[mikesears]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RamTime

Since intelligence is not required on the WWW some folks don't bother using it as in this case. What does the year the game was played have anything to do with someone that wants to understand the rules. Certainly you understand that because of that game a few rules had to start being enforced again. You must also be aware of the fact that because 7 seconds was allowed to run off the game clock 3 of which after the ball crossed the cross bar the NFL instated a rule that a FG attempt would run 5 seconds off the game clock from now on.

I have a 2004 rulebook from an NFL official in my town and I haven't found any references to running 5 seconds off the clock during a field goal attempt.


Certainly NFL officials are guilty of missing calls. I don't think any of us here would dispute that.

You orignally came here asking if the plays were called correctly or not. I don't think any real NFL officials are here to positively answer the questions about how the NFL viewed those plays or if they are, they can't or won't comment.

I'm glad you got a rulebook, but bear in mind that rules are more than just the words written. While it is important to know the rules, game officials must know the spirit and intent of those rules and the philosphy of the person/people doing the assigning of those games. I am guessing the NFL makes its philosophy known through training, bulletins, phone calls and maybe other means. We don't have access to that information. The NFL Director of Officials also reviews each official after each game and grades their performance for each play. Again, we aren't privy to the grades an official gets. Frankly, most of us will never know if the plays you question were called correctly.

When a question is asked of non-NFL officials if the play was called correctly, we can only offer a semi-educated guess. Yes, some of us have the same rulebooks as the NFL uses because we officiate in leagues that use NFL rules, but owning and reading a rulebook doesn't make any of us experts of the rules. (Just because I buy and read a car repair manual won't make me a good mechanic).


Many of us have tried to answer your questions based upon our own understanding of an official's philosphy of calling the game and from our understanding of the NFL rules. The NFL may or may not share that same philosphy.


Personally, I believe the quality of NFL official is very good. There are a few officials I like better than others, but I am certain there is no conspiracy to cheat any teams.