Final Super Bowl drive triggers proposed rule change

[thenepatsrule]

Final Super Bowl drive triggers proposed rule change | ProFootballTalk

In the days after Super Bowl XLVI, we pointed out that the final New England drive included a play that featured too many defensive players on the field. The Patriots got a free play and, ultimately, five yards of field position. But time was of the essence, and the Patriots lost precious seconds that weren’t put back on the clock.

It appeared that Giants coach Tom Coughlin had stumbled onto an effective late-game defensive tactic. On further review, the Giants didn’t keep an extra guy on the field for strategic reasons, deliberately using an extra man and realizing that the five yards the Pats would pick up were meaningless. Still, the situation flagged a potential loophole that could be utilized any time a team is both defending the goal line and milking the clock.

I am surprised there was no issue made of this when it happened during the SB ...........

 

[zoostation]

I am surprised there was no issue made of this when it happened during the SB ...........

My neighbors are all very familiar with that play as I could be heard yelling at the tv for blocks

 

[dex13]

100% agree. I was screaming at the TV after this happened. If the Pats had been on the other end, every sports writer would be in uproar about how BB had intentionally "gamed" the system to win.

 

[jmt57]

In regards to the proposal, I would prefer that it remain a free play rather than a dead ball foul. Then, if the team that accepts the penalty rather than the outcome of the play, they can also have the option of resetting the clock in addition to the five yards.

I would suggest that be the case for all penalties, however I realize that the networks are not going to like that idea as games would go beyond their allotted time slot. A compromise would be to put that into effect only in the final two minutes of the first half, and final five minutes of the second half.

 

[brady199]

In regards to the proposal, I would prefer that it remain a free play rather than a dead ball foul. Then, if the team that accepts the penalty rather than the outcome of the play, they can also have the option of resetting the clock in addition to the five yards.

I would suggest that be the case for all penalties, however I realize that the networks are not going to like that idea as games would go beyond their allotted time slot. A compromise would be to put that into effect only in the final two minutes of the first half, and final five minutes of the second half.

I would assume that if each game went an extra 10-15 Mins, the networks wouldn't mind, since they are going to have huge ratings during that time. It's not like people are going to complain the game is too long like baseball.

 

[jmt57]

I would assume that if each game went an extra 10-15 Mins, the networks wouldn't mind, since they are going to have huge ratings during that time. It's not like people are going to complain the game is too long like baseball.

From what I understand much of it is pressure from the local networks, as well as the corporate side. When the games run long everything afterwards gets pushed back. That makes the local news at 11 start later, and the ads from those shows are the biggest money-maker for local news stations. When they don't start on time people switch to watch the news on another channel.

The corporate headquarters prefer shows to start at the top of the hour for the same reason. 8:00 comes along, a show isn't on and people flip the channel.

The ratings boost is nice but they don't run any additional ads when the game goes longer; they only show a specific number of ads regardless of how short or how long the game is. So even though the ratings are high, they don't get additional ad revenue.

 

[fourhour]

Funny how TV plays a big role in the outcome of major sports events. One hand feeds the other, TV needs the sporting events to survive and vice versa!

 

[Gwedd]

In regards to the proposal, I would prefer that it remain a free play rather than a dead ball foul. Then, if the team that accepts the penalty rather than the outcome of the play, they can also have the option of resetting the clock in addition to the five yards.

I would suggest that be the case for all penalties, however I realize that the networks are not going to like that idea as games would go beyond their allotted time slot. A compromise would be to put that into effect only in the final two minutes of the first half, and final five minutes of the second half.

I can understand the logic behind the compromise, but I'd rather see it in effect for every penalty/foul.

But yeah, it's only now that I can really start to talk about this game. Well, that and I've had some serious health issues that have kept me down for awhile. But I digress.

Those seconds SHOULD have been put back on the clock, but hey. It's history now.

 

[sly24]

I wrote a post about it at the time and I'm glad they are looking into it. Seriously, why not put 20 guys on the field while you're at it.. the 5 yards are meaningless.

 

[Leemo]

It was a bit talking topic on the nfluk official forum. I'm glad something is being done but actually quite surprised...

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Yeah BB probably would have gotten blasted for this.

That said, if Coughlin did this on purpose hats off to him. That's a brilliant strategy when there was no rule for it.

 

[BTTA]

I wrote a post about it at the time and I'm glad they are looking into it. Seriously, why not put 20 guys on the field while you're at it.. the 5 yards are meaningless.

Heck, put 50 out there. It'd be a great move. Chess vs. checkers.

 

[jbb9s]

Heck, put 50 out there. It'd be a great move. Chess vs. checkers.

well if the opponent has "stumbled" on a loophole, it is the offensive team's responsibility to start playing chess too. Snap and spike. 5 yds 1 sec.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

The irony, of course, is that the play from that game would still be legal since all you have to do is look like you're trying to get one of the players off the field and not just trying to leave 12 guys standing around waiting for the play.

How much ya wanna bet that every team, including the Pats, will practice the "fake 12 guys on the field in the last minute of the game play" in Training Camp this year?

 

[crew1954]

Yeah BB probably would have gotten blasted for this.

That said, if Coughlin did this on purpose hats off to him. That's a brilliant strategy when there was no rule for it.

There is a rule for it, its just that the penalty ( 5 yards, but no time put back on the clock) is worth the rule violation late in the game.

If the NFL is going to start putting time back on for this rule infraction, it needs to also do it for offsides, illegal contact and other violations.

Theoretically, a personal foul, or other 15 yard penalty, might be worth intentionally committing under the right time/distance circumstances.

Even a 60 yard pass interference penalty is a viable option under the current rule.

 

[Gwedd]

The irony, of course, is that the play from that game would still be legal since all you have to do is look like you're trying to get one of the players off the field and not just trying to leave 12 guys standing around waiting for the play.

How much ya wanna bet that every team, including the Pats, will practice the "fake 12 guys on the field in the last minute of the game play" in Training Camp this year?

Yup. Situational football.

 

[Wolfpack]

Funny how TV plays a big role in the outcome of major sports events. One hand feeds the other, TV needs the sporting events to survive and vice versa!

That's how the NFL became the behemoth it is. In the 60's a genius by the name of Pete Rozelle tailored the league around making it perfect for this new technology that everyone suddenly owned called a television. And the rest is history.

 

[jbb9s]

How much ya wanna bet that every team, including the Pats, will practice the "fake 12 guys on the field in the last minute of the game play" in Training Camp this year?

pats1974 - game 19 of the season. 23 if you include pre-season. I seem to remember the Pats had a fumble recovery negated which cost them 7 pts on the old "not so fake 12 guys on the field" play. Let's get the basic plays down first.

 

[Joey007]

You want to hear something funny? I can hardly remember what happened in the SB, I barely even think of it that much. I guess I'm starting to appreciate these years we have with Brady as our man. Enjoy it while Brady's still here. There'll be a day when we'll look back at this as- "Remember when we were SB threat's every year?? I'm just gonna kick back, and watch one of the best friggn QB's the world has ever seen!! :rocker:

 

[IllegalContact]

The penalty should be dead ball.

It would have no affect on tv because no one would do it