NFL: Giants would have been flagged if they spiked it

AP Via ESPN ^ | 1-6-03 | ANON

[Pharmboy]

NEW YORK -- Giants holder Matt Allen could not have spiked the botched snap on the final play of New York's loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

It's against the rules.

Mike Pereira, the NFL supervisor of officials, confirmed Monday that Allen would not have been allowed to immediately spike the ball because it was a long snap. The only time a player can spike the ball is when he takes the snap from under the center.

With six seconds left Sunday and the Giants trailing 39-38, Matt Bryant lined up to try a potential game-winning 41-yard field goal. The snap from newly signed Trey Junkin was in the dirt. Allen fumbled the ball, then made a desperation pass downfield to what turned out to be an ineligible receiver, guard Rich Seubert.

Fox commentator Cris Collinsworth said at the time that since it was third down, Allen could have spiked the ball, giving the Giants another chance at a kick. Afterward, on the Fox postgame show, other commentators agreed.

Pereira said the only other option would have been to throw to an eligible receiver.

[AmishDude]

Speaking of that, it reminded me of the worst announcer -- Phil Simms. Simms NEVER argues with the refs. Ever. On that play he first said that they got the ball off on time and then said, "well, the officials look down at the ball and then up at the clock so sometimes you have a half a second." He's a total apologist for the officials every single time.

[Let's Roll]

And did you hear Brad Sham doing radio (via Westwood One) coverage of the Niners/Giants yesterday? He is very good.

[LdSentinal]

I beleive there were no off-setting penalties on that play. I thought the flag for pass interference is picked up when the receiver being interfered with is ineligible.

You're right. I'm listening to WFAN and they said that no pass interference was called. However, if what I am hearing is correct, the NFL has apologized for not calling a pass interference call (the guy was elgibile), which would have resulted in off-setting penalties and the Giants would have gotten an un-timed down.

[Lee'sGhost]

"well, the officials look down at the ball and then up at the clock so sometimes you have a half a second."

And that was the exact point that I said, "Say what?"

[1Old Pro]

Fox commentator Cris Collinsworth

is an ass.

But, the Giants lost this game 4-5 different times, the whole team was to blame.

[My2Cents]

Trouble is, even at the original spot, a field goal was an "iffy" proposition, considering the Giants' kicker. Falling on the ball and tacking on another 7 yards (I think that would have made it a 47 yard FG attempt) would have made the likelihood of making the kick from "iffy" to "pert-near impossible."

[walkingdead]

"While the "tuck call" sucked, the Raiders should have never been in a position for that call to matter. They got the lead and started relaxing. They let the Pats back in the game and paid the price teams pay for doing that."

That is so true, and one of the biggest follies of the modern day NFL coach. Conservatism only works in politics, not in football.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Brister couldn't carry Jim Miller's jock much less Kordell's. Sometimes a change of scenery does wonders for a player. Stewart has paid his dues in Pittsburg and I would be willing to take a chance on him for the right price. However, anyone considering qbing for the Bears must be aware that that means about 8 games a yr. max. We have had one qb last an entire season in the last 10 yrs. and only a couple in the last 20. It is a curse.

[chimera]

Ah, okay, then. So the thing then would be to do something to kill the clock as quickly as possible without a penalty, then call time. If he takes a knee, do the refs blow it dead, like they do if the QB does it, so does someone have to touch him? My guess is no if he lost control of the ball, then its like a fumble. Everyone has a shot at it. The holder has to pick it up and then get downed by a defender. So, just dive into the line and make contact with a defender, then take a knee, and call time. Of course, the defenders can avoid touching you to keep the clock going. That would be a strange sight, the offensive player running around trying to get touched and downed, and the defenders avoiding contact to keep the clock going...?

Of course, all this is easy for me (us) to say. We're not in the game under the gun with the season on the line. Still, as others have noted, the Special Teams coaches should have trained the players what to do in the event of various happenstances.

[1Old Pro]

Good post. Why not just throw it out of bounds?

[Alberta's Child]

WFAN may have gotten this story wrong. The intended receiver on that play was an offensive guard, so he was clearly ineligible unless he had lined up as an end and was announced as an eligible receiver.

[walkingdead]

Yea, like I said earlier, we've (Raider fans) have had a good many years of living at the bottom (or near the bottom) of the pack. I've been glad to see them back these past couple of seasons. And yes, I most certainly did not enjoy most of the meetings with the Broncos over the past few years.... Like I said, a giant thorn in my side.... but of course thats what makes football so great!

[Petronski]

Personally I'd love to see the kicking game removed from football.

You want to remove the kicking from football? Huh?

[Let's Roll]

Or just as bad if not worse, they keep babbling on when the official is trying to explain a penalty - argh!!

[Pharmboy]

Bad clock management is a symptom of his game day inadequacies...and it cost us the Arizona game. He's just no good on the sidelines. Period.

[My2Cents]

GO BRONCOS (Although I am a J-E-T-S fan this week!)

Your comment, tied with your screen name, looks like an oxymoron.

[Pharmboy]

ping

[discostu]

What was the offsetting penalty? There's no pass interference if the pass is to an inelligible receiver. Was there a hold or an offsides?

[LdSentinal]

WFAN may have gotten this story wrong. The intended receiver on that play was an offensive guard, so he was clearly ineligible unless he had lined up as an end and was announced as an eligible receiver.

Mike Francesa is saying that Siber (sp?) who fell down was lined up as an eligible receiver.