From: gordons@coopsol.com (Gordon Storga)
Subject: Re: Refs Calls (+ attention Dave Mikesell)
Organization: Stay Awake Software
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 20:43:38 GMT

<1992Nov18.160948.8973@midway.uchicago.edu> hrad@midway.uchicago.edu said:
><1992Nov17.233336.2792@pellns.alleg.edu> freshlt@quig17.alleg.edu (Timothy Freshly) writes:
>>	In the MNF game last night, there were two questionable calls in  
>>the second half (both in the 4th quarter too I think).
>>
>>	The first was on a run by Thomas.  He was knocked out of bounds on  
>>the goal line but his knee knocked over the pylon.  The Bills fans I was  
>>watching with all thought that it was a touchdown.  I disagreed (I'm a  
>>Steeler fan so I was FAIRLY unbiased) saying that the ball has to cross  
>>the goaline and it appeared to me that Thomas's upper body and therefore  
>>the football were out of bounds, consequently no touchdown.  Did anyone  
>>else get a better look at that play?
>
>The question still remains: does the ball need to pass over
>the goal line INSIDE the pylon?  For instance, suppose the
>ball carrier is all alone at the one yard line.  Then he
>holds the ball extended out of bounds and walks into and out
>of the end zone, without the ball ever being over the
>playing field.  Now that I think of it, this means that if a
>reciever extends over the white area to catch a pass, while
>keeping both feet in bounds, it's no touchdown, because the
>ball wasn't in the field of play.  Is it a TD because both
>feet were in the EZ?  Does this action (both feet in the EZ)
>nullify the fact that the ball was not in the EZ?

The rules are as clear as mud.  First of all, before you can score, you
must have possesion of the ball while you are in the field of play.
The endzones count as "field of play".  If you have possesion then all
you have to do is get the ball across the goal-line within the
side-lines (i.e. inside the pylons).  The player doesn't have to touch
the end-zone in this case as long as he had possesion at some time (in
the field of play).  Also, if the player actually is tackled in the endzone
while in possesion of the ball EVEN IF THE BALL IS NOT IN THE ENDZONE it
is a TD.  That is why the caching of a ball that is outside the sidelines
of the endzone while the receiver lands inside the sideline of the
endzones is considered a TD.

For example, a player running with the ball down the side line can hold
the ball outside the field of play (sideline), cross the goal line, and
be awarded a TD, ALL WITHOUT THE BALL EVER ENTERING THE END ZONE.  Also,
while running with the ball a player can go out of bounds at the pylon,
but if he waves the ball across the goal line before touching down out
of bounds he is awarded a TD.  In the same situation if the player instead
had the ball in his other hand and just waved his empty hand across the
goal line it would not have been a TD.

Pretty simple, huh?  Of course, there are exceptions and modifications to
these rules (like receiver pushed out of bounds before he can land in
bounds, or receiver catching ball after going out of bounds and coming
back in bounds, etc.)


Gordon
PS: I don't claim to be an NFL official. ;-)
-- 
The opinions expressed are my own, and not the beliefs or opinions
of whatever company you think I work for.  So there, thhhbbbt!
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