re: Fumble on punt return

quote:

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No, it was a live fumble; the play was not over until the ball was ruled dead. If Snead recovered it and the Giants stripped the ball again, it would have been their ball (less 15 yards for facemask).

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This exactly. Very rarely will a situation arise where the officials need to blow a live play dead. 99.9% of the time, the play will kill itself and the whistle only informs all that the play is dead.

This play clearly illustrates why the officials throw a bean bag on fumbles. It is not to indicate a fumble. It is to mark a potential enforcement spot. The play remains live, regardless of who recovers, until it kills itself.