Another instance for chaning the touchback rule after a fumble.....

[thekimmer]

Last nite saints/niners. Saints DB intercepts ball and runs toward endzone. Reaching out with the ball he fumbles the ball on about the 1 which goes out the side of the endzone. Touchback, ball goes back to the niners on the 20 who proceed to then go down and score.

Once again, why should the ball be turned over when they never had possession and according to the rules the ball carrier cannot advance the ball by fumbling it forward. If you can't fumble forward for a TD you should not be able to fumble forward for a touchback. That is one rule that really should be changed. Oh and until it is changed, players should use their heads in that situation and not stick the ball out like that.

 

[Philly Dawg]

I agree, but I think you can fumble it forward and recover for a touchdown or advance the ball.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

You can fumble forward, just not on 4th down.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

Tyler Russell agrees with this.

 

[121Josey]

When a ball goes out of bounds, it belongs where it went out of bounds - not the spot of the fumble.

 

[patdog]

I agree. That's a stupid rule. Why should the defense get the ball when they never recovered the fumble? Any other fumble that goes out of bounds results in the offense keeping the ball.

 

[uptowndawg]

Dumb rule, I agree

Seems like it would make more sense to spot the ball at the 3, or even the 5 than to make it a touchback.

Whats even worse is the rule for a fumble out of the back of the endzone... for a 17'n safety.

 

[dogfan96]

The endzone and out of bounds are two different things. By that same logic, the offense fumbling out of the back of their own endzone would just get the ball back where they fumbled.. how is that fair?

 

[NCDawg.sixpack]

Like the 2000 LSU game when Toefield was hit on the 2, fumbled the ball out of the back endzone, but the ref's gave him a TD. Probably cost us the SEC West that year.

 

[StillTbonewannabe]

Like the 2000 LSU game when Toefield was hit on the 2, fumbled the ball out of the back endzone, but the ref's gave him a TD. Probably cost us the SEC West that year.

It didn't go out the endzone, Eugene Clinton recovered it and downed it for a touchback. Unfortunately the refs didn't agree.