Isn't there a rule on who can and cannot recover fumbles on offense?

[buffalo34]

I'm watching the 2006 AFCCG (people on Youtube have seriously uploaded NFL games in their entirety, so I took the liberty of downloading the 2006 and 2012 AFCCGs onto my PC). As you know, Logan Mankins recovered a fumble in the end zone for a Patriots TD while Jeff Saturday recovered a fumble in the end zone for a Colts TD.

 

Wasn't this rule changed? I thought I remember hearing how if you fumble the ball at the goal line, the ball can only be recovered by the fumbling player if you want a TD. I remember in the Colts-Browns game in 2008, where the Colts had the ball at the one yard line, somebody fumbled, and another Colts player recovered it in the end zone but the refs didn't award the TD to the Colts. IIRC possession was given to the Browns.

[bayone]

something about recovering in the endzone Vs recovering a ball and not being allowed to advance it, so u get the ball but cant move it forward for more yardage including getting into the endzone I think, but if recover it in endzone thats where u get it so = TD, I Think

[chad72]

On offense, the player recovering the fumble cannot gain more yardage after recovering. But if he fumbles again and does not have control, another offensive player can recover it. But the yardage wont count, if I understand right.

 

On defense, they can advance it for even a TD. However, in the last 2 minutes, the defensive or offensive player recovering the fumble has to be the one advancing it. So, if he recovers the fumble, he cannot lateral it in the last 2 minutes. That is to prevent the intentional fumbling in gadget plays when players are working with about 5 seconds remaining on the clock and are trying to advance one last time by lateralling it. You can lateral, but without it being a recovered fumble. If a guy is smothered and fumbles the ball intentionally (it hits the ground), the player recovering the fumble has to advance it ALL THE WAY. He cannot do the same thing that was done prior to him recovering the fumble. In other words, only one intentional fumble allowed in that fumble-and-a-prayer situation .

 

At least, that is how I understood it.

[T Y Goodbye]

That rule was implemented from the Raiders / Chargers game..Here is one account of the game..

 

 

In the most shameful fumble in pro football history, the
Oakland Raiders deliberately dropped the ball, then batted and
kicked it into the end zone for a last-ditch, game-saving
touchdown.

"The play is in our playbook," bragged Oakland guard
Gene Upshaw after the contest. "It's called 'Win At Any
Cost.' "

Trailing the San Diego Chargers 20-14 with only 10 seconds
left in the game, the Raiders desperately needed to score a
touchdown. Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler took the center snap
at the San Diego 14-yard line and looked for a receiver. Just as
he realized nobody was open, Stabler was hit from his blind side
for what looked like a game-ending sack.

But, with a flick of his wrist, the crafty veteran fumbled the
ball forward. It bounded to the 8-yard line, where Oakland's Pete
Banaszak in an Oscar-worthy portrayal of a klutz—batted and
booted the ball to the goal line. There, teammate Dave Casper
kicked it into the end zone and then fell on it for the tying
touchdown. The point-after, which came after time had expired,
gave the Raiders a victory they did not deserve.

After the game, the three Oakland players admitted it had been
a phony fumble. "I tried to fumble," said Stabler.
"If I get sacked, the game is over." Said Banaszak,
"Sure I batted it. I could see a San Diego guy right
alongside me. If I picked it up, he would have tackled me and the
game would have been over." Added Casper, "Sure, I
helped the ball along into the end zone."

What the Raiders did was illegal, but the NFL said it was
impossible for the officials to judge "intent" since
Stabler, Banaszak, and Casper conveniently waited until after the
game was over to confess.

To make sure the fake fumble didn't appear in any team's
playbook the following year, the league added a new rule that
states "Any fumble that Occurs during a down after the
two-minute warning may not be advanced by any member of the
fumbling team except the player who fumbled the ball"

 

That did little to soothe the outrage of San Diego fans. They
showed their feelings by wearing T-shirts that displayed a
blindfolded referee Signaling a touchdown With the words,
"IMMACULATE DECEPTION."

[chad72]

Yep, the Raiders were behind that rule.

[Vltrophy1]

Ex Raiders players say the #1 rule is cheat to win

[Kyle]

i hate rules that change depending on how much time is left in the game. 

[Hans Moleman]

It's a rule change we'd have been better off without. The refs have a hard enough time enforcing the main rules to keep up these arbitrary, throw-in rules for situations that only happen once every 5 years anyways. 

 

So the Raiders intentionally fumbled and kicked the ball into the endzone, and it worked? Yeah, that's a high % play that teams can rely on. Reminds me of the outrage I saw after the Super Bowl with the intentional safety holding where people were demanding a rule change. 

 

Practically every fan thinks the officiating in the NFL needs help, so the solution is to.....add more rules?