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Sound Off: Unwritten Rules Good or Bad for the Game?

03:26 PM - September 18, 2012 by RaychelSnr

Unwritten rules.

You'll find them in most every sport. They crop up and make appearances often, and controversy ensues about how audacious someone was for breaking them or how they were just playing the game how it should be played. Cue up this past weekend and Greg Schiano's order to have his players rush Eli Manning on a kneel down. On the surface, the play was simply playing football how it should be played: to win until the very final whistle. On the other, the game was for all intents and purposes lost and you only risked injury for everyone involved in a seemingly fruitless play.

So OS, what do you think? Are unwritten rules such as not going full speed on a kneel down important? Or, like Napoleon, should they become a part of history? Could they ever?

Sound off!

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Member Comments

# 1 wat3 @ 09/18/12 03:50 PM

There's no such thing as "unwritten rules". It's either a rule or it's not. I see nothing wrong with a team playing till the very end. Teams don't get "bonus plays" just because it's the end of the game and you're ahead. As soon as that ball is snapped its a live play, you're either ready or you arn't. Don't like that the other team is going to play it out, then don't kneel the ball. Nothing is expected from the opposing team when it comes to a kneel down so if your team is not ready, then that's on your team. For some a coach to get angry for the other team playing to the end says a lot about that coach. He expected the Bucs to lay down but in that game, that was not the case. So prepare your team better Coughlin.

# 2 tril @ 09/18/12 04:01 PM

disagree with WAT3 said.
unwritten rules are technically rules that govern good sportsmanship. In the situation this past weekend, the game was lost. The only thing that could have happened was a player may have gotten injured.
A precedent was set this weekend, and it may change the sportsmanship philosophy in NFL football.

# 3 TreyIM2 @ 09/18/12 04:19 PM

I get unwritten rules and sportsmanship but I also understand that the game is technically not over. Like it's already been said by at least one former NFLer, Mike Golic, usually, the team kneeling says something to the other and their is usually an agreement...but if the other team doesn't agree AND hunkers down low and tight like the Bucs did, the Giants shoulda seen it coming been prepared.to protect the ball and QB.

# 4 Cardot @ 09/18/12 04:19 PM

Then they might as well make a rule that if a winning team has the ability to run out the clock based upon downs and timeouts left for the losing team, then just end the game right there. Why go through the motions?

# 5 thbends @ 09/18/12 04:40 PM

I say... Hit Eli so hard his lazy eye straightens out. Game ain't over till its over.

# 6 btemp @ 09/18/12 04:51 PM

I can't seriously believe that people are suggesting this a "cheap" play. It boggles the mind and demonstrates what's wrong with the NFL today. How can you seriously call a 100% legal opportunity to win the game, even if a long shot, cheap?

Ludicrous.

# 7 keator @ 09/18/12 04:51 PM

this is that college RA RA crap that doesnt fly in the NFL. Bucs had all 2nd half to stop eli and they couldnt and their new coach forgot this aint the BIG EAST any more. STOP the giants in the fourth and you dont have to act like a fake tough guy coach during the Victory Formation.

# 8 keator @ 09/18/12 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wat3


	There's no such thing as "unwritten rules". It's either a rule or it's not. I see nothing wrong with a team playing till the very end. Teams don't get "bonus plays" just because it's the end of the game and you're ahead. As soon as that ball is snapped its a live play, you're either ready or you arn't. Don't like that the other team is going to play it out, then don't kneel the ball. Nothing is expected from the opposing team when it comes to a kneel down so if your team is not ready, then that's on your team. For some a coach to get angry for the other team playing to the end says a lot about that coach. He expected the Bucs to lay down but in that game, that was not the case. So prepare your team better Coughlin.

The bucs laid down the whole second half, so they finally decided to play with 10 seconds to go. This is just another example of a college coach trying to bring that college crap to the NFL.

# 9 btemp @ 09/18/12 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keator


	this is that college RA RA crap that doesnt fly in the NFL. Bucs had all 2nd half to stop eli and they couldnt and their new coach forgot this aint the BIG EAST any more. STOP the giants in the fourth and you dont have to act like a fake tough guy coach during the Victory Formation.

You, sir, are a fool. The Bucs had a chance to win the game by forcing a fumble. Why then call a play at all? Why not call the game with 1:20 on the clock? THAT would look GREAT for the NFL.

# 10 Hooe @ 09/18/12 05:01 PM

In a one-score situation, I have no problem with what Schiano did, and I'm surprised more NFL coaches don't do it. Could force a team interested in protecting its quarterback into calling a handoff instead. This is exactly what happened in the Miracle In The Meadowlands and the Eagles came from behind to beat the Giants despite the Giants' apparent ability to knee the clock out.

In a one-score game, why wouldn't you try to get the ball back by any means necessary?

# 11 jersez @ 09/18/12 05:03 PM

If Eli was injured on that play then he's a scumbag(Schiano), if this were your favorite team's Quarterback then you would feel how all of us giants fans feel, when seeing that play.

# 12 Cryolemon @ 09/18/12 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by btemp


	I can't seriously believe that people are suggesting this a "cheap" play. It boggles the mind and demonstrates what's wrong with the NFL today. How can you seriously call a 100% legal opportunity to win the game, even if a long shot, cheap? Ludicrous.

Exactly. It's like in soccer where the teams give the ball back to the other team after an injury. Fine if you're ahead or it's level, but if you're behind, no way would I do it.

# 13 bigdoc85 @ 09/18/12 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wat3


	There's no such thing as "unwritten rules". It's either a rule or it's not. I see nothing wrong with a team playing till the very end. Teams don't get "bonus plays" just because it's the end of the game and you're ahead. As soon as that ball is snapped its a live play, you're either ready or you arn't. Don't like that the other team is going to play it out, then don't kneel the ball. Nothing is expected from the opposing team when it comes to a kneel down so if your team is not ready, then that's on your team. For some a coach to get angry for the other team playing to the end says a lot about that coach. He expected the Bucs to lay down but in that game, that was not the case. So prepare your team better Coughlin.

Agree 100%. Put in your back-up quarterback if you're worried about injury. This unwritten rule stuff is bogus. Football is a violent game. You know what, if teams start doing what Schiano did, the team with the mall might prefer to run a play rather than just kneel. And you know what, it would make the end of football games a lot more interesting.

# 14 TDenverFan @ 09/18/12 05:22 PM

If you're so worried about injuries, do it from the pistol formation. More botched snaps, but the Qb wouldn't get hit

I like the play, and don't care if someone pulls it on Denver.

# 15 da ThRONe @ 09/18/12 05:29 PM

It's funny some people are acting like kneeling the ball is a favor to the other team. You do it for the benefit of your own team. If your up big it takes away the risk of injuries and if it's a close game teams do it to reduce the chances of turning it over.

# 16 RJTurneR @ 09/18/12 05:42 PM

I give all credit to Greg Schiano. His trying to change the attitude of that team and his doing a great job. It's a mans game. Playing until the final second.. There's nothing wrong with that.

Tom Coughlin needs to man up and stop crying about it.

# 17 RJTurneR @ 09/18/12 05:57 PM

Quote:


	The bucs laid down the whole second half, so they finally decided to play with 10 seconds to go. This is just another example of a college coach trying to bring that college crap to the NFL.

Yes, because teams just stop playing when their ahead, and allow to the other team to score in the final minutes of the game. Is this another unwritten rule?

# 18 ghm125 @ 09/18/12 07:08 PM

dont care either way! play football! but on monday night countdown they had some good observations! if ya can find ot check it out!

# 19 johnnyg713 @ 09/18/12 07:36 PM

People that are saying this isn't a cheap call don't understand the game of football. You kneel the ball to run out the clock at the end of the game if you have the lead. You do this for a number of reasons; to make sure no one gets hurt, not run up the score, etc. This is a man's game, not a game for cry babies. What schiano did was classless. (Oh ya and I'm a Patriots fan)

# 20 AUChase @ 09/18/12 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keator


	The bucs laid down the whole second half, so they finally decided to play with 10 seconds to go. This is just another example of a college coach trying to bring that college crap to the NFL.

What college crap ? I get that people want to call it a "victory formation", but its not just an attempt to show respect. It's naive to overlook the fact that teams also don't want to risk a turnover.

Sent from my Desire HD

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