When Is A Fumble Not A Fumble?

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 6, 2011 11:00 AM EST

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 4: Defensive back Danny Gorrer #36 of the Baltimore Ravens knocks the ball loose from wide receiver Jordan Norwood #10 of the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 4, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

I guess whenever the referees decide it is,...or not. One thing for sure is that this will be a huge topic in the off season when the owners and other front office personnel meet to discuss rules in the league's Competition Committee. So many times this season there have been calls on the field either confirmed or overturned when it appears that the play clearly seemed to be either a fumble or no fumble, depending on the specific play under discussion.

The calls have both helped and hurt the Baltimore Ravens this season, including one in yesterday's 24-10 win over the Cleveland Browns. A pass across the middle to Browns receiver Jordan Norwood appeared to be caught and after he took what seemed like three steps, he lost the ball while being tackled by Ravens CB Danny Gorrer, which safety Ed Reed scooped up for a turnover.

However, once the referee returned from under the hood of the Replay Booth, he overturned the on-the-field call, returning the ball to the Browns, not that it really mattered in the outcome of the game. The call surprised most Ravens fans, as well as head coach John Harbaugh. A story on BaltimoreRavens.com details the play and the official rule.

The referees' interpretation of the rule helped the Ravens hold off the Cincinnati Bengals two weeks ago when an apparent TD catch by Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham was overturned when it was determined through the replay that he did not make a complete catch and "football-move" that would have had the TD stand as originally called. The Bengals were forced to kick a FG and ended u on the losing end of the 31-24 Ravens victory.

Harbaugh was asked about it in Monday's Press Conference by a member of the media and he said it appeared the player took a number of steps as well. Whatever the ruling in these games as well as the rest of the season and through the playoffs and Super Bowl, one would hope this controversy is settled in the off season and does not prove to be the difference between a team winning or losing along the way, especially when we get into the post season

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Ed Hochuli is good at what he does...

What he does, is screw up obvious calls.

by ZenGarden on Dec 6, 2011 11:38 AM EST reply actions

During the game, I was thinking no way they over turn this. He took 3 steps and the call on the field was a fumble.

daytime commentator. night time ninja.

by El.Dude on Dec 6, 2011 11:55 AM EST reply actions

I was thinking the same thing. I thought it was close live, but after I saw the replay I was like that’s definitely a fumble. Didn’t understand his explanation of the ruling either. He didn’t possess it long enough?

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Dec 6, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe he has to tuck it into his jock to have complete possesion. #Sandusky’d

daytime commentator. night time ninja.

by El.Dude on Dec 6, 2011 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

The only thing I saw

that made me think it could go either way was what I perceived to be a slight twitch as Norwood tucked the ball away. I think it was a replay I saw where Stan White said either Gorrer forced the fumble or Norwood lost it on his own (that is, Norwood was already fumbling while tucking the ball away, but after taking 3 steps with control).

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by organizedchaos52 on Dec 6, 2011 12:17 PM EST up reply actions

You're wrong Bruce

There’s going to be no discussion of this in the off season. I mean, it may get mentioned, but you’re implying there will work done to “fix” the situation and that simply will not happen. In order to do that work, Goodell would have to admit that his half-assed part-time “officials” had been wrong. And the NFL NEVER admits it’s wrong.

Calls like these (and the hundreds of other bad calls that anyone with a functioning brain can see were wrong) will continue as long as “professional” football has semi-professional officials. Until there are officials whose only job is to get the call right or they’re out of a job are the standard, half-assed, sandlot calls are the best you can expect from off-duty attorneys, accountants and whatever-the-hell-else these “professional officials” do for their real income.

Cam Cameron - the creator of the Prevent Offense™, and best-selling author of "150 Short Runs Into the Line on 3rd and 10"

re: Big Ben - "God can have his soul. His ass is mine." - Terrell Suggs

by GrumpyOldBird on Dec 6, 2011 12:32 PM EST reply actions

I hope you're wrong but

certainlybut certainly see and tend to agree. Although they did look at this rule afte the Calvin Johnson play last year. Scary thing was, this was the result?

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Dec 6, 2011 1:00 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with grump… Part time officials is ridiculous. One day you’re working the water cooler trying to get a bigger office and the next you’re trying to keep up with NFL players at game speed?

by Evan Skev on Dec 6, 2011 1:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yup, I agree with all three of you.

Nothing will be fixed during the off season, and IF they try to make the rules more clear, they’re going to make them more confusing and convoluted in return, as has been since Goodell commenced his reign of terror over the league.

Evan, you are 100% correct. There is no reason whatsoever that this $9 billion a year business can’t afford to pay and properly train full time officials. The players train for upcoming seasons every summer, why not have a physical fitness and rules aptitude training program set up for officials in the offseason?

As far as this particular “fumble”, the overruling was a bad call. The receiver caught the ball, turned up field making a “football move” and was stripped of the ball after after taking several steps or strides. I don’t know how it could have been any clearer.

"Don't throw it, don't throw it, don't throw it. I know y'all going to throw it, they going to throw it anyway. I wouldn't throw it. Don't do it." - Ed Reed

You say tomato, I say tomahto. You say Six, I say Sweep.

by WestminsterRaven on Dec 6, 2011 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

And it used to be $9B… Now it’s $12B and in 3 years it will be $15B

Todays NFL is a lot more like the wwf of my teen years… Huge money and heavy on the superficial

All that being said, the Ravens need to beat people and not hope part-timers make correct calls. As in everything in life, personal responsibility remains constant

by Evan Skev on Dec 6, 2011 4:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions