Horrendous late hit call on Allen (sideline)

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Another one of the worst calls. Manning clearly gives himself up and the defense stops. That entire 2015 run was utter ********.

Genius Peyton Manning told receiver to be ready for his 'illegal' self-sack play

Though the end result of one of the more controversial plays in Sunday's divisional playoff between the Broncos and Steelers was merely a switch in field position, Peyton Manning's insight into it shows that even at 39 years old and heavily compromised physically, the…

ftw.usatoday.com

 

[venecol]

Doesn't matter. Allen's not out yet because he hasn't touched down out of bounds, and the D can go out of bounds, the ball is just dead if they gain possession of it.

Gain possession of it? What are you talking about? Call was a personal foul for a hit OOB. Show me the rule that allows a defender to make a tackle while he's OOB. I'd like to see that.

 

[Simpelton]

I'm saying that it doesn't matter that Bryant was on the line when Allen was still technically in play. BRYANT might have been OOB, but ALLEN wasn't. Not until his foot touched the line.

The whole problem is because Allen was airborne. Until he touches the line in some way he's in play and he didn't touch when he went over the line because he was in the air.

Allen technically could have made a lateral pass to a teammate in that moment and the ball would have been in play. Because he can still make a useful football play before touching down out of bound, Bryant has to still play defense as if he's in play -- which he is.

Hits out of bounds happen when the player is out of bounds. An airborn player is not out of bounds until he touches down out of bounds. Therefore Allen was fair game and the flag should not have been thrown.

 

[Simpelton]

Gain possession of it? What are you talking about? Call was a personal foul for a hit OOB. Show me the rule that allows a defender to make a tackle while he's OOB. I'd like to see that.

We've all seen those rare plays where a receiver or other player goes over the line in the air, bats the ball back into play, and the ball is still live. Because they didn't touch down out of play until after they made contact with the ball the ball is considered live.

That's about the point Allen is in. His momentum is carrying him out of bounds but if he gets rid of the ball in a lateral pass, or somehow fumbles in such a way that the ball lands in bounds, it would still be live. Bryant has to finish this play, and it's within the rules that he should be allowed to do so. The ref screwed up.

 

[BTTA]

Gain possession of it? What are you talking about? Call was a personal foul for a hit OOB. Show me the rule that allows a defender to make a tackle while he's OOB. I'd like to see that.

This is a good question - what does stepping OOB do to a defender's right to continue to play defense? We know he can't touch the ball first if there's a fumble, but what else is limited?

 

[Simpelton]

I'm not aware of any other limitations. We regularly see defenders along the sidelines pull the ball carrier out of bounds or put their feet out of bounds and still make sideline tackles.

 

[Calhoun44]

We've all seen those rare plays where a receiver or other player goes over the line in the air, bats the ball back into play, and the ball is still live. Because they didn't touch down out of play until after they made contact with the ball the ball is considered live.

That's about the point Allen is in. His momentum is carrying him out of bounds but if he gets rid of the ball in a lateral pass, or somehow fumbles in such a way that the ball lands in bounds, it would still be live. Bryant has to finish this play, and it's within the rules that he should be allowed to do so. The ref screwed up.

I don't blame the ref too much for not being able to determine if he was in bounds or not, because that is a bang-bang play. But the bigger problem I have is that the push was so mild and inconsequential that the call should not have been made. When you combine both together (OOB and mild push), the call was simply EGGREGIOUS.

 

[venecol]

I guess, per the rules, the officials are supposed to make the call even when it's questionable. The onus is on the defender avoiding the contact.

The NFL's official rulebook, however, explains that the referees called unnecessary roughness because that's what they're supposed to do when in doubt. In the rulebook section about "forcibly contacting a runner when he is out of bounds," the rulebook states that "defensive players must make an effort to avoid contact. Players on defense are responsible for knowing when a runner has crossed the boundary line, except in doubtful cases where he might step on a boundary line and continue parallel with it."

An additional note on this rule states, "When in question about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactics, the covering official(s) should always call unnecessary roughness."

 

[Simpelton]

That's the thing, it wasn't questionable. Not questionable at all. That's about as by-the-book a sideline tackle as you could make and in terms of roughness, it was literally just a 2 handed push. Almost more of a block than a push even.

 

[venecol]

Right but his trajectory was already taking him oob, Bryant had to step oob just to get to him. So there was no question he was over the boundary line (even though in bounds by the rule), so it's on the defender to avoid contact in those situations. This is not like the Mahomes plays where he's skirting the line to gain advantage.

Anyway, I'm out.

 

[Koma]

Mahomes is disgusting with his abuse of the QB protection rules on the sideline. He'll go to the sideline, then act like he's slowing down to trot out of bounds, so the defender honors that and backs off, then he does as sharp cut and sprints up the sideline for more yards

I'd just have someone put an end to that with a vicious hit, even if its a late hit that gets them ejected... Just completely annihilate him and put him in rehab for a few months, that should put an end to that bull**** practice

This may be "longing for the good ol' days" versus being accurate, but I believe that, until the mid 2000s, players policed this stuff themselves. If an offensive player did what what Mahomes currently does, they would get away with once or twice but, eventually, a safety or linebacker would give them a solid hit, even if they were a step out of bounds. The defense would get a personal foul penalty, but the message would be clear: If you act like you're heading out of bounds and a defender is closing on you, just go out of bounds. The defender will pull up and the play will be over. Abuse that and you'll pay a price.

Now, guys like Mahomes and Tyreek Hill do this regularly because they know the defense will pull up. If someone even gives them a shove, they're getting penalized. I understand the push for player safety, but am not a fan of players abusing it.

 

[Uncle Rico]

...

I hate it when QB's like Russell Wilson and Mahomes act like their going out of bounds, only to tight rope more cheap yards out of the play because the defender pulls up. I hate that chit!

They're not the first. Still remember Todd Collins pulling up on Kordell Stewart in a playoff game (1998?), clearly expecting him to go out of bounds. Just kept going for a big gain.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I don't blame the ref too much for not being able to determine if he was in bounds or not, because that is a bang-bang play. But the bigger problem I have is that the push was so mild and inconsequential that the call should not have been made. When you combine both together (OOB and mild push), the call was simply EGGREGIOUS.

My wife has pushed me harder and she's 5'1" and 110 lbs

 

[fourhour]

They're doing whatever they want. No justification needed. I don't think it's a coincidence this is all happening as the legal gambling sponsored by the NFL has spread like wild fire.

Thought provoking huh?

 

[brdmaverick]

I remember Todd Collins pulling up to let Kordell stewart head to the sideline and he kept running. 25 years later and I am still pissed.

Yup, I was thinking of that exact same play........ESPECIALLY tough when that was the lone score conceded in a 7-6 playoff loss.

 

[Lavictoire]

If a QB becomes a runner he should be fair game like any other player. He can slide or run out of bounds to avoid a hit but if not hes fair game.

 

[Fubby]

 

[50-yard-line]

I remember Todd Collins pulling up to let Kordell stewart head to the sideline and he kept running. 25 years later and I am still pissed.

Was about to type that. Infuriating and a travesty of the game.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Right but his trajectory was already taking him oob, Bryant had to step oob just to get to him. So there was no question he was over the boundary line (even though in bounds by the rule), so it's on the defender to avoid contact in those situations. This is not like the Mahomes plays where he's skirting the line to gain advantage.

Anyway, I'm out.

“Out of bounds” is very defined here. The runner is out of bounds when his foot/feet are out of bounds. Allen was not out of bounds.

The rule you’re referencing is about when a runner is actually out of bounds and the defender applies a hit, which is a judgement call by the ref.

 

[captain stone]

Mahomes is disgusting with his abuse of the QB protection rules on the sideline. He'll go to the sideline, then act like he's slowing down to trot out of bounds, so the defender honors that and backs off, then he does as sharp cut and sprints up the sideline for more yards

I'd just have someone put an end to that with a vicious hit, even if its a late hit that gets them ejected... Just completely annihilate him and put him in rehab for a few months, that should put an end to that bull**** practice

Bingo and BINGO.

**** Patd!ck Mahomeys, Tyreeks Hill & Travis Kielce to Hell; and that Right Soon…

I ****ing DESPISE ****ing gutless, dishonorable ****ing jumpy-punk QBs who ****ing disgrace the “safety” rules for QBs.

The league, if it had even one drop of dignity remaining, would issue a formal AND PUBLIC apology to the NEP & Myles Bryant in particular for that ****ing horrible, evil, effeminate and Dangerous call by that ****ing criminally ****ing incompetent zebra…

But chicks (& fantasy jerk-offs) dig the long ball, so I expect Nothing Whatsoever to come from this.