The NFL rules committee today killed a rule that, as far as I know, was only called once in the 83 year history of the league. And guess who was victimized that one time? The team that is routinely screwed by the league. The Raiders. Remember that playoff games against the New England Cheaters, I mean Patriots in 2002. The Pats were driving, but on third down, the Raiders' Charles Woodson came with a blitz. NE QB was just bringing the ball back into his body after changing his mind about throwing a pass, when Woodson stripped Brady of the ball. THIS WAS CLEARLY A FUMBLE. To the referees, who in no way get rewarded by the league for screwing the Raiders, it was a case of the a QB who was still in his throwing motion, which includes bringing the ball back into his chest. Arm going forward means ball going forward and that means the fumble was an incomplete pass.
The Patriots retained possession and eventually won the game in overtime. Why did it take so long to repeal this ridiculous rule, which didn't even apply in this situation because THIS WAS CLEARLY A FUMBLE? The NFL couldn't very well react to all the outrage against what happened by changing the rule right away, and since the league could just about guarantee that no one else would be screwed in this fashion, the league could wait until memories had faded. In 2011, the Raiders set the record for most penalties and most penalty yards. Year, after year, they are either near the top or the top. Yet no one in the media thinks its the least bit strange that this affliction of penalties is affecting just one team, year in and year out. Players and coaches change but the penalties remain. Just a coincidence.
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