On the New York Giants’ first drive in final Sunday’s 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, operating again Eric Grey fumbled close to (or over) the objective line resulting in a 102-yard fumble return for a landing the opposite method.
The 14-point swing didn’t stop the Giants from profitable 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 digicam operator knew the ball was nonetheless dwell.
The officers didn’t blow the whistle, regardless that the runner was down and the ball was not seen to any of them. Jenkins picked up the unfastened ball and ran the opposite method as gamers are schooled to do if no whistle is blown.
The again decide 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 indicate the ball might have touched the objective line earlier than being yanked out.
What’s unclear is why the play was allowed to face with out extra studious evaluation. Each scoring play is reviewed, however my eyesight is fairly good. Seems to be to me that Grey might have had possession when the tip of the ball crossed the aircraft of the top zone.
However we’ll by no means know as CBS solely confirmed one angle after which reduce away to a business.
Once 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 sphere — 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 aircraft of the objective 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 sphere. 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 may have been exonerated by know-how.
Grey additionally may have been bailed out if considered one of his different 10 teammates on the sphere 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 sphere didn’t blow the whistle after they overlooked the ball and the league was brief on cameras.
