I'm arguing with some people on another forum about Safeties. I am saying that in order to prevent a safety a runner just needs to have the tip of the football in the field of play. So 1% of the football in the field of player 99% of the football in the end zone is NOT a safety. They are saying that you need to get the entire ball out of the end zone to prevent a safety. I would be shocked if I was wrong, since my interpretation of the rule is consistent with a TD where you just need the tip and a 1st down where you just need the tip. Can someone clear this up, and preferably with some documentation? The wording of the NFL rule is horrible btw.
"an opponent in possession of the ball is tackled in his own end zone" the end zone starts where the white line starts. so, the ball has to be 100% outside the line for it to NOT be a safety. (basically opposite of what u're saying)
I'm not sure, but I think you have to have the entire ball out of the endzone (across the line) or it's a safety. Look at it as the opposite of when attempting to score a TD. You only have to touch the white line and it's a TD, so it only makes sense that if a part of the ball is across the plane it's a safety. Also, if part of the ball is across the plane but not all of it, where the hell would the ref spot the ball? On the goal line?
I don't know for certain about the rule, but your interpretation would actually be the opposite of the rule for a TD. if, by rule, a TD is when the ball enters the end zone (regardless of how much of the ball), than to follow that rule consistently, if a safety is getting tackled with the ball in the end zone, than that would mean any part of the football being in the end zone (regardless of how much).
Exactly. It's basically the exact same thing as a touchdown. The way I think of it is this: if any part of the ball is over the line, you can't snap it from that position, so it's a safety [or TD]
I see the other side of it, I'm just more in the frame of mind that you just need the tip for a TD, you need the tip for a 1st down, you need the tip for OB so you should just need the tip to escape the end zone.
SFJ, the goal line is, for all intents and purposes, the end zone. So how could you snap a ball when part of it is in the end zone, on either side? It's a TD or a safety.
that may be the rule, but in reality if your out of the endzone at all, they dont like to call safetys IMO
Yeah, I've only be right about 99% of the time with the stuff I've posted on this site. It must be that 1%. :metal:
If ANY part of the ball breaks the field of play it is NOT a safety. The line of scrimmage in the NFL is determined by the "nose" of the ball. If the "nose" of the ball, breaks the plain, then NO safety. And you guys call yourselves football fans What you guys are arguing is silly. To get the ball to the 20 yard line, the entire ball doesn't have to cross!
That's what I thought... do I have to send an e-mail to NFL now? I think I really need to know for sure at this point.
I've heard it expressed by commentators a few times during games I've watched in my lifetime. The line of scrimmage has ALWAYS been set by the "furthest point of the ball" in the direction of offense. It's doubtful you can convince everyone though cause it's not often a factor. Just be content in knowing that you do indeed know the truth
Right, it makes perfect sense to me and I feel its how it should be if its not. I might just email Mike Pereira and find out for sure The one rule that really bothers me though, is that a QB can have the ball passed the LOS but as long as 1% of his body is on or behind the LOS it is considered a legal forward pass... I'm not sure why this rule doesn't work like the rest of them, where the tip of the ball dictates everything.
From NFL Rulebook "Safety The important factor in a safety is impetus. Two points are scored for the opposing team when the ball is dead on or behind a team?s own goal line if the impetus came from a player on that team. " No portion of the Ball can be spotted on the Goal Line , Going Forward it is a touchdown , going backward it is a safety. Key Words "on or behind" Long time Jet fan is correct
We're not talking about the 20 yard line we are talking about the goal line. If any part of the ball is touching the goal line it is a safety. The entire ball must exit the end zone (goal line).
If you go by the official definitions that were posted here this sounds like it's the correct interpretation. However, it seems like in games the refs are much usually prone to give the offense the benefit of the doubt and maybe bend this rule a little bit. Maybe it's just me, but it seems that way.
