Got a mouthful from fans about a no-call I made tonight.

A was running for a touchdown. B, pursuing, got within striking range and tried to tackle A by sticking a leg out and tripping A. Fans (and later players) wanted a call for tripping. I told the players he was a runner, and tripping was only a penalty against a player that was not a runner.

Just funny how how you get a line from fans swearing by rules they think are real. Too bad they don't know them.

What?!?!? You can't trip a runner with the ball?

That probably means you can't hold a runner either, right? :)

thats right, and dont clip him either ;)

or facemask...oh...wait a second...

This is just typical from fans that think Friday nights are called by the same rules as those on Sundays. It still amazes me that it really is a foul for tripping the ball carrier with your legs in the NFL.

My favorite Sunday rule is that you can't use a tee on a free kick following a safety. I heard that some local HS officials (NFHS rules) enforced that one during a freshman game last season.

I was watching a college game this season. A3 is running the reverse. The D-lineman can't quite get to him. He sticks out his leg and trips him. Very much in the open, everyone can see it. Coach of A goes nuts. Not much to be done.

>>It still amazes me that it really is a foul for tripping the ball carrier with your legs in the NFL.<<

It amazes me that the rules (NF and NCAA) actually ALLOW tripping on anyone, even the runner. The NFL has it right.

Agreed.

You feel tripping with hands is okay, but tripping with feet is not. How come?

Actually with Fed it is only the runner you can trip with the feet. Everyone else it is a foul.

Herre is my thought. If the NFL says you cannot trip the runner then how much longer until you cannot tackle a runner from behind at the legs (clip) or tackle them below the waist (BBTW).

I personally feel the NFL needs to go with not throwing a flag reguardless of where the play goes if something happens. i.e. a hold. It gets real old having games stopped because, for example, the left tackle holds on a sweep to the right.


[Edited by cowbyfan1 on Oct 11th, 2005 at 06:04 AM]