diplodink wrote:
If a player fumbles the football in the field of play and it goes out of bounds before any other player gains possession of it, the offensive team retains possession at the spot of the fumble, correct?
Why is it any different if the player fumbles the football in such a way that it goes out the back of one of the end zones? I just saw a game where the player fumbled forward at the 5 yard line, the ball flew out of the back of the end zone, and it was ruled a touchback. How? The defensive team never had possession of the ball, ever. It just seems silly that you could have a change of possession or not simply based on the direction the fumble goes.
The rules change when the ball breaks the plane of the end-zone for any reason.
