Strange Call in Bears-Eagles Game Was Correct, Head of Officiating Says
Mike Pereira, the NFL's director of officiating, said today that the rules were properly enforced on the strange play that helped to determine the outcome of the Chicago Bears' win Sunday at Philadelphia.
The Bears benefited from a little-known rule. In the fourth quarter of a tied game, Bears quarterback Brian Griese lined up under center but had the snap from Olin Kreutz go between his legs. The ball was loose behind Griese and was picked up by Eagles safety Sean Considine, whose return put his club in position for a possible go-ahead touchdown. However, referee Ed Hochuli whistled the play dead and awarded possession back to the Bears, who were penalized for a false start. By rule, when the quarterback is lined up under center and has the snap go through his legs and the ball ends up behind him, only the quarterback can retrieve the ball or it's a false start on the offense.
Pereira said by telephone today that the rule "absolutely" was applied correctly. The intent of the rule, Pereira said, is to keep the offense from running a trick play with a direct snap to another player with the quarterback under center.
"The intent of the rule is to protect against deception," Pereira said.
The play perhaps saved the Bears' season. They got a field goal on that drive, then scored a touchdown in the final seconds to beat the Eagles, 19-16, and improve their record to 3-4.
By Mark Maske |
October 23, 2007; 4:08 PM ET
| Category:
Bears
,
Eagles
,
League
Previous: Game Time Could Change Monday Night in Denver |
Next: League Considering Contingency Plans In Case Game Can't Be Played in San Diego
Posted by: Pete Nardello | October 24, 2007 10:21 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I do not contest that the rule exists. I do, however, have a huge problem with the rule's enforcement. To me, a penalty should never help the team committing the foul. A holding call can be declined; a neutral zone infraction can be declined; even pass-interference is declined, as long as the result of the play is more beneficial to the innocent team.
It is often seen in football where a shotgun snap or punt snap goes sailing over the head of the qb or punter. The only difference here is that the qb is lined up under center. To say that the penalty is in place to keep the defense from being deceived, as in the qb under center deceives defenders when the ball flies between his legs, is all fine and well; but then it should be a declinable foul! Flags are thrown to signify a penalty, and usually the coach is able to decide whether or not he wants to accept or decline. Dead ball fouls were created for players' safety, so in the case that an offensive lineman jumps early, the protectors of the qb are not all ready to protect him from rushing linemen and blitzing linebackers. Once the ball is snapped, however, there is no reason to have a dead ball. And if it is a dead ball foul, then why was there no whistle until after the tackle was made?
The rule is inconsistent with NFL conditions of a foul. In this case, the Bears won, despite being at fault. And the fact that it is a dead ball foul due to it being deceiving makes absolutely no sense to me. Football is based on trickery, deception, and play action. It is understandable that there are strict rules regarding substitutions, but plays should be able to develop however they may once the qb puts his hands under center. When in shotgun, the qb does not have to be the first to touch the ball, so why does he have to be the first to touch the ball when under center?
Most importantly, the foul does not constitute a dead ball. Simply put, never in any sport should a penalty help the guilty team.