RULES ALERT!

PLAYER HITS PYLON?
OUT OF BOUNDS

An interesting play involving a possible touchdown catch in the Detroit-Green Bay Thanksgiving game was correctly ruled out of bounds by officials because the receiver touched the pylon before his second foot came down in bounds.

On a passing play near the end zone, the Detroit receiver had possession of the ball, put one foot down in bounds, touched the pylon with his second foot and then stepped in bounds in the end zone with his second foot.

In order for a play to be ruled a catch, a receiver must have possession of the ball and two feet down in bounds. Because the receiver’s second foot in this case hit the pylon before stepping in bounds in the end zone, the receiver was correctly ruled out of bounds making the pass incomplete.

The pylon is regarded as out of bounds when touched by any part of a player’s body. If the ball breaks the plane or touches the pylon before a runner is out of bounds, it is a touchdown.

Because the play in this instance occurred in the last two minutes of the second half, a replay challenge could only come from the Replay Assistant in the booth, who did not call for a review because he saw the receiver’s foot hit the pylon, making the receiver out of bounds. Therefore, there was no need for the Replay Assistant to have the play reviewed by the Referee on the field.