Just saw this. It should have changed the ending of the game...

The Falcons, clinging to a two-point lead, had 10 men on the field for the Panthers’ final play – a likely Hail Mary attempt from their 20. Smith motioned to an official for a timeout.

Initially, the official signaled timeout but took that back after realizing the team had none remaining.

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera asked an official on the other side of the field why Atlanta was granted a timeout – or at least enough of a break to get another man on the field.

“I was told that they’re not supposed to give it to them,” Rivera said. “You can call all the timeouts you want, they’re not supposed to give it to you.

“The referee should have not blown the whistle and they should have let the play go, and that’s what I was told when I asked, ‘Hey, isn’t that a penalty asking for a fourth timeout when you don’t have one?’

There is no rule for the exact situation the Falcons faced in calling a fourth timeout, but the NFL rule book states that attempting to call a timeout a team doesn’t have to freeze a kicker will be ruled a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Rule 13.3.1u: If an attempt is made to call a timeout in (this situation), the officials shall not grant a timeout, play will continue, and a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be enforced after the down is completed.


So even though Cam fumbled and was stopped short, the Panthers should have been awarded a 15 yard penalty, and kept the drive going...

but it don't matter now.... the games over

Not true, you weren't kicking a FG and we weren't trying to freeze your kicker.  The rules have no penalty for just trying to call a TO you don't have in any other situation.  The ref shouldn't have blown his whistle, but that's not our fault.  Coach Smith is just savvy.  The play was stopped anyway when he did blow his whistle and if there had been a penalty it would have been marked off before the next play where Cam got creamed to end the game so unfortunately, your analysis fails on both ends.

mezmrin wrote: Not true, you weren't kicking a FG and we weren't trying to freeze your kicker.  The rules have no penalty for just trying to call a TO you don't have in any other situation.  The ref shouldn't have blown his whistle, but that's not our fault.  Coach Smith is just savvy.  The play was stopped anyway when he did blow his whistle and if there had been a penalty it would have been marked off before the next play where Cam got creamed to end the game so unfortunately, your analysis fails on both ends.

I agree, the ref shouldn't have blown the whistle. However he did, and that gave time for the 11th player to come onto the field. I'm not saying the Falcons didn't win fair (unlike some Viking fans we know). It's just when I read that, it could have changed the outcome of the game. You can't blame the coach for getting excited and losing count of the TO's, but from the way I read the quote below, IF the ref acknowledges an extra TO, then the team should be penalized for unsportsman behavior.

Rule 13.3.1u: If an attempt is made to call a timeout in (this situation), the officials shall not grant a timeout, play will continue, and a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be enforced after the down is completed.

CANAPANTHERFAN wrote: Just saw this. It should have changed the ending of the game...

The Falcons, clinging to a two-point lead, had 10 men on the field for the Panthers’ final play – a likely Hail Mary attempt from their 20. Smith motioned to an official for a timeout.

Initially, the official signaled timeout but took that back after realizing the team had none remaining.

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera asked an official on the other side of the field why Atlanta was granted a timeout – or at least enough of a break to get another man on the field.

“I was told that they’re not supposed to give it to them,” Rivera said. “You can call all the timeouts you want, they’re not supposed to give it to you.

“The referee should have not blown the whistle and they should have let the play go, and that’s what I was told when I asked, ‘Hey, isn’t that a penalty asking for a fourth timeout when you don’t have one?’

There is no rule for the exact situation the Falcons faced in calling a fourth timeout, but the NFL rule book states that attempting to call a timeout a team doesn’t have to freeze a kicker will be ruled a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Rule 13.3.1u: If an attempt is made to call a timeout in (this situation), the officials shall not grant a timeout, play will continue, and a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be enforced after the down is completed.


So even though Cam fumbled and was stopped short, the Panthers should have been awarded a 15 yard penalty, and kept the drive going...

but it don't matter now.... the games over

You're confusing your "last drive."  The last drive was not the one Cam fumbled on, but after we had taken the lead, and you were going for an 80 yard hail mary on which Cam was sacked.  Outcome would not have changed.  You would simply have need a 65 yard hail mary.

CANAPANTHERFAN wrote:

mezmrin wrote: Not true, you weren't kicking a FG and we weren't trying to freeze your kicker.  The rules have no penalty for just trying to call a TO you don't have in any other situation.  The ref shouldn't have blown his whistle, but that's not our fault.  Coach Smith is just savvy.  The play was stopped anyway when he did blow his whistle and if there had been a penalty it would have been marked off before the next play where Cam got creamed to end the game so unfortunately, your analysis fails on both ends.

I agree, the ref shouldn't have blown the whistle. However he did, and that gave time for the 11th player to come onto the field. I'm not saying the Falcons didn't win fair (unlike some Viking fans we know). It's just when I read that, it could have changed the outcome of the game. You can't blame the coach for getting excited and losing count of the TO's, but from the way I read the quote below, IF the ref acknowledges an extra TO, then the team should be penalized for unsportsman behavior.

Rule 13.3.1u: If an attempt is made to call a timeout in (this situation), the officials shall not grant a timeout, play will continue, and a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be enforced after the down is completed.

also, (this situation) is referring only to trying to freeze a kicker when you don't have a TO.  Coach Smith has already said he knew they didn't have a timeout and he only called it hoping to buy some time to get an 11th guy out there knowing there was no penalty for doing so.  let me repeat....there is NO penalty currently for trying to call a TO you don't have unless its during a FG try. 

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/sports...ect-40_57586913

mezmrin wrote:

CANAPANTHERFAN wrote:

mezmrin wrote: Not true, you weren't kicking a FG and we weren't trying to freeze your kicker.  The rules have no penalty for just trying to call a TO you don't have in any other situation.  The ref shouldn't have blown his whistle, but that's not our fault.  Coach Smith is just savvy.  The play was stopped anyway when he did blow his whistle and if there had been a penalty it would have been marked off before the next play where Cam got creamed to end the game so unfortunately, your analysis fails on both ends.

I agree, the ref shouldn't have blown the whistle. However he did, and that gave time for the 11th player to come onto the field. I'm not saying the Falcons didn't win fair (unlike some Viking fans we know). It's just when I read that, it could have changed the outcome of the game. You can't blame the coach for getting excited and losing count of the TO's, but from the way I read the quote below, IF the ref acknowledges an extra TO, then the team should be penalized for unsportsman behavior.

Rule 13.3.1u: If an attempt is made to call a timeout in (this situation), the officials shall not grant a timeout, play will continue, and a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be enforced after the down is completed.

also, (this situation) is referring only to trying to freeze a kicker when you don't have a TO.  Coach Smith has already said he knew they didn't have a timeout and he only called it hoping to buy some time to get an 11th guy out there knowing there was no penalty for doing so.  let me repeat....there is NO penalty currently for trying to call a TO you don't have unless its during a FG try. 

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/sports...ect-40_57586913

Yep, its called smart coaching, pure and simple.....

I can see this being addressed during the offseason to clarify the rule. But mistakes happen all the time. I think we can agree, it was a very good game. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

and here we go

I wasn't here to flame the fire. I was just saying there was several little calls/noncalls that go on every game that could have changed the outcome.

The Falcons deserved the win, just like the Panthers would have if they came out with the higher score. It was a very good game.

Yeah, that one sack over 60 minutes...he really took a beating.

I do think it should be a penalty, though it wouldn't have changed the outcome of this game. It's an obvious loophole that gives you an advantage, it should be changed. Chris Webber probably disagrees.

Gatom wrote: I wish they would have called a penalty so we could have another shot at Cam.

Gatom wrote: Didn't think you were, I just like getting seeing Cam hitting the deck.

i honetly enjoyed seen the New NFL Golden Girl Matty Ryan on her ass 7 times 

kepickle wrote:

Gatom wrote: Didn't think you were, I just like getting seeing Cam hitting the deck.

i honetly enjoyed seen the New NFL Golden Girl Matty Ryan on her ass 7 times 

Dam pickle, some cold sheet, LOL ...Ryan always pops up though !   

We are the better team so we would of won no matter what the outcome. Get over it! We have a few seats left for people trying to jump on the bandwagon, so get on aboard.

Falcons are the better team, but I don't think you we're Sunday.

We won, the better team always win. It's old news now. We're getting ready for rg3 and y'all better be getting ready for the Seahawks.

Seattle was better than GB?

Yea they were. Seattle played a great game but no one talked about that only about the bad call or no call on the push off at the end.