Fumble or forward pitch?
Nov 17, 2009
I figured even a couple of days late this is worth the post. Look, someone even inserted some opinionated commentary into the video. I believe he's pitching that ball forward. Burney's hands are making a pitching or shoveling motion. Beyond what I think, can anyone argue that this isn't a good rule in college?
I don't think you should be able to advance a forward fumble. The NFL doesn't allow it. The NFL only allows the player that fumbled the ball to advance it. You have to try and eliminate those "intended" or "unintended" forward fumbles so players can't just spit the ball 20 yards down the field and say "oops, didn't mean to do that." Having the rule this way allows players to disguise a forward lateral as a fumble.
Hey next time I want to get away with an illegal pass I'll just get really close to my teammate, start bobbling the ball a little, and gently push it forward to him. Hey it's a fumble!
For further proof Kendric Burney after the game even admitted he was pitching it to Williams.
Your thoughts.......
Most Recent Comments
RE: Fumble or forward pitch?
Game was on Saturday. This article appears on Tuesday. Nice response time - not. Bring back Thee Blog!RE: Fumble or forward pitch?
pjtarheel and dmcall could not be more accurate:bad rule - probably
bad call - NO: the intent was to lateral, the result was a fumbled lateral, so it's the right call.
RE: Fumble or forward pitch?
As the rule is written his intention is irrelevant. He clearly loses the ball before making an effort to pitch it. At that point it is a fumble like any other fumble. In college football a player is allowed to slap a fumble towards a teammate and that teammate is allowed to advance the ball (except on 4th down on offense, etc). I have no problem with arguing it's a bad rule, but you are 100% wrong if you think it was an illegal action as the rule is written.And if you think players will be able to pull all that off on purpose running full speed you are delusional.
Arguing for a rule change is fine. Arguing that the refs botched that call is incorrect.
