Question Regarding End of Down

[TNStripes]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

This is not a rule of thumb ... it's a Maddenism, and not a true statement at all.

So have you had or seen a fumble caused by the "ground"? I personally have not and cannot truly envision a situation that I would rule that on the field besides this situation we are discussing. This play actually occured this past weekend in my area - not in my game - and several of us have been discussing it since. We are all aware of the correct ruling and understand the concept and philosophy of the ruling but it can still make for some interesting views and conversations.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by TNStripes

So have you had or seen a fumble caused by the "ground"? I personally have not and cannot truly envision a situation that I would rule that on the field besides this situation we are discussing. This play actually occured this past weekend in my area - not in my game - and several of us have been discussing it since. We are all aware of the correct ruling and understand the concept and philosophy of the ruling but it can still make for some interesting views and conversations.

In the NFL, several times... In my games, twice that I can recall - both on a stumbling runner, who - when swinging their arm for balance, struck the football onto the ground at which point it came loose... and both times I had to deal with the moron coach who insisted on what he'd heard 100 times from Madden - "The ground cannot cause a fumble."