I was just curious. I was watching a game and my team punted the ball and downed it 2 inches from the goal line why did the ref place the ball about the 1 yard line.He clearly saw where the ball was downed or was the ball touched before it got 2 inches from the goal line. .
I can't find any rules where it clearly defines where the ball must be placed. I mean, if the player is downed by contact at the 10 1/2 yard line, shouldn't the ball be placed there, and not either the 10 or the 11? I have noticed that the ball is either moved up or moved down from where the player was down and then placed. Instead of being put exactly where the player landed.

Faces at the U.S. Open



Comments (2)
I have noticed this in the past before. I'm not sure what the deal is.
woodyhedgerson | 11/13/06, 01:39 PM
Report Offensive CommentNFL officials like to place the ball at a yard line when it is close enough to do so and when it does not give a team an advantage. I tend to agree with you that it should be the exact spot, but this does make it easier to judge first downs and keeps time-consuming measurements at a minimum.
FleaCDP | 05/13/07, 07:19 AM
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