Rules question, settle an argument

BrownsTown · 02-15-2008, 07:47 PM

Hey guys need a question answered. If a player is tackled is kept from touching the ground because the tackler is underneath him on the ground, can the player get up and continue running?

kalbears13 · 02-15-2008, 07:50 PM

Yes, as long as anything other than his feet or hands touch the ground, which is very unlikely. Plus there's also forward progress which would probably mark him down because he would be stopped.

Go_Eagles77 · 02-15-2008, 07:51 PM

Yes, they can fall on top of players but as long as they are not touching the ground they can continue the play.

TimD · 02-15-2008, 07:55 PM

I think this happened with Braylon Edwards this year against Arizona.

Vikings4ever · 02-15-2008, 07:55 PM

Yes. I believe Cotchery of the Jets had a play like that last year or the year before.

TimD · 02-15-2008, 08:00 PM

Yeah he did. I forget against who, but I remember watching that.

kalbears13 · 02-15-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimDris

I think this happened with Braylon Edwards this year against Arizona.

No, this was completely different. Braylon was down by contact because he was touched before he touched the ground. I, as a Browns fan, thought it was a bad call. But it went both ways when K2 was pushed out at the end.

Brownstown is saying that if you were to fall on another player. Braylon just was touched.

TimD · 02-15-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalbears13

No, this was completely different. Braylon was down by contact because he was touched before he touched the ground. I, as a Browns fan, thought it was a bad call. But it went both ways when K2 was pushed out at the end.

Brownstown is saying that if you were to fall on another player. Braylon just was touched.

Oh okay. Well like someone just said, Cotchery made one of those plays last year.

defensiveback23 · 02-15-2008, 08:46 PM

Similar situations happen when halfbacks try to jump over the top at the goal line and end up on a pile of players. It happened in the Chargers/Titans wild card game when LT tried to jump over the top but was stopped short. He was on a pile of people and leaned the ball over for the score.

AlexDown · 02-15-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Cotchery's 71-yard reception made it 24-7 in the third quarter. Pennington scrambled and his long pass down the right sideline went to Cotchery, who turned, backpedaled and leaped for the ball near the Patriots 30. He was hit hard by Chad Scott and fell on top of Eugene Wilson's back, but hearing no whistle, Cotchery popped up and ran into the end zone.

Belichick challenged the play, but the referees ruled only Cotchery's hand touched the ground.

"Once I caught the ball, I knew I landed on top of the defender," Cotchery said. "So I knew my knee didn't hit the ground and I was just going to get up and run."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=260917020

Addict · 02-16-2008, 04:44 AM

in my understanding, a play isn't over until the player holding the ball touches the ground with his knees. The Edwards play evidenced that.

kalbears13 · 02-16-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addict

in my understanding, a play isn't over until the player holding the ball touches the ground with his knees. The Edwards play evidenced that.

I think it was a bad call. He rolled on the ground and was touched so he should have been down. Maybe there is a rule I'm missing or something.

BrownsTown · 02-16-2008, 11:41 AM

Thanks to all who answered. I was actually over a friend's house and was typing up the question on his iTouch, we were trying to see who won a football game we played.

BigDawg819 · 02-16-2008, 05:01 PM

As long as the player doesn't make contact with the ground, the play is still live.

Splat · 02-16-2008, 05:35 PM

Dante Hall made a play like that classic.