Pittsburg/Miami Fumble

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

How was it not clear? A Dolphin handed the ball to the referee.

Who ends up with the ball does not matter. It was not clear who recovered the ball. There was a big pile on the ground with people diving for the ball; it was not clear who recovered the ball.

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Whether it was an IW or not under NFL rules, I don't know. But that is pretty much the way it was treated.

This play was no different than any other challenge on a fumble in the NFL when the initial call was no fumble. It has to be clear which team recovers the ball in order to give them the ball. Normally it is clear, this time it was not.

[wwcfoa43]

The problem is that the Replay System requires indisputable visual evidence to award the ball.

I remember Mike Pereira on officials review talking about the change that allowed more fumbles to be reviewed and he was clear that there was no way they were going to use Instant Replay to award possession in a scrum situation.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Cobra

This play was no different than any other challenge on a fumble in the NFL when the initial call was no fumble. It has to be clear which team recovers the ball in order to give them the ball. Normally it is clear, this time it was not.

You just contradicted yourself. It is different because of exactly what you posted. It was not clear which team recovered the ball.

Because the play was initially ruled a TD, the officials didn't dig to see who recovered the ball. I saw it and realized that even before the reply. I knew that even if it was ruled a fumble, Pittsbirgh was going to get th ball back.

And that's waht was different compared to 99% of the fumble reviews in the NFL.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

You just contradicted yourself. It is different because of exactly what you posted. It was not clear which team recovered the ball.

Because the play was initially ruled a TD, the officials didn't dig to see whpo recovered the ball. I saw it and realized that even before the reply. I knew that even if it was ruled a fumble, Pittsbirgh was going to get th ball back.

And that's waht was different compared to 99% of the fumble reviews in the NFL.

No, you don't get it. Every type of review where the ball is ruled dead but was possible a fumble is the same. When the referee looks at the video it must be clear who recovered the ball. In this play the ball was under a pile of players.

NFL Rulebook

The Replay System will cover the following play situations only

2. Runner ruled down by defensive contact when the recovery of a fumble by
an opponent or a teammate occurs during the continuing action of the play.
Note 1: If the ruling of down by contact is changed, the ball belongs to the recovering
player at the spot of the recovery of the fumble, and any advance is nullified.
Note 2: Continuing action is any action that occurs through the recovery of the fumble.
Note 3: If the Referee does not have indisputable visual evidence as to which player
recovered the fumble, the ruling of down by contact will stand.
Note 4: This does not apply to quarterback pass/fumbles, complete/incomplete
passes, or the ruling of forward progress.

[BktBallRef]

Oh, I get it just fine. While every review maybe the same, every play is NOT the same. In this play, the crew failed to determine who recovered the fumble, something that doesn't happen 99% of the time.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Oh, I get it just fine. While every review maybe the same, every play is NOT the same. In this play, the crew failed to determine who recovered the fumble, something that doesn't happen 99% of the time.

Did you not read what I wrote The referee has to be able to see on the video who recovered the ball

Note 3: If the Referee does not have indisputable visual evidence as to which player recovered the fumble, the ruling of down by contact will stand.

Look at the video NFL Videos: Steelers TD challenged and reversed

Now pretend that you are the referee. Do you have indisputable visual evidence as to which player recovered the fumble? What does Note 3 say happens when you don't have that?

Also at 15 seconds you can see the umpire and back judge going through the pile of players while the LJ approaches the pile. Just going to take a guess that one of them saw who had the ball at the end

[BktBallRef]

Yes, I read exactly what you wrote. It doesn't have anything to do with what I've posted.

The crew did not determine who recovered the fumble. This makes the play different than 99% of the fumble plays that are reviewed.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Yes, I read exactly what you wrote. It doesn't change my mind. The crew did not determine who recovered the fumble. This makes the play different than 99% of the fumble plays that are reviewed.

I don't know what to say. You clearly do not understand the NFL replay system. The crew digging through the pile and seeing who has the ball means nothing when it comes to overturning the call. You have to have indisputable video evidence who recovered the ball.

Maybe a quote from the referee who had to make the replay decision will help you..."I have to have clear video evidence of the team recovering the fumble," Steratore said after the game. "It is a pile of bodies in there, and you don't have a clear recovery."

[football-1]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Oh, I get it just fine. While every review maybe the same, every play is NOT the same. In this play, the crew failed to determine who recovered the fumble, something that doesn't happen 99% of the time.

Yes.

I understand the rule on the field was TD and play is over. But why did they not determine who recovered the ball on the field ?
just in case it was a fumble.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by football-1

Yes.

I understand the rule on the field was TD and play is over. But why did they not determine who recovered the ball on the field ?
just in case it was a fumble.

Who comes up with the ball at the bottom of the piles does not have any significance when it comes to replay so it really isn't necessary in any way.

When the referee watches the video there are 2 requirements that he must see in order to overturn the dead ball no fumble call: 1) Indisputable visual evidence that it was a fumble, and 2) Indisputable visual evidence of who recovered the ball.

In this play he had #1 but did not have #2. When a possible fumble goes in a pile of players like that it is not going to get overturned. If a reviewed possible fumble is out on the middle of the field many times one player will fall on the ball immediately after the fumble; it is clear who actually recovered the ball. If there is a pile of players going for the ball it takes quite some time to determine who actually has the ball. During that time the official is making his call (touchdown, down by contact..) and players let go of the ball. The players know the officials are not calling it a fumble so they don't worry about the ball. A team A player could have had the ball, heard the official call touchdown and therefore let go of the ball. A team B player then grabs the ball and ends up standing up holding the ball. The player who actually recovered the ball may not be the one who ends up with it.

Basically what it comes down to is if you are watching the replay on your TV and you can't see who recovered the ball then the call is not going to get overturned.

[football-1]

Originally Posted by Cobra

Basically what it comes down to is if you are watching the replay on your TV and you can't see who recovered the ball then the call is not going to get overturned.

I don`t mean review.

Let`s say a fumble without a whistle. ball in pileup.
The refs have to determine which team belongs to the ball or not ?