Re: Vick's 1st TD last night

Scott Taylor wrote:

> The goal line plane extends beyond the sideline ONLY when the runner
> is touching the ground inbounds. Of course, it is the ball which must break
> the goal line plane - extended or not - in order to score a TD.

> The goal line does NOT extend beyond the sideline for an AIRBORNE runner.
> In this situation, the ball must break the plane of the goal line BEFORE it
> breaks the plane of the sideline. Diving across the sideline at the 1-yard line
> won't score a TD, unless the runner holds the ball inside the pylon while flying
> through the air.

> The rule is the same for all three levels of play. Anyone who would like to lose
> some beer on a wager, just pipe up, and I'll be all too happy to cite the rules
> references. :^)

My rule references for NFL 2004 disagree.

11-2-1: "It is a touchdown: (a) when a runner [mistaken reference]
advances from the field of play and the ball touches the opponent's
goal line (plane)...."

3-27-1 "The Runner is the offensive player who is in possession of a
live ball...."

(Heh. They specify offensive player so in case of simultaneous gain of
possession by opposing players, if the player not on the team last in
possession touches out of bounds, they can play on.)

3-2-1: "The Ball...continues in play until the down ends [refs.
omitted]."

7-4-1: "An official shall declare dead ball and the down ended: (a)
when a runner is out of bounds...[or] (p) when the ball is out of
bounds."

3-20-1: "A player...is Out of Bounds when he touches: (a) a boundary
line; or (b) anything other than a player or a pylon on or outside a
boundary line."

3-20-2: "The Ball is Out of Bounds when: (a) the runner is out of
bounds; (b) while in player possession it touches a boundary line or
anything other than a player on or outside such line; or [loose ball
provision omitted]."

So until the offensive player in possession of it is out of bounds, or
until the ball itself in his possession touches the ground or some
obstacle out of bounds, the ball remains live. So tell me why if the
ball touches the plane of the goal line, and the player holding it
after jumping from in bounds hasn't touched the ground out of bounds,
it doesn't score a touchdown.

Robert

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