I am convinced Rove and GOP wrote NFL fair catch rules

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

If anyone who is watching the MNF Steeler Changer game can explain to me how in hell the Steelers didn't get that botched fair catch, please feel free to do so, otherwise I'll assume Rove was involved.

Thanks,
DBDB

[Ksec]

1. Im watching and fuming

The Steelers are gettin robbed.

They had a touchdown taken away and now this fair catch crap.

[Kagemusha]

2. Looks like it's like this:

If the ball bounces off the fair catching guy, you cannot ignore the ball and bowl him over and make sure he has no chance at the ball. They called interference, in the sense that it wasn't incidental contact, it wasn't a guy trying to pull up and not tackle the guy to prevent him from catching the ball. That's why the flag was thrown and the call made in the exact way it was.

I didn't know the rule, but I don't get paid hundreds of thousands to play special teams either.

[RaulGroom]

4. There's no incidental contact on a fair catch

Any contact at all is a penalty, unless you were blocked into the guy.

[Ksec]

9. The ball bounced off his chest and out of his reach before the hit

Ill bet they change the rule. Even the analysts say the steelers got robbed. Theres no way he could have gotten to the ball once it bounced off his chest.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

14. I understand the rule

Unfortunately the way it is written, the guy can wave a fair catch, then juggle the ball all the way to the 1 yard line, grab it, and fall in without the opposing team being able to touch him.

The fact is the ball was no longer touching the receiver, and was, in fact touching a member of the kicking team. At that point, all bets should be off.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with the rule to prevent injury to the receiver.

DBDB

[Ravenseye]

15. That's what I was thinking about the rule

It just sounded idiotic. If guy calls fair catch what....nobody can touch him or the ball until the ball hits the ground? What IS to stop someone from doing that...essentially just juggling the ball by hitting it in the air repeatedly and moving all the way down the field?

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

16. I forgot you can't run if you call for a fair catch

The rule is still stupid though. If the ball hits the opposing player after touching the receiver, it should be a playable ball. The oppossing player had not touched the receiver until the ball had already hit him.

Oh well. I am sure Congress will be taking up the matter for us all shortly, right after they handle steroids in baseball.

DBDB

[Ravenseye]

18. Well see that negates then the call on teh field

The ball had bounced away from him, and the Steeler caught it. There was no way for the Charger to possibly make the catch.

Just dumb. On a fair catch, the ball and the player should be respected and not interfered with at all, yet once the ball touches the player, if he doesn't have possession, and it no longer is touching him....ie he bobbles it, or it hits his head, or whatever...it's live. If he touches it and maintains touch on it, he has full rights to make the possession, but as soon as it touches him, and then stops touching him...it's live. That's how it should be.

[napi21]

6. I agree with YOU! That sure looked like a stupid rule to me!

I have to admit though, I've been a life long Steeler fan from way back in the days of the Steeler Dynasty with Bradshaw, Swan, and Stallworth!

[Ksec]

11. Same here Steeler Nation

There are nearly as many Steeler fans as there are Bolts fans. The Steelers fans travel more than any team. Lots of times they outnumber the home teams. They will be in the Super Bowl this year

[timber84]

12. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!n/t

[unblock]

13. bradshaw/swan/stallworth is what turned me on to football

they made the games fun, interesting, and exciting to watch.

the 49ers under montana had that element also.

i've always loathed the cowboys for the reverse reason. they've always been a solid team, but their play style is just to boring and predictable. almost reminds me of growing up in the shadow of woody hayes and ohio state university. 4 yards and a cloud of dust every damn play, with the occassional breakthrough touchdown typically ending around 49-3. great if you're a mere partisan, but boring as hell to watch if you want to actually see some football.

[RaulGroom]

3. On a fair catch

The defender can't touch it until the ball hits the ground, no matter how long the returner bobbles it.

Somehow I don't think you're going to like that explanation.

[neuvocat]

5. Its not that at all.

Its just that Rove hates the Steelers, that's all.

:evilgrin:

[unblock]

7. why do the steelers hate america?

:shrug:

[napi21]

8. LOL! He probably does. The Gov is a Dem!!! n/t

[On Par]

10. A Couple of Strange Calls Tonight....

The problem I have with the muffed catch is a Charger's player was between the catch and the Steeler!

[LynneSin]

17. I think Diebold had some involvement

just saying....

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

19. I saw the play. I didn't see this call. I was dumbfounded to see that the

Steelers hadn't gotten at least a field goal out of that. So they weren't even awarded possession? Definitely robbed, even tho I was rooting for S.D.

Well, I guess they got the last laugh, winning the game. I saw on the USENET Chargers group someone complain about the inability to stop Bettis on 3d and 1's during the game (despite everyone in the universe knowing Bettis up the middle was coming), and someone else pointing out that Bettis has basically made a career of not letting people stop that, despite knowing it was coming.

[Zomby Woof]

20. Not true

Republican AL Michaels said it was a "stupid rule", and since he loves Rove and the GOP, it couldn't have been a GOP-endorsed rule. He would never turn on his masters.

That being said, it isn't the announcers' jobs to judge rules. Whatever one as a fan thinks of the rule, it was the correct call by the officials.