It was and is still a RULE.
NFL Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2, Note 2: "When a Team A player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his hand starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble."
What about the blow to the head that caused the fumble?
2002 controversy
See also: NFL playoffs, 2001-02 Main article: Tuck Rule Game
The tuck rule resulted in a controversial finish to an
NFL playoff game on
January 19,
2002, between the
New England Patriots and the
Oakland Raiders.
[2]
In the closing moments of the game in a snowy
Foxboro Stadium, with New England trailing by three points, New England quarterback
Tom Brady dropped the ball after making a passing motion, his fellow
University of Michigan alumnus
Charles Woodson tackled Brady, and the Raiders fell on the loose football. The officials initially called the play a recovered fumble, which would have sealed the victory for the Raiders. But after
instant replay, referee
Walt Coleman reversed this call, declared the play an incomplete forward pass, and gave possession back to New England. In explaining the reversal to the stadium crowd and the television audience, the referee stated that the ball was moving forward at the time it was dropped.
[3] In later interviews, the referee stated that it was his explanation, not the reversal, that was in error; the ball was moving backwards when it was lost, but the tuck rule applied. In any case, Patriots kicker
Adam Vinatieri later tied the game with a dramatic 45-yard field goal, and the Patriots took advantage of the momentum they had seized, defeating the deflated Raiders in overtime on another field goal and eliminating them from the playoffs. Three weeks later, the Patriots won
Super Bowl XXXVI.
While the NFL has defended the call, not everyone has been in agreement. Bruce Allen, who ran the front office for the Raiders at the time of the game still believes it was a fumble. "The rule itself doesn't bother me," he said. "But the way the rule is written, it was a fumble."
[4]
Tuck rule - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NEXT!
Just kidding. That he went so all out in that game seemed to really inspire his team. Because Elway has 2 rings makes it's a must that the Packers win another Super Bowl (or two) for Favre.
