Not even knowing about the Texans-Skins game that it just happened in until a few minutes ago reading on it, I say no...it shouldn't be allowed. I think there should be a rule that says it can only happen if the FG kicker hasn't kicked it yet. If the refs can stop the play before it gets kicked, then fine. If it is kicked, then it should be up to fate at that point. I'm honestly surprised the owners didn't vote to change this in the off-season. Granted, it can work both give ways giving the team another chance if they miss initially. That still doesn't make it right in my mind. I'm completely against these types of timeouts where a coach tries to play God at the last possible second. If the offense has too many men on the field or some line-up issue, then the kick should still be allowed if it got off and the team should be penalized to take it away based on penalty. I would only apply it to FG situations.
But the time out was called prior to the play. The players didn't hear it and continued, he kicked it, and made it. Just because they didn't hear it doesn't mean that the time out was not called correctly. If it had been too late, of course it would have counted. What's the point of time outs if they aren't there to regroup? I don't see how that is playing God. That's actually a very strange take to me.
Yea, I'd tend to agree with you. Only thing I'll say is when do we see this scenrio happen on a FG that late into the clock? I can only recall a "D" calling a TO this late into a play clock to freeze the kicker. Eh, I agree with most though, its part of the game.
There's enough rules as it is in the NFL. The tackling rules are getting ridiculous (but understandable; getting crippled is way too easy with the size and speed of the players). The game is a chess match, icing the kicker is part of the strategy.
nonsensical...kickers would ignore the whistle and the timeout and just kick. the timeout has to be called before the ball is snapped, anyway. i just don't see why a rule change is necessary
I don't have a problem with it because it can work either way. The kicker could miss the attempt and get a second shot just as the he could make it and miss the second attempt. It's 50/50 either way. Like moes says, I don't think the success rate is really that great anyway.
i agree but im not going to be overly shocked if they "tweak" the rule a bit....bottom line is that it could have very well worked against the team calling the TO (misses first and makes second...game over) having said that, im not sure what they can do to actually tweak it....fact is, plenty of timeouts are called right before the snap that ARENT to ice the kicker...so where do they draw the line?
Yea...I think there needs to be a buffer built into the rule to allow for timeouts to be called...but not at the last possible second on FG attempts specifically. Maybe like you have five seconds from the time the line ref says it's okay to snap the ball. I dunno...it would have to be flushed out by those setting the rules. I just feel the icing part of this should be removed. Coaches are being allowed to play God with the last second timeout on FGs because the rules allow it.
I'm not sure how anyone could see a problem with it. It's a timeout. You can theoretically ice a QB as well.
As soon as this happens in some high profile game, that will be end of this stupid icing the kicker strategy. It's popular because it happened once, got a bunch of media coverage, and the NFL is a copycat league so everyone decided it's a good idea. All it will take is for some team to lose a playoff game because this strategy backfires, and that'll probably be the last time you see it happen.
Just like the NFL. Change a rule because someone cries about something that's totally FAIR. You call a timeout whenever you want to. END OF STORY. What is this crap about changing a rule just because some kicker misses because there's no rule to stop a kicker from missing?!?!? WTF?!?!?! Am I even saying that? DUMB.
Playing God? How are they playing God? Are they making it rain when the kicker is going to kick? Earthquake? Tsunami? It's a time out. They get to kick the ball 1 minute later under exactly the same conditions. The only difference is the kicker has thought about it just a little longer. Be clutch, kick the ball through the uprights, and give the opposing team the kiss of death.
My real problem with this crap is it comes up every damn season...and I'm sick of hearing about it. Let em ice em then...but stfu (no offense) about it...everyone...including analysts, coaches, owners, and fans. I'm really just sick of the debate on it. The fact that the debate is even alive still after all this time is the real problem. Noone wants to accept that it is the way it is. So, they debate about it and then b**** about anyone wanting to change the rule then? Okay...don't change the rule. I'll live. To me...the NFL is about players executing...not coaches icing players.
