Schulman16 Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 "Previously, if a player was ruled down but the ball popped out, the whistle stopped the play in its tracks. Beginning this season, the whistle won't stop the play if the ball comes loose. The play will be reviewable -- it wasn't reviewable if the issue was merely forward progress of the ball carrier -- and could result in a change of possession. One likely outcome is that the well-worn cliche of "playing until the whistle blows" may lose some of its validity. That's assuming players can adapt to the new way of thinking." http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2539849 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevewin Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 At the practices I was at - Fewell was constantly screaming at the D to go after and get the ball *whenever* it was on the ground - regardless of how much the play seemed to be over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schulman16 Posted August 5, 2006 Author Share Posted August 5, 2006 At the practices I was at - Fewell was constantly screaming at the D to go after and get the ball *whenever* it was on the ground - regardless of how much the play seemed to be over. 736304[/snapback] I think this is a great new rule. How many tiems have we seen a sure fumble occur, only for the play to have been "blown dead" already. Now these kinds of plays are reviewable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 I think this is a great new rule. How many tiems have we seen a sure fumble occur, only for the play to have been "blown dead" already. Now these kinds of plays are reviewable. 736306[/snapback] You won't be saying that the next time WM fumbles, the refs blow the whistle, and he gets injured while the defense jumps over him to get the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt in KC Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 If this means players ignoring whistles, this is an awful and unsafe rule. I think there is a fine line where down-by-contact can be reviewable, and not mean that play after the whistle will stand. Example: a RB stumbles and lunges forward, fumbling as they land. The ball pops out and right into the defenders hands, then the whistle blows, with the ref ruling that the RB was hit before or during his time on the ground, before the ball came out. If untouched, this ball should go to the defense. But NO WAY should anything after the whistle count. (Unless of course they're going to train all the ref's with an additional whistle that means you REALLY need to stop playing....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CircleTheWagons Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 But NO WAY should anything after the whistle count. (Unless of course they're going to train all the ref's with an additional whistle that means you REALLY need to stop playing....) 736310[/snapback] I completely agree. Playing after the whistle = RJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 If that's really the rule, which I somewhat find hard to believe, it's terrible. It rewards playing after the whistle on all down by contact plays because you never know when the ball is going to come loose. And how long is too long after the whistle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarthur31 Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 If this means players ignoring whistles, this is an awful and unsafe rule. I think there is a fine line where down-by-contact can be reviewable, and not mean that play after the whistle will stand. Example: a RB stumbles and lunges forward, fumbling as they land. The ball pops out and right into the defenders hands, then the whistle blows, with the ref ruling that the RB was hit before or during his time on the ground, before the ball came out. If untouched, this ball should go to the defense. But NO WAY should anything after the whistle count. (Unless of course they're going to train all the ref's with an additional whistle that means you REALLY need to stop playing....) 736310[/snapback] I totally agree with you; this change just wasn't thought out properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffOrange Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 I also think that this is questionable. Guys are going to get killed after the whistle but a 50 yard interference penalty still can't be reviewed because it's a "judgement call"? Lame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkman Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 "All fumbles will be ruled Bruschi balls and awarded to the Patriots even if they aren't playing in said game." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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