November 3, 1997

YOU MAKE THE CALL

Did San Francisco's Rod Woodson interfere with Dallas's Michael Irvin on a key play in the closing moments of the 49ers' 17-10 victory over the Cowboys Sunday?

The game officials said no. The situation was this:

The Cowboys, trailing 17-10, had the ball on the 49ers' 39-yard line late in the game. Quarterback Troy Aikman threw a long pass to Irvin, who was covered by Woodson. As both players looked back for the ball, their feet became entangled, they fell to the ground, and the pass sailed incomplete. Replays showed Woodson's hand on Irvin's shoulder before they fell, but Woodson's hand did not appear to impede or restrict Irvin.

In a pool report following the game, referee Bob McElwee said:

"When I got down there, the back judge said to me, 'I saw a trip. That's why I threw the flag.' The field judge said the trip was clearly incidental. The rule book is clear that incidental tripping is not a foul in that instance, so we had no foul."

In the NFL Rule Book, pass interference is explained on Page 52 (Rule 9, Section 2, Article 5). It says:

"It is pass interference by either team when any player movement beyond the offensive line significantly hinders the progress of an eligible player or such player's opportunity to catch the ball during a forward pass. When players are competing for position to make a play on the ball, any contact by hands, arms, or body shall be considered incidental unless prohibited. Prohibited conduct shall be when a player physically restricts or impedes the opponent in a manner that is visually evident and materially affects the opponent's opportunity to gain position or retain his position to catch the ball…INCIDENTAL CONTACT: (a) If both players are looking for the ball or if neither player is looking for the ball and there is incidental contact in the act of moving to the ball that does not materially affect the route of an eligible player, there is no interference. If there is any question whether the incidental contact materially affects the route, the ruling shall be no interference. Note: Inadvertent tripping is not a foul in this situation."