One of the worst rules in sports may finally be gone.
NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent said Wednesday that the NFL may eliminate the rule that turns fumbles in the end zone into offensive turnovers, per Pro Football Talk.
This is notable development since CBS Sports reported in September there had not been any discussion in the last five years about changing the rule.
The fumble into the end zone is one of the most widely criticized plays in the NFL since it doesn’t seem to be consistent with the rest of the rules.
The NFL rulebook states: “If a ball is fumbled in the field of play, and goes forward into the opponent’s end zone and over the end of the sideline, a touchback is awarded to the defensive team.”
The issue with this rule is that anywhere else on the field, a ball that goes out of bounds will remain with the offensive team if the defense doesn’t jump on the ball.
Yet, with the end zone, the defensive team doesn’t even have to gain possession. The ball just has to go out of bounds and the defensive team is rewarded with a turnover.
The NFL would have to come up with how to properly enforce the play – perhaps the offensive team is hit with a penalty or they are awarded the ball where the player fumbled – but most fans seemingly would prefer a variation that unjustly punishes the offensive player.
That rule was in the spotlight in Week 2 when Vikings superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson lost control of the ball right before the end zone and the ball crossed the pylon, awarding the Eagles possession during their 34-28 win on “Thursday Night Football.”
“Man… touchbacks are the f–king worst,” Pat McAfee tweeted at the time.
In 2017, the Patriots benefited from this rule against the Jets when an apparent Austin Sefarian-Jenkins touchdown was changed into a fumble into the end zone and a turnover.