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.

[Petronski]

The NFL, however, has told the New York Giants organization that a pass interference penalty should have been called since Siber (sp?) was lined up as an eligible player. This would have resulted in off-setting penalties and since the game cannot end on off-setting penalties, the Giants should have gotten an un-timed down from the Niner 28-yard line

You're kidding!?! Do you have a source for that?

[walkingdead]

Under the two minute warning, all challenges must come from the booth.

[Mrs.Liberty]

It seems to me then that the refs should have called for a replay then, especially in light of the confusion at the end and the yellow flags all over the place.

[walkingdead]

I know it's on ESPN's website. Although I'm not sure that the 49er player didn't have his head turned towards the ball when he came in contact with the Giants elegible reciever. If he was playing the ball, then there is no pass interference. I really want/need to see the play again.

[mr.pink]

The one that drives me the most nuts is Washington who lines up 10 yards off the line almost every play and begins backing up the second the ball is snapped. You can throw 5 yard buttonhook passes against him all day long...

You nailed it. From time to time, Woodson would do exactly what Washington does, except Woodson would be suckering the QB into eventually throwing a lazy out, then step up and make the pick.

[Mrs.Liberty]

go to nfl.com. It is on the front page NFL

[Alberta's Child]

There is no replay review on calls involving penalties.

[walkingdead]

Probably the booth should've had a look at it, but the officials on the ground have no control over that. Only the ones in the booth.

[Mrs.Liberty]

or better yet: NFL

[NC Conservative]

worse than Piscarchek

Sorry about the G-men. I am a forty whiners fan. But the Piscarchek fumble was pretty damn bad.

[Petronski]

You're forgetting rule 796a part III, which states that the Steelers, Packers and 49ers will always get the benefit of the doubt if the play will result in a victory.

Wahh! Have a good cry, the Wahh-mbulance is on the way.

[LdSentinal]

You're kidding!?! Do you have a source for that?

Well, if you read later on this thread, there are other posters that provide links. And the guy is Seubert who was eligible and the Giants would have been on the Niners 23-yard line.

[montag813]

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

What amazes me is why they didn't simply try Collins-to-Toomer for a fourth time, since they shredded the 49ers deep all day long. Especially given the awful prior missed FG. They had time to try it twice.

[Alberta's Child]

What amazes me is why they didn't simply try Collins-to-Toomer for a fourth time, since they shredded the 49ers deep all day long.

That play didn't work in the second half once the 49ers stopped putting single coverage on Toomer.

I like Toomer, but in my mind he's not a big-time wide receiver. I don't think he's ever had a big game in a close Giants win.

[hattend]

WHY were ineligible receivers running downfield after a botched snap?

They were going down-field as blockers due to the botched snap. If the pass had not been tossed in the direction of those blocker people it probably wouldn't have been called and the game would have been over anyway.

[TBP]

He could still have thrown the ball away, rather than to an ineligible receiver. They're VERY permissive about calling grounding.

Further, if that bleeping Shaun Williams had been able to control his temper in his response to Terrell Owens's unsportsmanlike conduct, the Niners would have been penalized 15 yards with no offsetting Giant penalty, thus putting even Matt Bryant in field goal position.

Of course, all of that would be moot if Bryant's missed field goal had been good and/or Shockey had held on to that touchdown pass.

Oh, well, there's always next year.

[walkingdead]

They would've been in the exact same spot as 3rd down, only it'd be 4th down with 0:00 on the clock. Then they would've pooched the FG attempt and the final would've been the same....

Heck, I'm an avid duck hunter, and I tell you what, most of his kicks I would've shot at had I been in the field. duck, duck, duck

[Pharmboy]

NFL: Niners should have been flagged for interference
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The San Francisco 49ers' 24-point comeback victory over the New York Giants ended with an officiating error.

The NFL said Monday that pass interference should have been called against the 49ers on the final play of the 39-38 thriller.

A botched field-goal attempt by the Giants ended Sunday's game, when New York was called for having an ineligible receiver downfield while holder Matt Allen attempted a pass. However, the league said that the pass interference that was ignored would have resulted in a replay of the down.

After a videotape review of the 41-yard attempt with six seconds left, NFL Director of Officiating Mike Pereira determined:

The Giants' Tam Hopkins, No. 65, lined up as the left guard and was illegally downfield on the pass. All three flags thrown by the officials were for that penalty.

Rich Seubert, No. 69 and normally a guard, lined up as an eligible receiver on the play. He reported to the officiating crew before the game that he would man that position on field goals.

49ers defensive end Chike Okeafor interfered with Seubert when he was attempting to catch Allen's pass. No defensive pass interference penalty was called.

"If defensive pass interference had been called,'' an NFL statement explained, "there would have been offsetting penalties (ineligible receiver against the Giants and pass interference against the 49ers), with the down replayed at the original line of scrimmage, the San Francisco 23-yard line. Although time had expired, a game cannot end with offsetting penalties. Thus, the game would have been extended by one untimed down.''

Allen could not have spiked the botched snap, because it was a long snap. Pereira said the only time a player can spike the ball is when he takes the ball directly from the center.

Matt Bryant lined up to try the potential game-winning field goal, and the snap from newly signed Trey Junkin was in the dirt. Allen fumbled the ball, then made the desperation pass downfield to Seubert.

Fox commentator Cris Collinsworth said during the broadcast that, because 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.

[RooRoobird14]

LOL, and I thought NFL rules were the same as flag football when we played it in the back yard (anyone can throw, kick, pass, whatever).

All I know is my Niner-Fan Hubby is on cloud nine today.

[fortheDeclaration]

This game absolutely killed me yesterday. The worst Giants loss in my lifetime, worse than Piscarchek, worse than the debacle against Minnesota in 97. Worse than any pasting, blow out, blown lead, divisional loss etc. WORST EVER! Thank goodness I have 6 months to recover

Amen! It may take 6 months to recover from this one!

Then again, we cannot expect a team to win a Super Bowl without a kicking game!

What about that muffed punt! 24 yds!

What is it with these kickers?

It isn't like they don't do this for a living!

How disappointing was that vaunted Giant defense!

Not one sack!

If they could not get to Garcia, they would not get Vick!

At least they did get their offense clicking.