My question regards enforcement of one of the new rules for 2010. If Eli Manning had been in possession of the ball when his helmet came off last night, would the officials, under the new rule, have immediately blown the play dead? Thanks. -- Andy B.
Yes, under the new rule instituted this year, had Manning (or any offensive player for that matter) been in clear possession of the ball when his helmet came off, the Referee should have blown his whistle and killed the play. Unfortunately, the bal was clearly free at the time that his helmet came completely off and, as a result the action continued.
Another new rule also came into play towards the end of the game when there was a review to see if the Jets QB had scored. As the ruling was that he had not scored and the clock should have continued to run, there could have been a 10 second run-=off. However, the Jets chose to take a time out so there was no run off.