[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Well what is your reading of the relevant rules?

1-2-5(a):

Each goal shall consist of two white or yellow uprights extending at least 30 feet above the ground with a connecting white or yellow horizontal crossbar,

Which means that only those pieces constitute the goal.
4-1-3(a):

A live ball becomes dead and an official shall sound his whistle or declare it dead...When it goes out of bounds other than a kick that scores a field goal after touching the uprights or crossbar,

4-2-3(a):

A ball not in player possession, other than a kick that scores a field goal, is out of bounds when it touches the ground, a player, a game official or anything else that is out of bounds, or that is on or outside a boundary line.