumble they just call the play dead as he gave the ball the the official.

If he catches a punt and stands still as if it were a fair catch and a giants player drilled him the player would be flagged for unnecessary roughness. Not good sportsmanship to toy with the live ball/dead ball line.

It's a penalty to advance the ball after giving a fair catch signal.

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/faircatch

Switzer didn't toy with the line. He didn't give a fair catch signal, he didn't fake or mimic a signal. It's on the Giants to tackle him.

Teams use misdirection, fake spikes, indirect snaps, delayed blitzes, all the time. There's no reason not to do it on STs, too. If you can put an opponent in an uncertain position and get yards out of it, why wouldn't you?

 

[DFWJC]

Can someone explain why the yards weren't allowed on the Switzer return where he never called the fair catch, but after catching the punt he sauntered as if he had called a fair catch but then went for 7 yards? Since he absolutely did not signal a fair catch, how can those yards be taken away?

I know there's a rule against calling a fair catch and then returning the punt, but this wasn't the case, and if it was that is a penalty which was not called. Seems like another case of making it up as they go.

He pulled this in college a time or two. They should've allowed the yards.

 

[gimmesix]

Gunners will look for that raised hand. They don't see it, they hammer him.

It has nothing to do with No Fun League or whatever. This isn't about dancing or crapping out a football in the end zone.

He makes himself vulnerable. He puts himself at risk. He also risks fumbling.

No different IMO than Harris picking up the ball that Brown dropped when he tried to down it. There's no risk of fumble involved there, but it's based on the same idea of trying to catch the coverage team napping. If they aren't paying attention, then I see no problem with trying to take advantage of it. Switzer didn't call a fair catch so he was fair game and the yards should have counted.

 

[DFWJC]

 

[Kevinicus]

They used a baseball rule in football. To the best of my knowledge there's no such thing as giving yourself up in football. That's why they preach play until the whistle blows. I wonder if he made a bigger play how much this would be challenged. He fooled the Refs too and they were trying save face with BS.
That said; hope he doesn't do it again, this is the NFL, some one will light him
Up!

There is a rule concerning giving yourself up. It occurs when a player goes to the ground (sliding, kneeling, just dropping down) and making no effort to advance the ball. It requires going to the ground. Just standing there doesn't qualify.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

15 yard penalty vs serious injury.

This isn't a guy that doesn't know what he is doing. He did the same thing all through college.......no injury much less serious injury.

 

[jaybird]

There is a rule concerning giving yourself up. It occurs when a player goes to the ground (sliding, kneeling, just dropping down) and making no effort to advance the ball. It requires going to the ground. Just standing there doesn't qualify.

Yes correct, but he didn't go to the ground. In baseball you can give yourself up by just standing still. Often it's done so the defensive player can not turn a double play. The NFL refs said he gave himself up, which is as you just stated a false call. I still don't think Switzer should be pulling this stuff, but the refs should have gave him the yards.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

I will say this, Switzer looks very comfortable and confident returning punts.

 

[bsbellomy]

It's an unnatural play. With the rules and fines as they are for illegal hits, players pulled up because he just stood there. That's giving himself up. If a player clocked him, we'd all be complaining.

I also think they need to outlaw the fake spike play. If a QB is allowed to intentionally ground the ball, and defensive linemen are expected not to hit him on the play, then he shouldn't be able to fake it and then throw it.

You'd have ZERO right to complain if he got clocked. Play until the whistle, and don't blow the whistle if he doesn't call fair catch.

 

[jrumann59]

In HS we practiced killing PR when covering punt returns. I personally score 3 TKOs in my senior season, just on the timing alone. You have to give them room to catch the trick is to slow down prior to getting to the PR and as soon as you see the ball, launch.

 

[Rockdoc]

i hate ***** ref$!!!!!

 

[cowboyschmps3]

I was at the game man and every time he had to fair catch he was vicious and mad, he wanted a chance at a return man. Hope he gets some opportunities.