Live ball or dead ball foul ?

[Aussie-Zebra]

A bit of debate on this foul.

Live or deadball foul - PF or USC ?

[Legacy Zebra]

Dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct. When in doubt, make it a dead ball foul. Here it doesn't make a difference one way or the other, it's going to be marked off from the end of the run. As for PF vs. UNS, this is not a player trying to be involved in the play. This is outside the normal game action and is just a cheap shot.

[bctgp]

I agree with the dead-ball UNS. Play appears to be over when contact was made.  I might also consider an ejection as this is a very violent late hit on a player clearly out of the play. An extremely cheap shot on the QB. Interested in what other think?

[Sonofanump]

I think the referee should start a little deeper in the backfield.

[Legacy Zebra]

I would not go with a DQ. Is it a foul? Obviously. Does it place the player "in danger of catastrophic injury"? I don't think so. Now if he went low trying to intentionally take out his knees, maybe. But to me this is just a regular DP UNS. And agreed on backing the R up. You're gonna get rolled up if the QB has to scramble.

[#92]

Why do you guys see this as USC and not PF? I would think this goes against Rule 9-1-12. The intro of 9-1 also states "any other acts of unnecessary roughness are personal fouls".

And USC fouls covered in the Rules are practically all non-conctact fouls...?

[Kalle]

And USC fouls covered in the Rules are practically all non-conctact fouls...?

See rule 9-2-1-a-1-j/k:

(j) Dead-ball contact fouls such as pushing, shoving, striking, etc. that occur clearly after the ball is dead and that are not part of the game action. (A.R. 9-2-1-X)
(k) After the ball is dead, using forcible contact to push or pull an opponent off the pile. (A.R. 9-2-1-XI)

[JDM]

I think the referee should start a little deeper in the backfield.

Concur - wider, as well.

Ruling on the play - DB UNS.

[Aussie-Zebra]

Good to see that most agree - the debate is whether it is a DB foul or not - the arguement being that the play is not clearly over so should be a live ball PF for UNR.

(j) Dead-ball contact fouls such as pushing, shoving, striking, etc. that occur clearly after the ball is dead and that are not part of the game action.

[wlemonnier]

Dead ball foul... I'm a full supporter of making as many of these unsportsmanlike as possible but the interpreted criteria is it being a non-football act.  I'd go PF on this one... it's a football act, a dumb one, but a football act.

[Kalle]

I'd go PF on this one... it's a football act, a dumb one, but a football act.

Umm... it is an illegal act in any situation and with any intent (block in the back), so how is it a football act, considering that here it is made against a player obviously out of play with the clear intent on punishing him? The only thing I see here for an argument is that is the play clearly over or not, and although I would prefer these types of DB fouls being UNS I wouldn't say a PF is a wrong call.

[Osric Pureheart]

If it happened three seconds earlier, would you think it anything other than a boneheaded illegal block in the back?

[Kalle]

If it happened three seconds earlier, would you think it anything other than a boneheaded illegal block in the back?

If the QB did nothing to participate in the play, yes, I would think it a PF.