"If it's short, fair catch it."

[RobertWeathers]

I'm not sure forgetting which team kicked a fair kick in 1984 constitutes as memory sucking. hahahaha

At least I got the year right...Or decade for that matter...

 

[neuronet]

Wow great point! As a big fan of little known rules like this I can't believe I didn't think of it myself in that situation. How cool would it have been to win the SB on a free kick while 90% of the country watched completely confused!

On that note, instead of a free kick we got to see what will likely be the only fake kneel down in our lifetimes

Randall Cunningham did it in 1987 against the Cowboys. I think Peyton Manning tried it in 200o 0r 2001 but the play was whistled dead because the refs were actually fooled by the fake.

 

[The Gr8est]

So if the free kick is missed, and there is time left, does the receiving team get the ball at the original LOS on the attempt and get their own FG attempt?

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

So if the free kick is missed, and there is time left, does the receiving team get the ball at the original LOS on the attempt and get their own FG attempt?

Yes, but the clock starts at the kick, so no time would have been left in this case.

 

[patfanken]

Still wish he had tried it. And I think a free kick, even a 75 yarder, had a better chance of working than that fake kneeldown did (though it was a cool play, too.)

I would have liked it too, despite very small chance of succees. It is cool to sometimes see a little used plays in real games.

However I understand why BB didn't do it. Given the small chance of success came the equally small chance that the Falcons could have run it back for a TD. Personally I think the risk would have been worth it, but I can live with BB's decision.

 

[luuked]

Would have been a fascinating ending.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Edit: This is the Colts attempting it vs the Pats. Not sure if this is the game you were thinking of.

I had to look up what a fair kick would look like because I had never seen one and wasn't aware of what exactly a fair kick was. But while I was searching I found that 1984 game on youtube. It's funny becuase it took a few minutes for everyone to understand what the hell was going on.

Yeah -- that's the one.

I love how sharp Charlie Jones (one of my all time fave NFL announcers) is. The moment the fair catch was made he knew exactly what could be done and knew all the rules. And it wasn't the director telling him either as his color man (was that Griese?) was totally clueless which proves the director didn't know, either.

 

[Tony2046]

Yeah -- that's the one.

I love how sharp Charlie Jones (one of my all time fave NFL announcers) is. The moment the fair catch was made he knew exactly what could be done and knew all the rules. And it wasn't the director telling him either as his color man (was that Griese?) was totally clueless which proves the director didn't know, either.

I noticed that while watching. He was right on top of it.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

So, if Gronk was healthy. . .do you think he changes that play? I would think you then give it a shot, send all deep EZ right, except Gronk to the 10 left and give him a shot to run it in or pick up a PI.

Good question. I think he probably keeps the same play. I think the NFL and its fans would scream if PI were called on a Hail Mary play at the end of a Super Bowl, so I think that hope is out the window.