Florio/PFT: IT will take a play in the SB to change fumble/touchback rule

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I say, if it happens, the play counts, but the ball is moved back to the 20 yard line. So 2nd and 1, if the offensive player fumbles into the endzone, then it's 3rd and 20. Maybe even move it back to just the 10. Give the offense a chance afterwards.

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It doesn't have to be that complicated. Ball goes to the spot where the player lost the ball and be done with it.

The crazy thing is the rule is you cannot fumble the ball forward, so if it goes out of bounds past the spot of the fumble it gets moved back to where the fumble occurred.

EXCEPT when it goes out of the end zone. That is the one time the ball's forward progress is counted. Why?

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As soon as this is ruled in favor of the Saints it will immediately be changed.

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If we beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, and this call is involved, yep, it will be changed.

They changed OT because we beat Favre.

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There continues to be no good argument in favor of allowing the offense to keep possession when a fumble in the field of play goes out of bounds at the one-inch line but giving the ball to the defense at its own 20 if the ball ends up hitting the pylon or otherwise ending up out of bounds in the end zone.

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The end zone is different than the rest of the field. It's that simple.

This causes me no heartache.

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It doesn't have to be that complicated. Ball goes to the spot where the player lost the ball and be done with it.

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This. It's common damn sense.

Yup

That still didn't explain anything. If it gets fumbled at the one and goes out of the end zone, why is it not returned to the one?

If the ball is fumbled at the two and goes out at the one, it goes back to the two. Why is the one yard difference a loss of possession?

Or why not give the ball to the defense on any fumble out of bounds? Why only when it goes forward into the end zone?

You haven't explained any of that.

That's different.

The ball fumbling forward always goes back to the spot of the fumble (minus going out of the end zone). It could easily be spotted at the spot of the fumble in every situation.

Where the frick do you spot the ball on a tackle in the end zone? Not at the one because that is giving the offense free yards. You literally cannot spot the ball on a tackle in the end zone, thus the safety rule.

Not sure why you can't see the difference.

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That still didn't explain anything. If it gets fumbled at the one and goes out of the end zone, why is it not returned to the one?

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The same reason moving the ball past the 1 yard line does nothing, but moving it into the end zone results in a TD.

The end zone is a different part of the field and the rules surrounding it don't (and shouldn't) be equivalent to the other parts of the field.

Your need to equate the two scenarios is what's faulty.

This rule has always existed and as a ball carrier you should know that if you stick the ball out to cross the plane that you better dam well secure the football especially if you are near the sideline. This happened to Colston a few years ago and to a few other WR's and RB's around the league. These players know this rule exists and to be honest I like the rule. This is one of the few rules left that benefit the Defense. So in short players need to secure the ball especially by the goalline and if they put the the ball out to break the plane than they better dam well be across. I am glad this happened against a bad team rather than in the playoffs and I am sure everyone has got the message, don't do that.