Bad Ref Calls

[Warpath]

Originally Posted by Stacks42

I know everyone know about that horrible "tuck rule" crap that the skins got F-ed on, but did anyone see that fair catch crap last night on MNF? The Chargers kick returner tried to fair catch the ball it bounced off of him and straight in the air into the arms of the Steelers player. How is that not a fumble?

Couldn't agree more, and also there was a play during MNF where the 'Tuck' rule would of applied, but I don't even think it was reviewed at all. Roethlisburger went to throw and as his arm went forward (granted this is what it looked like to me thousands of miles away) the ball came loose. I really don't care about the outcome of the game, but how in the world does this call not get reviewd by Marty Shotty? I don't understand. I just wish the refs would at least be consistent. If its one specific way thats fine, but then it should always be ruled that way, not refs choice. Now lets quit yappin about our loss, and pregame for KC....

[sportscurmudgeon]

Stacks42:

That was not a "bad ref call". In fact, it was a "perfect ref call". That is what the NFL Rulebook says about the act of fielding a punt and what needs to be done with respect to the player trying to do that.

Whenever you hear the ref on the microphone say the phrase "By rule..." that means they have a call and that is what the rule book says has to happen even though they realize that all the folks in the stadium and most of the folks at home think something else should happen.

The refs got it right. The problem is that you think the NFL Rulebook needs to be changed when it comes to fielding a punt.

Here's how you can contact the NFL Rules Committee to set them straight:


NFL Rules Committee
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10019.


Of course, you'll need to study the existing book pretty carefully to make sure that whatever new rule you propose does not conflict with some other rule in the book - - unless you want to suggest changes to all of them too.