omg omg omg 118
12-21-2011
, 12:36 PM
12-21-2011
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, 12:39 PM
TMQ Error: Last week's column contained an item that said in part, "During the runback of an interception by the Lions, linebacker Stephen Tulloch was called for unnecessary roughness for hitting Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder. Until this year, during a change of possession, the quarterback could not be hit unless he was attempting to make the tackle. Ponder was, on this down, attempting to make the tackle. But as of the 2011 season, the quarterback cannot be hit on a change-of-possession down under any circumstances. Lions' coach Jim Schwartz went nuts protesting the call. Maybe Detroit would draw fewer personal fouls if the Lions knew NFL rules."
It turns out my description of the new rule was wrong, ESPN's earlier article about the new rule was wrong, and Schwartz might have been right. Here is the rule for 2011 with the new portion in italics, and thanks to Michael Signora of NFL headquarters for researching this:
(Article 13, Rule 7). PASSER OUT OF THE PLAY. A passer who is standing still or fading backwards after the ball has left his hand is obviously out of the play and must not be unnecessarily contacted by the defense through the end of the play or until the passer becomes a blocker, or until he becomes a runner upon taking a lateral from a teammate or picking up a loose ball, or, in the event of a change of possession on the play, until the passer assumes a distinctly defensive position.
However, at any time after the change of possession, it is a foul if (a) an opponent forcibly hits the quarterback's head or neck area with his helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, or (b) if an opponent lowers his head and makes forcible contact with the top/crown or forehead/"hairline" parts of his helmet against any part of the quarterback's body. This provision (b) does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or the helmet in the course of a conventional block.
Tulloch did not hit the quarterback's head, neck or helmet -- the hit was hard but clean. Was Ponder out of the play? The league ruled yes, and fined Tulloch $10,000. Ponder first moved to try to make the tackle, then was blocked from the front, then seemed to give up and become "out of the play," then one second later was hit from the side by Tulloch. It was what officials call a bang-bang situation, happening very fast. Tulloch could not have been sure that Ponder had given up on the play.
Generally, football players at all levels should be aware that really hard hits far from the ball tend to be flagged. Officials may see such hits as "unnecessary," and unnecessary roughness is a penalty. But my description of the rule last week was wrong. My apologies to Jim Schwartz.
Cliffs:
It turns out my description of the new rule was wrong, ESPN's earlier article about the new rule was wrong, and Schwartz might have been right. Here is the rule for 2011 with the new portion in italics, and thanks to Michael Signora of NFL headquarters for researching this:
(Article 13, Rule 7). PASSER OUT OF THE PLAY. A passer who is standing still or fading backwards after the ball has left his hand is obviously out of the play and must not be unnecessarily contacted by the defense through the end of the play or until the passer becomes a blocker, or until he becomes a runner upon taking a lateral from a teammate or picking up a loose ball, or, in the event of a change of possession on the play, until the passer assumes a distinctly defensive position.
However, at any time after the change of possession, it is a foul if (a) an opponent forcibly hits the quarterback's head or neck area with his helmet, facemask, forearm, or shoulder, or (b) if an opponent lowers his head and makes forcible contact with the top/crown or forehead/"hairline" parts of his helmet against any part of the quarterback's body. This provision (b) does not prohibit incidental contact by the mask or the helmet in the course of a conventional block.
Tulloch did not hit the quarterback's head, neck or helmet -- the hit was hard but clean. Was Ponder out of the play? The league ruled yes, and fined Tulloch $10,000. Ponder first moved to try to make the tackle, then was blocked from the front, then seemed to give up and become "out of the play," then one second later was hit from the side by Tulloch. It was what officials call a bang-bang situation, happening very fast. Tulloch could not have been sure that Ponder had given up on the play.
Generally, football players at all levels should be aware that really hard hits far from the ball tend to be flagged. Officials may see such hits as "unnecessary," and unnecessary roughness is a penalty. But my description of the rule last week was wrong. My apologies to Jim Schwartz.
Cliffs:
Spoiler:
12-21-2011
, 12:40 PM
12-21-2011
, 12:41 PM
12-21-2011
, 12:41 PM
12-21-2011
, 12:45 PM
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, 12:46 PM