Pile-on ball recoveries reviewable? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Pile-on ball recoveries reviewable?

DolfanCole

DolfanCole

FinHeaven VIP
Joined
Aug 9, 2004
Messages
2,090
Reaction score
0
Age
54
Location
Hampton, VA
There has been some discussion today relative to the onsides kick recovery (as well as Ronnie's "fumble"). So, I wanted to pose the question here on whether a recovery could be reviewed. But, not just an onsides kick recovery but a fumble recovery as well.

First, it appeared to me that McMichael clearly recovered the onsides kick (i.e., obtained possession of the ball and was then touched by a defender). I also realize that many of the recoveries are ones where piles of people fight over the ball and it changes hands a few times before the refs are able to unpile them. But, in some cases, it is very clear on who gets possession of the football prior to the fights in the pile. I think the onsides kick recovery is one case, the fumble recovery by Mare was another.

Now, I would assume that as soon as an opposing team member touches the player shown to have clear possession, he should be down by contact and maintain possession regardless of how many times it switches hands later on in the pile. Isn't that the definition of "down by contact"? But, I have never seen this reviewed.

So, does anyone know if fumble recoveries be reviewed in cases where there appears to be clear possession obtained prior to the pile? I really don't know the answer to this.
 
I don't know the answer, but it is something I'd like to know.
 
chuckcole said:
Bump. Anyone have any ideas on this? Or care?
Click to expand...

That's something I was thinking about also. I highly doubt though that it is challengeable. To me it's just like whenever the ref sees the ball in a players grasp, then they award the ball to that team... and nothing else after that matters.
 
I always wondered what the rule for that was
 
I'm pretty sure I've seen it reviewed before, same rule as a fumble I believe. They can review to see if someone had possession and was down (i.e. in a pile with possession).
 
The refs for that game were horrible on both sides of the ball. Anyone with a 6 inch tv could tell that Ronnie had the ball past the goalline BEFORE he went down and the ground caused the fumble. They also missed 2 illegal man downfield calls. The one I remember the most is when the Chargers were Trips right and the ball went to Keenan but their right guard was 7 yards downfield before the reciever got the ball. They also missed tons of illegal contact/pass interference calls on both sides of the ball.
 
It would be cool if it was reviewable, I think. It can be considered indisputable evidence if the replay shows someone clearly possess the ball and touched by someone from the other team (prior to the pile on), making him down by contact.

The flip side would be if it is unclear as to who recovered, which whatever the ruling was on the field, would stand. Hey, I think it's worth a shot considering I've seen many times over the years a player obviously recover the ball only to have someone else come out of the pile with it.
 
Interesting topic. The one I was somewhat concerned about was Mare's recovery. He clearly had the ball and was down by contact, but the first guy in was some behemoth LB that I figured could get the ball from him. Fortunately, he held on, but it would not have surprised me if he had lost it in the pile.
 
yea.. the fact that Mare is still alive amazes me :) some of those guys are pretty damn huge compared to him haha... hope his eyes are still in their sockets.
 
Actually I've wondered about this for a while. If the ball is clearly in someone's possession and he's on the ground, and four guys jump on top, it really shouldn't matter who manages to take it away from him under the pile. The play should be dead as soon as there's contact. I've never seen this challenged, nor heard anyone say that it couldn't be.

I first got thinking about this two years ago in one of our Jets games. Ricky fumbled at the goal line and while sitting on the ground, grabbed the ball. He then vanished under a pile of players, and the Jets got the ball. Seems to me the play should have been over, and reversed on a challege.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom