| Football is a great game. Watching two teams | | | | doesn't help the situation any.One of the |
| out on the football field, offense and | | | | most confusing rules is whether or not a |
| defense, is like watching two generals | | | | receiver had possession when catching a pass |
| commanding their armies. So many | | | | before going out of bounds. Technically, |
| possibilities; play books three inches thick; | | | | he's supposed to have both feet in bounds |
| men the size of trucks; and the stadiums | | | | when he makes the catch. If he catches the |
| filled with people, some of whom had to wait | | | | ball with one foot in and then takes a step |
| six years to get tickets. And with all the | | | | and has the other foot out, it's no catch. |
| excitement, all the suspense at that last | | | | But what it he's pushed out of bounds? Would |
| second field goal and all the great | | | | he have caught the ball with both feet in had |
| players...There are enough rules in this game | | | | he not been pushed? How is that situation |
| to make you want to pull every last hair out | | | | handled?Then of course there is the matter of |
| of your head.The typical lay person, the | | | | actually scoring a touchdown. The football |
| casual football fan and even some of the | | | | has to cross the plain of the goal line. |
| bigger fans, probably don't know half the | | | | Now, if the offensive player is on the ground |
| rules of the game. Yeah, they know the main | | | | when he scores, it's pretty easy to tell if |
| rules, four downs to make a first down and | | | | he crossed the goal line. But what if he's |
| things like that, but the more complicated | | | | on top of a pile up, four feet off the ground |
| rules have many fans wondering what is going | | | | as he's trying to dive in? How do you figure |
| on half the time. Even the refs can many | | | | out if he's crossed the plain?Then of course |
| times be seen standing around trying to | | | | there is forward motion when a running back |
| figure out which rule of the game was broken, | | | | gets tackled. If he gets hit by a 350 pound |
| if any at all. And what it more than one | | | | truck and gets sent hurtling five yards back, |
| rule was broken? How is that situation | | | | where is the ball marked? Does it get marked |
| settled?Even the rules on contact with a | | | | where the tackler hit him or where he lands? |
| receiver are so fuzzy, or not enforced the | | | | What if he trips? Can he get up and start |
| same by each set of refs. Some games will go | | | | running again? If he trips and one foot goes |
| by and you'll see a receiver get clobbered | | | | out of bounds, can he start running again?So |
| beyond the five yard mark and nothing gets | | | | many questions and we haven't even scratched |
| called and then in another game the defender | | | | the surface of the surface of all the rules |
| will simply brush up against his sleeve and | | | | of football. Yes, this game can really give |
| get called for pass interference. A little | | | | you a headache. |
| consistency would be nice. Certainly that | | | | |