slipkid

Thanks for the lesson, I guess, but it really isn't all that "straightforward." I took a look. Rule 8: Forward Pass, Backward Pass, Fumble Article 1 Definition. It is a forward pass if: a.) the ball initially moves forward (to a point nearer the opponent's goal line) after leaving the passer's hands; or b.) the ball first strikes the ground, a player, an official, or anything else at a point that is nearer the opponent's goal line than at the point at which it leaves the passer's hand(s). To be fair, after a note, what follows is a reference to what you seem, to be implying about the passer being "in control." When a player is in control of the ball and attempting to pass it forward, any intentional movement of his hand starts a forward pass. There is an (a), (b), and © after that. a.) deals with "contact by an opponent", b.) is the tuck rule, and c.) is about "recocking" the arm. None of which are applicable to this call I guess you're giving more credit to the "control of the ball" than I am, and I may be giving more credit to the definition. I will note that "control of the ball" is located in a subordinate clause to the meat of that sentence--"any intentional movement of his hand starts a forward pass." Edit: I forgot the link. http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/11_2012_ForwardPass_BackPass_Fumble.pdf

I guess you know the rule better than I do. Does it say that somehow the ball can go forward without being in his hand? If it's about "control," which part of the hand must be in "control"? The part that made the ball go forward? I thought the rule was if the hand has the ball and is moving forward, it is an incomplete pass.

Yep. An incomplete pass. Definitely putrid but not a fumble.

It was windy.

Correct, perhaps. But unless the rule says "the palm" must be in contact, it was a bad call. I'm fairly certain "the hand" was responsible for the ball going forward almost twenty feet.

Back to the topic. That call sent the NFL back 500 years. Ask Isaac Newton.

Who was in the booth? The President of the Flat-Earth Society?

Good question. Isaac Newton and the Laws of Physics be damned, we have replacement refs!

Speaking of McLovin's special teams play and injury, is spearing still a penalty in the NFL?

I did not shower. I felt okay all game but, about midway through the fourth quarter, I realized that I was not fresh. Sorry. It won't happen again.

There you go again, using your mouth as if it were an onus.

I have heard, in fact, that he has several close friends best described as "rowdy." Every week or so--i cannot recall the specific evening--he has them over.

Hate . . . As others have mentioned, the fox robot--I knew he was a drunk--and touchdown, commercial break, kickoff touchback, commercial break, run over left side for two yards, end of quarter commercial break. Trumpy. A slightly paraphrased quote from an early 1990's Bills game: "Steve Christie is from Canada. I LOVE Canada. I took my son fishing there once." Enjoy . . . Enberg, when he babbles nonsensically. A direct quote: "The Chiefs are really staking their thrust in the offense this year."

Coaches: Jimmy Johnson (pure slime) Don Shula (I'm proud to say I was kicked out of Shula's Steakhouse in Baltimore several years ago for telling the bartender exactly what I thought of that self-aggrandizing, ref-owning dirt.) Players: Jim Kiick (while playing) Mercury Morris (now--He almost made me root for New England to win out last year.)

Hmmmm . . . I have many on the list but not all--my father would have never worn a fedora. I have one of my own, though. You remember chanting "Get Hadl dirty!"

I'll play. Current: Takeo Spikes. He wanted to come to Buffalo and has suffered as much for that sentiment as I do every year. All Time: Funny, but I still like Jerry Butler. There are at least twenty more, including Ferguson, tied for second.

All time: Fouts is a second to Kenny Stabler, but I'm glad he got on this list. Art Shell and Alan Paige rate up there, too. Current: I hate to go with a kicker, but Adam Vinatieri has some guts to spare.

He's Too Hot Ta Trott.