NFL: Giants would have been flagged if they spiked it

AP Via ESPN ^ | 1-6-03 | ANON

[Pharmboy]

NEW YORK -- Giants holder Matt Allen could not have spiked the botched snap on the final play of New York's loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

It's against the rules.

Mike Pereira, the NFL supervisor of officials, confirmed Monday that Allen would not have been allowed to immediately spike the ball because it was a long snap. The only time a player can spike the ball is when he takes the snap from under the center.

With six seconds left Sunday and the Giants trailing 39-38, Matt Bryant lined up to try a potential game-winning 41-yard field goal. The snap from newly signed Trey Junkin was in the dirt. Allen fumbled the ball, then made a desperation pass downfield to what turned out to be an ineligible receiver, guard Rich Seubert.

Fox commentator Cris Collinsworth said at the time that since it was third down, Allen could have spiked the ball, giving the Giants another chance at a kick. Afterward, on the Fox postgame show, other commentators agreed.

Pereira said the only other option would have been to throw to an eligible receiver.

[ewing]

It still would have been a 48 yard kick and a chance to win.

[BaghdadBarney]

Raider-hater? Is it really that hard to hate Raider fan who can't seem to stop whinning about a play that when it comes down to it, didn't cost them a trip to Pittsburgh last year?

[L.N. Smithee]

Kickers aren't really football players, that's why they sit on the bench ALONE.

Yeah, all the jelly bellied linemen act like that, but if they really meant it, one of those lard butts would take the job himself.

Saying a field goal kicker isn't a football player is like saying a DH isn't a baseball player.

[Alberta's Child]

Stewart cannot catch the pass in that situation. A quarterback can only be an eligible receiver if he lines up in a shotgum formation.

[ewing]

Yep, the Jints had one timeout left at the end of the game.

[hchutch]

The Bears haven't done bad on that, either. Their starting strong safety this year, Mike Green, was Mr. Irrelevant in 2000. All he did was finish second on the team in tackles, behind Brian Urlacher.

And yeah, Pittsburgh can talk about Lloyd and Nickerson in `89. The Bears were able to get a good WR in `89 as an undrafted free agent - the guy's name was Tom Waddle.

[mr.pink]

I believe the QB is always an elgible receiver, and the Steelers (with Hines Ward and Randel El both ex- QBs) actually run plays pretty close to the type of play you are discussing.

[CougarGA7]

What's Baseball?

[walkingdead]

Funny stuff. And patially true, they have to do it this year because they are definately getting old. But even as old and Depends dependant they are, they're still gonna take it all. What does that say for the rest of the teams in the NFL?!?!?

[Pharmboy]

He is--unquestionably--the worst game day coach in the history of the playoffs.

Earlier this season the Giants lost a game because of his awful clock management at the end of the game.

[discostu]

They did the wild card game last year and every one I can remember since this format got put in place. I don't watch college ball so I don't know if Bret was around last year to have his toes stepped on. But this was a definite change.

[Alberta's Child]

The Giants offense was not the problem. 38 points ought to be enough to win any playoff game.

[amused]

CAUTION: Giant fan about to vent.

I'm so disgusted that I'm actually going to root for the Jets.

As upset as I am about yesterday, I just couldn't do that. Herm Edwards must never be cheered for. Respected? yes. Cheered for no. After Traitor signed with the evil ones, I couldn't even think of it.

I'm sorry (and I'm not piling on here) but I think this loss goes entirely on Fassel's shoulders. He consistently squanders leads by going conservative. They Giants recievers were shredding the niners all day, and then the Giants O went home.

The inability of the Giants to put together a drive beyond 3 and out in the 2nd half(after thet last scoring drive) killed them. The D was working against a no huddle and couldn't get a breather. The play calling was there. Mixing in runs(which you have to) with the effective passing game is how you keep drives chewing up the clock. The 49ers stopped it or the Giants didn't execute. Let's talk about our pass rush.....where the hell did that go?

If there was anyone better out there that was available, I'd can Fassel. He can't win the big one.

I was extremely critical of Fassel for some play calls this year(the out with less than a minute in AZ, some clock management stuff etc) but I thought he did a very good job Sunday.

I think Fassel has done a good job with the group he has. I expected an 8-8 or 9-7 season this year...at best.

We have a young line, offensive weapons, and a good defense. We will be back next year.

Not quite a vent but I like to keep it civil on this board ;-)

[mr.pink]

I even kind of like Paul ...

I really liked Paul when he was teamed up with Phil Simms a few years back.

My favorite Paul M comment was when he described Buffalo as "Cleveland without the glitz".

[amused]

Belong or not belong is a quaint notion in the parity driven NFL of today, wouldn't you agree?

[Lee'sGhost]

Sorry, but who would want Stewart as a QB anyway? I went to CU and have been a Steeler fan since Hanretty and Bradshaw were fighting for the starting spot, and I really wanted Steward to make it. He's had plenty of chances but just can't quite seem to make it over the top -- at least on a consistent basis. He reminds me of Bubby Brister. They both seem to play great off the bench, but carrying the weight of "starter" gets to be too much.

[discostu]

You've gotta. They probably miss, but you've gotta go for it. Let's also keep in mind that if that's an elligible receiver (ie if at least one of the other blockers does their job right) that's a clear pass interference call, game can't end on a defensive penalty, and now it's a 20 or so yard figgie. Very few bad plays are one person's fault (exception: receivers that stand there while the pass gets intercepted).

[justshutupandtakeit]

That is something of a myth. The Bears payroll is not one of the smaller ones in the league. They have spent money (maybe not wisely) but their problems have not come from being too cheap. The reason they did not take Bledsoe was not totally because of the price. Cade McNown was paid big money and the club signed several of their guys to big money contracts last yr. (More than I would have paid for B. Robinson, Azuma, Alfonzo Boone and McQuarters.)

At that time I was sure our qb situation was fine believing Chandler would play like he has throughout his career and that Miller would be around for most of the games in a healthy condition.

Now they will have to sign a veteran and draft a qb. However, given the Bears luck with qbs I would not put all my eggs in one basket and pay one tens of millions. I would look for a Dent-type pass rusher first.

[walkingdead]

"didn't cost them a trip to Pittsburgh last year?"

I suppose I'll let this by, I suppose reception is probably hard to come by in Baghdad, isn't it Barney?

Oh, and they did get robbed in the snow, but thats how ref'd games go. From the time you start playing organized sports you start to find out that ref's can ruin games for you, but you just gotta go out and beat the refs too. I know the Raiders lost that game, but it sure would've been easier for me to accept before the invent of instant replay.

Now, if you can honestly say that it wasn't a fumble, then we're done talking, but if your point is that refs don't decide the game then I accept that.

[Aquinasfan]

I thought it was a 10-second count off, which would have ended the game anyway.

What about an intentional lateral out-of-bounds. What's the ruling on that?