I wonder if Bill thought about this play at the end of regulation

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I brought this up in another thread, but wanted more discussion...


One of the most obscure rules in the NFL rulebook is the fair catch free kick. Basically, any time that you make a fair catch, you have the option of trying a totally uncontested, undefended field goal (well, everyone is 10 yards back, like on a kickoff), with no snap, but with a holder.

Here is one such attempt, by Harbaugh's SF team:

San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson 71-yard fair catch kick attempt

Last night, Edelman fair caught the ball at the 35 yard line & 3 seconds left.

Gost could have tried a 75 yard FG. Impossible? Maybe. But remember, there is no defense. Low trajectory is fine. It's like a kickoff, and Gost has kicked at least an occasional KO through the uprights.

Downsides? The clocks starts on the kick, so it will run out, make or miss. The only downside is that ATL could conceivably return a short kick (think Auburn's "kick 6").

I am not saying that BB SHOULD have done this, but it would have been a bizarre way to end it, for sure!


There was discussion of this in the Cowboys game too: Cowboys passed on a chance for a fair catch free kick

 

[juny]

if it is uncontested and undefended, how could ATL return it?

 

[pazrul72]

Can you imagine all the people complaining about the falcons not getting the ball in OT heads exploding if he had done this and Ghost made it? Holy **** that would have been incredible. Nice thought on obscure rules and learn something new everyday

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I brought this up in another thread, but wanted more discussion...


One of the most obscure rules in the NFL rulebook is the fair catch free kick. Basically, any time that you make a fair catch, you have the option of trying a totally uncontested, undefended field goal, with no snap, but with a holder.

Here is one such attempt, by Harbaugh's SF team:

San Francisco 49ers kicker Phil Dawson 71-yard fair catch kick attempt

Last night, Edelman fair caught the ball at the 35 yard line & 3 seconds left.

Gost could have tried a 75 yard FG. Impossible? Maybe. But remember, there is no defense. Low trajectory is fine. It's like a kickoff, and Gost has kicked at least an occasional KO through the uprights.

Downsides? The clocks starts on the kick, so it will run out, make or miss. The only downside is that ATL could conceivably return a short kick (think Auburn's "kick 6").

I am not saying that BB SHOULD have done this, but it would have been a bizarre way to end it, for sure!


There was discussion of this in the Cowboys game too: Cowboys passed on a chance for a fair catch free kick

I agree - this crossed my mind as well. I thought it was interesting because BB was explicitly asked about it during one of the pre-Super Bowl press conferences, saying there was only 1 time where the circumstances made him think about it but he ultimately decided against it.

I wonder if the distance was just too long? That if the punt was shanked and the Pats got it at the 45 instead, if he would have done it?

 

[Big-T]

My first thought at the punt was a fair catch free kick, said to a friend 'I wonder if Belichick will fair catch free kick or think up something just as obscure'...That fake kneel was pretty out there.

 

[XLIX]

if it is uncontested and undefended, how could ATL return it?

It is not exactly "uncontested and undefended." The defense has to honor a 10 yard neutral zone, much like a kickoff (but no tee is allowed). If the FG attempt is short, they can catch it and return it.

Another interesting note about this play is that while the clock runs during the play, you CAN start the play with no time left. In other words, suppose the clock ran down to 0:00 during the punt and Edelman called a fair catch. The Patriots can extend the half/game by 1 play for the Fair Catch Free Kick.

 

[Patjew]

John Madden used to talk about this rule all the time. I'd like to see it happen once.

 

[h0c2000]

Another Pats win.

 

[festy1986]

Did you bring it up in another thread of did you start that other thread?

 

[billdog3484]

boshers punt was the most clutch, great kicks in super bowl history to keep patriots out of free kick range....BB knew. I knew it as it happened, so im sure he knew

 

[RobertWeathers]

Another Pats win.

Sad that I remember that freaking game.

 

[The Brandon Five]

According to ESPN that was the plan.

Anatomy of a miracle: How the Patriots came back from the dead

Instead, fortunately for the Patriots, Atlanta's drive started on the 11-yard line and sputtered out after 16 yards. New England then hoped to set up for a game-winning fair catch free kick, but Matt Bosher's punt was too far to feasibly attempt one. The Pats then sent Lewis out to run a meaningless draw with three seconds left, with Lewis suffering a game-ending hamstring injury on the play.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Did you bring it up in another thread of did you start that other thread?

I brought it up in a stupid thread about Francesa, and wanted that thread to die!

 

[brdmaverick]

Honestly, with 11 seconds left and Atlanta punting I figured there was NO WAY the Pats would have a realistic shot at scoring.

With that in mind, I was absolutely horrified to see Edelman even back there to field the punt. What good would come from it? Just tell him and the rest of the team to run away and let it bounce around.

Obviously Edelman made a clean catch and there was nothing to worry about.....but I saw little gain and a lot to lose by doing that.

 

[brdmaverick]

I suppose the two big advantages to an 'uncontested' free kick would be.......

1.) As someone pointed out, with it being uncontested the kicker could go low trajectory.

2.) Instead of putting a FG blocking group (lineman and TEs) they could put a kickoff coverage group out there (in case Atlanta had an opportunity for a return).

 

[juxtapoz15]

One of my coworkers is a high school football coach and he talks about this play all of the time. I texted him as the play happened saying that the Patriots should try it. But I think the distance was just a little out of reach and the liability of a return by ATL was too great.

 

[Schmo]

Didn't remember this rule. So, from that range, isn't it pretty much a kickoff? Guessing the only difference would be that the coverage team can't be running towards the line of scrimmage before the kick?

Edit: NM, watched the video above. Apparently you can be running towards the line of scrimmage before the kick.

 

[juny]

It is not exactly "uncontested and undefended." The defense has to honor a 10 yard neutral zone, much like a kickoff (but no tee is allowed). If the FG attempt is short, they can catch it and return it.

Another interesting note about this play is that while the clock runs during the play, you CAN start the play with no time left. In other words, suppose the clock ran down to 0:00 during the punt and Edelman called a fair catch. The Patriots can extend the half/game by 1 play for the Fair Catch Free Kick.

guess this is why squib kicks are always grounders

 

[XLIX]

Didn't remember this rule. So, from that range, isn't it pretty much a kickoff? Guessing the only difference would be that the coverage team can't be running towards the line of scrimmage before the kick?

Edit: NM, watched the video above. Apparently you can be running towards the line of scrimmage before the kick.

Yes, it is like a kickoff (which are technically called "Free Kicks" in the rulebook).

The biggest difference (besides the 3 points you get if it goes through the uprights) is you can't use a tee. Another difference is they start the clock at the kick. However, like a FG, if you miss and the defense doesn't field the ball, the defense takes over possession at the spot of the kick. (It is not like a kickoff in the sense of recovering an onside kick or a regular kickoff where the receiving team has to field the ball). Yesterday, of course, wasn't enough time for a Gostkowski miss plus another play with Atlanta getting the ball on the NE 35.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Another Pats win.

I love how Charlie Jones immediately knew it was a potential fair catch free kick situation even before the Colts made it clear they were going to try it. And how he knew all the rules. Jones is still one of my all-time favorite announcers.