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No

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http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/useofhands

A player may not bat or punch:

(a) A loose ball (in field of play) toward his opponent’s goal line or in any direction in either end zone.

(b) A ball in player possession.

Note: If there is any question as to whether a defender is stripping or batting a ball in player possession, the official(s) will rule the action as a legal act (stripping the ball).

The last part seems to give refs the discretion to not call a foul, but I wonder what the part in bold could be referring to. With Tillman forcing four fumbles in one game via the punch, I have to believe opposing coaches are asking the NFL for clarification.

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I'll be darned. No more takeaways.

I wasn't aware of the rule. It's a strange rule as written because (a) and (b) have different rationales. Usually rules like that get split up.

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Fire Phil Emery

Part A is also violated plenty by those looking to avoid a touchdown by taking a safety.

I don't see how part b could even be possible. Wouldn't many fumbles on goal line plays be illegal actions by the defense?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Subsection (a) serves a couple of purposes. It does what you said, plus it keeps players from deliberate massive switches in line of possession through actions taken not to possess the ball. It's a little bit tough to enforce on the margins but it gets called once or twice a year and is usually pretty clear when it gets called.

Subsection (b) doesn't make any sense on that rationale. It makes some sense on its own because you don't want players punching one another by accident (or on purpose, for that matter). I appreciate the rationale but it is almost impossible to enforce (even Tillman isn't throwing wild, directionless haymakers; his punches usually just look like the process of the tackle).

In any event, there's all sorts of stuff that's against the rules that never gets called. See every "look at that running back pushing the pile" plays where the offensive line pushes the running back along.

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Fire Phil Emery

Still doing work!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Except for getting clowned on two plays on the Bengals scoring drive not bad at all.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

He'll get in before Hester.

He also got pushed out of the way on the TD catch.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Gotta go strong homey.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

No, but he played well today.

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Middle Aged Crazy, like Uncle Terry

slow your toll on that one. AJ Green was open whenever he chose to be and it didn't matter whether the route was short or deep. One pick was a ball that bounced off an open reciever

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Obviously he had some troubles yesterday. On that interference call, something got F-d up with the defense. They weren't even ready when the ball was snapped. I'll give him a pass on that one.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Yes.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

lol


Nice bump.



Great player, but I don't think he is HOF bound

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If the rule you followed lead you to this, of what use was the rule?

YES.

And from the tears I'm betting he knows he tore it again, so start the HOF clock.

Yeah, that was my thought. Another tear, which means the year for sure, and probably his career at this point. I felt terrible watching that. I don't know if it's better or worse to have it taken from you in an instant like that, or to grind down slowly. It sure is clearer this way.

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You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

It does suck. Regardless of team allegiance Peanut is one of those guys you can't help but like and root for.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Can we switch Mannelly for Peanut?

That's nice.

Definitely a HOF'r. No doubt.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

Ask Leary.

He met Lovie at the perfect time, helped get the most out of his talent. Obvious Bears HoFer, not sure about NFL.

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Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

Thanks, Peanut. One of my favorite defensive players ever. The NFL can be cruel like you've seen the last 2 years, but you were a champion on and off the field. Hellava career.

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That was the only shitty part about last night. I was hoping Tilman would last the entire year.

it's kind of like Urlacher where the last three years have ended in injury

Great player and person.

However, the Bears are better TODAY with Fuller there instead of him. Peanut wasn't tackling anymore and WR seemed to be perpetually open when he was in there the last two games.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Agree with many statements here.

HOF or not, Peanut is one of my favorite Bears ever. Great guy on and off field, and one of the PERFECT examples of why measurables such as 40 time and agility and all that are typically overrated. Peanut never had off-the-charts measurables, but he played his butt off every play, he played smart, and he developed a niche (the ball punch) that allowed him to be unusually valuable. His tears last night pretty much summed up why so many love the guy.

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I'm mixed on Tillman. I can appreciate what he did but for some reason I never liked him much. I'd rather have a great corner than someone with a weird gimmick.

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