Was it a fumble?

[NV]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d822c7390/article/refs-save-giants-wr-cruz-from-potential-embarrassment?module=HP11_headline_stack

In a play that has been much debated what do you guys think. Do you think it should have been ruled a fumble or what?

Personally I don't think it was a fumble, and I'm not saying that just because I'm a Giants fan. The rule states that giving yourself up is falling to the ground and not try to gain anymore yards (paraphrasing obviously). And basically that's exactly what happened. Cruz fell to the ground when he saw the defenders and did not try to advance. But there can be made a strong point that it was a fumble, especially with Cruz stating that the reason he did that was because he thought he had been touched.

But i'm interested as to what you guys think because there have been many different opinions on this.

 

[DJT]

I think it was a fumble, but whatever. I mean he fell down no one touched him, he could have gotten up and started running, and he would of done that if he didn't lose the ball.

 

[NV]

I think it was a fumble, but whatever. I mean he fell down no one touched him, he could have gotten up and started running, and he would of done that if he didn't lose the ball.

He didn't lose the ball..He dropped it because he thought the play was dead

 

[DJT]

Eh....I don't think so. A ref probably blew it dead, but they shouldn't have. And if they didn't, he would of tried to get back up and run...

 

[RipCity32]

I think it was a fumble.
He went to the ground, doesn't look like he was touched, I mean if he wanted too he could of got back up and kept running.
I understand he thought he was touched, but at the end of the day he wasn't.

 

[dez]

Its an NFL rule

he went down to keep from being hit, that automatically kills the play, per NFL rules.

debate over

 

[elcheato]

Didn't he say after the game he thought he was touched/tackled so thats why he let go of the ball? Didn't sound like he was giving himself up. But I might have heard that wrong.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

I don't think it was a fumble, I think he did give himself up. He seen someone coming at him and he just went to the ground to give up on the play. He basically got up just letting the ball go like the play was over, but it could have definitely been costly and I can see why it could be argued either way.

 

[Elite]

Was most definitely a fumble. What people fail to bring up is that the rule states that if you're giving your self up, you have to go FEET FIRST.

What he did is 100% a fumble and it really isn't debatable.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Was most definitely a fumble. What people fail to bring up is that the rule states that if you're giving your self up, you have to go FEET FIRST.

What he did is 100% a fumble and it really isn't debatable.

i believe the "feet first" rule applies to just Quarterbacks. But I haven't gotten a chance to look it up (internet has been a real bitch today and most websites wont work for me) so I could be wrong.

 

[VC15]

Rule 7.2.1(e) of the NFL Rule Book:

Official shall declare ball dead...when runner declares himself down by falling to ground or kneeling & making no effort to advance.

The refs could've called it either way, but they made the right call, according to the rulebook.

 

[swoosh]

Lol, he gave himself up? Doesn't look like it to me. Fumble IMO.

 

[NV]

Lol, he gave himself up? Doesn't look like it to me. Fumble IMO.

You really don't think he fell to the ground on purpose?

 

[swoosh]

You really don't think he fell to the ground on purpose?

Nope, but we'll never know.

 

[swoosh]

"I don't know that he gave himself up," Pereira said. "When you talk about giving yourself, you are actually talking about deliberately going to the ground. I think he stumbles and then lets the ball go. I think you have to play that."

I agree with that 100%.

 

[NV]

Nope, but we'll never know.

So then what do you think happened? You think he fell..?

 

[swoosh]

So then what do you think happened? You think he fell..?

^

 

[NV]

Yeah saw that after I posted.

And I think it looks very clear that he fell to the ground on purpose to avoid the hit, but that's just me.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

Yeah saw that after I posted.

And I think it looks very clear that he fell to the ground on purpose to avoid the hit, but that's just me.

He did, he seen a guy coming to the right of him I believe so he just went to the ground, actually he had like 2-3 guys waiting for him..

 

[swoosh]

That is something we'll never know.