On the New York Giants’ first drive in final Sunday’s 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, working again Eric Grey fumbled close to (or over) the aim line resulting in a 102-yard fumble return for a landing the opposite means.
The 14-point swing didn’t stop the Giants from successful the sport but it surely didn’t assist. When the play occurred, nobody besides the participant who picked up the ball — Seahawks security Rayshawn Jenkins — and the top zone digital camera operator knew the ball was nonetheless stay.
The officers didn’t blow the whistle, although the runner was down and the ball was not seen to any of them. Jenkins picked up the unfastened ball and ran the opposite means as gamers are schooled to do if no whistle is blown.
The again choose additionally didn’t throw the blue bean bag on the spot of the restoration, which signifies they acknowledged a change of possession till Jenkins was almost 30 yards downfield with the ball.
.@Seahawks @Jenkz_26 102 yd FR TD. Hear no whistle carry on skipping #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/XMId5q2kLy
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 7, 2024
Brian Baldinger reacts as if the ball is out however this angle appears to point out the ball might have touched the aim line earlier than being yanked out.
What’s unclear is why the play was allowed to face with out extra studious assessment. Each scoring play is reviewed, however my eyesight is fairly good. Appears to me that Grey might have had possession when the tip of the ball crossed the airplane of the top zone.
However we’ll by no means know as CBS solely confirmed one angle after which reduce away to a industrial.
After they got here again, CBS confirmed the identical angle with former NFL official Gene Steratore telling us there was inclusive proof to overturn the decision on the sector — which was a Seattle landing.
Right here’s the rule:
To ensure that a landing to depend, the scoring participant should have possession of the ball, be in bounds and the ball should cross the airplane of the aim line. . . any a part of the ball that crosses the road whereas in possession is a landing.
Additionally, to ensure that a landing to depend, it helps to have known as it a landing on the sector. Then, the replay officers couldn’t do their due diligence as a result of they didn’t have the suitable angles.
Granted, Grey is a fumbler, we’ll offer you that. However on this case, he might have been exonerated by expertise.
Grey additionally might have been bailed out if one in all his different 10 teammates on the sector realized he misplaced the soccer and both dove on it or prevented Jenkins from recovering it and/or advancing it.
Sadly for Grey, the officers on the sector didn’t blow the whistle once they overpassed the ball and the league was brief on cameras.
