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To: ml/nj
Examples of Safety: (a) Blocked punt goes out of kicking team's end zone. Impetus was provided by punting team. The block only changes direction of ball, not impetus.

Your argument seems to hinge on the meaning of "impetus." If a blocked punt, which clearly changes the direction and destination of a ball can be considered to not change the "impetus" of the ball, then it is little different that a defensive player stripping an offensive player of the football likewise does not change its "impetus."

It makes little sense for a team who fumbles the ball out of their own end zone to be rewarded a touchback and a "do over" from better field position. Otherwise, this would be a common strategy.

Your opponent downs a punt on your 1 yard line? No problem, just fumble the ball out of bounds on your first play and resume with a new set of downs from your 20.

SD

35 posted on 01/08/2007 7:42:18 AM PST by SoothingDave (Are you on the list?)
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To: SoothingDave
It makes little sense for a team who fumbles the ball out of their own end zone to be rewarded a touchback and a "do over" from better field position. Otherwise, this would be a common strategy.

First, Dallas didn't fumble in their end-zone. The receiver was clearly out of the end-zone. Maybe if he was on his own ten (instead of the one) this would be clearer to everyone. The ball was knocked out of the receiver's hands by a Seattle player. Can you imagine having a safety called if the Dallas guy was on his ten, or twenty?

Second, I never suggested that the touchback rule makes sense. (I don't even like the more usual touchbacks.)

Third, it won't likely become a strategy to fumble at ones own one yard line as there is at least a 50-50 chance any such fumble will be recovered for a TD.

ML/NJ

38 posted on 01/08/2007 8:22:08 AM PST by ml/nj
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