NFL Might Remove The Most Controversial Rule “End Zone Fumble”
The NFL will examine one of the most contentious football regulations this summer. NFL EVP Troy Vincent reportedly stated that the league will talk about changing the touchback rule pertaining to fumbling through the end zone, according to CBS Sports NFL lead Insider Jonathan Jones.
NFL Might Remove The Most Controversial Rule “End Zone Fumble”
This is noteworthy since decision-makers haven’t discussed a possible shift all that often lately. A competition committee source texted Jones earlier this year to respond to a question about formal discussions to amend the rule: “None.”
Since it doesn’t seem to follow the other rules, the fumble into the end zone is one of the NFL plays that receives the most criticism.
So it seems like the clock is ticking on the current fumble-through-the-end-zone rule as we currently know it but the question remains: should it be changed?#NFL pic.twitter.com/mVrRh6ksMO
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) December 14, 2023
According to the NFL regulation, the defensive team is granted a touchback if the ball is fumbled in the field of play and travels forward into the opponent’s end zone and over the end of the sideline.
The problem with this regulation is that if the defense doesn’t leap on the ball, it will remain with the offensive team somewhere else on the field after it gets out of bounds.
"I've been trying to tell you for years that the NFL has to get rid of that dopey, fumble, out of the end zone touchback rule. And FINALLY signs it might be happening."
—@AdamSchein pic.twitter.com/0W0KcHcdvY
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) December 14, 2023
The defending team doesn’t even need to get possession while using the end zone, though. All the ball needs to do is go out of bounds and the defensive team is rewarded with a turnover.
It appears that most fans would favor a variant that unfairly penalizes the offensive player. The NFL would have to figure out how to properly enforce the play; either the offensive team gets slapped with a penalty or they are handed the ball where the player fumbled.
The NFL must protect the fumble-out-of-the-end-zone-touchback play at all costs. Scoring is a privilege, not some slapped-together macaroni art. It needs to be upheld as such.
https://t.co/WtlFvYOVmL— Conor Orr (@ConorOrr) December 14, 2023
The NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, Troy Vincent, made a suggestion that the rule that converts fumbles in the end zone into offensive turnovers may be removed. As CBS Sports reported in September, there has been no debate about altering the regulation for the past five years, until now.
Potentially significant: NFL executive Troy Vincent said today that the league will look into the play where the offensive player's fumble through the end zone equals a touchback.
That will be discussed in the offseason. pic.twitter.com/Fi6OPgLZS0
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 13, 2023
The nature of the alternative decision was one concern with a possible modification. Is it possible to move the fumbling party’s line of scrimmage back to the 20-yard line rather than giving the defense automatic possession? Might this be interpreted as a deliberate downing penalty with a loss of down?
FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE-
