Could someone please explain why Hall didn't "earn" a safety?

[ctpatsfan77]

Could someone please explain to me how Dante Hall can run out the back of the end zone after trying to return the ball, but that isn't a safety?

 

[CheerforTom]

My guess is that since he didn't leave the endzone the rules are as consistent as if the ball had just been kicked out the end. I think even if he had been tackled it would've been the same as taking a knee.

 

[Hok]

He fielded the ball in the EZ and never left it, so it's a touchback.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

He fielded the ball in the EZ and never left it, so it's a touchback.

OK. I could have sworn I saw him exit the back of the EZ.

 

[A.C Vegas]

he did but he was never in the field of play with the ball so it doesn't matter

 

[ctpatsfan77]

he did but he was never in the field of play with the ball so it doesn't matter

Ah. Thank you.

 

[PATSNUTme]

OK. I could have sworn I saw him exit the back of the EZ.

I did too. And my understand is that his option is to take a knee for a touchback or return it. He clearly went out of the back of the end zone , stopped and was touched by a Patriots player. Should have been a safety IMO.

Now if someone can cite the rule that sys differently, I'll stand corrected.

 

[Hok]

I did too. And my understand is that his option is to take a knee for a touchback or return it. He clearly went out of the back of the end zone , stopped and was touched by a Patriots player. Should have been a safety IMO.

Now if someone can cite the rule that sys differently, I'll stand corrected.

If a player gains possession of a ball while in his own end zone (as Hall did), going out the back of the end zone is a touchback. If Hall had gained possession of the ball in the field of play, then retreated into his own end zone, then gone out the back of the end zone, it would have been a safety.

 

[Bill B.]

What was stupid about this is that he burned about 12 seconds of clock. Should have just let the ball go through the end zone or knelt on it.

 

[alamo]

This isn't a runner running past first base where making a move towards second makes a difference.

It's simple, if the ball entered the endzone due to the other team, then as long as the ball doesn't reenter the field of play before it becomes a dead ball, it's a touchback.

The exact rule:

Section 37 Touchback
A Touchback is the situation in which a ball is dead on or behind a team’s own goal line,
provided the impetus came from an opponent and provided it is not a touchdown
(11-6).

 

[memento]

i dont blame hall for burning 12 seconds looking for a return. he's known for his big plays, and he was probably their last chance.

theres a bigger chance of catching us off-guard on a punt return than a set of hail mary passes with 20 seconds left.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Yup it was a touchback for sure. He should have either tried to bust it or downed it fast. Either way it was a longshot for the Rams to come back though.

 

[xmarkd400x]

I was under the impression that a returner, when fielding the ball in the end-zone, could either attempt to return the ball or down it. If the returner attempted to return the ball and was tackled in the end zone, it should be a safety (or so I thought).

I guess I'm wrong on this one.

 

[MassPats38]

Your misunderstanding may be attributed to the fact most returners wouldn't want to get drilled by the kickoff team for not taking a knee so you really don't see what Hall did very often. There appeared to be about 7 members of the kickoff team circling him as he ran side to side killing the clock who would otherwise have been happy to tee off on him.

Most returners also will not run about 100 yards on a return without stepping foot outside the end zone.

 

[Pats726]

So if he had fumbled???

OK...I undesrtand that he has the option of taking the punt in the endzone and of running around with no penalty..if tackled..BUT what if he fumbled the ball away?? If it slipped without a hit?? (I KNOW if he was hit and fumbled...I think it would have been ruled a touchback...) BUT if he fumbled...is it a live ball?? OR just a touchback...OR??

 

[spacecrime]

i dont blame hall for burning 12 seconds looking for a return.

So if Hall doesn't touch the ball, or catches it and kneels they have 16 seconds to play, about three plays to tie. Instead he runs back and forth for 11 seconds, and gives them only five seconds and ONE play possible.

I find quite a bit wrong with that. Or I would if I was a Rams fan.

Bonehead play.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

it's that "impetus by an opponent" thing that trips me up. I was fairly certain the NFL rule means that once a player fields a ball in the EZ he can kneel or go directly out the back for a TB. If he contests the ball, as Hall did by running back and forth, then the ball is in play and the result of the play is recorded as if the ball was "live." Thus, once Hall explicitly tried to exit the EZ he can no longer run out the back without incurring a safety.

 

[BradyToMoss07]

Are you guys serious? It's obviously a touchback. How could it be a safety if he never was in the field of play.

If you think that should be a safety, wouldn't any defender who has ever caught an interception in the endzone be called for a safety if he didn't immediately decide to take a knee.