Possible rules change to stop fake injuries

[BamaNation]

They're proposing to take away timeouts and/or 5yd delay penalty. I don't think that's enough. I think take away a timeout + 5 yd penalty + player is ineligible to return for the entire series. THAT will put a stop to this quick-like.

Fake injuries could cost teams timeout, penalty

College football players going down with injuries after the ball is spotted could cost the team a timeout or penalty.

www.espn.com

 

[AlistarWills]

They are trying to convince teams that they shouldn’t do it. They should me forcing the teams not to do it. Unless there’s some really severe consequence to the offending team, then it won’t stop. They’ve proven this concept with the field storming issue.

 

[Elefantman]

How about if you fall down injured after the ball is spotted, your team will have to play the next play with only 10 players.

 

[BamaNation]

How about if you fall down injured after the ball is spotted, your team will have to play the next play with only 10 players.

let's add that to my +'s

I'm for all of the above ... at the same time.

 

[BamaBoySince89]

They're proposing to take away timeouts and/or 5yd delay penalty. I don't think that's enough. I think take away a timeout + 5 yd penalty + player is ineligible to return for the entire series. THAT will put a stop to this quick-like.

Fake injuries could cost teams timeout, penalty

College football players going down with injuries after the ball is spotted could cost the team a timeout or penalty.

www.espn.com

I’m with this. You fake an injury you leave the felid and go get evaluated and you can’t come back for 1 series, with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I don’t like the proposal because it puts the onus on the refs to determine what’s a fake and what’s not.

Just make it a simple rule…If we have to stop the game for your injury, you sit out until a change of possession.

Enhances player safety and would greatly reduce faking.

If coaches start subbing in scrubs who immediately “get hurt,” we’ll address that.

 

[TENNTIDE1]

I like the idea of punishment of a timeout and/or penalty yardage, minimum of 10 yards, and maybe lose a down. Maybe if it occurs in the last 3 minutes of a game or something.

As far as punishing the player, it may be harder to do. I think they could still scam the system. Not sure how to work around that part.

 

[Con]

@BamaNation, I think you may be on the wrong thread.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I like the idea of punishment of a timeout and/or penalty yardage, minimum of 10 yards, and maybe lose a down. Maybe if it occurs in the last 3 minutes of a game or something.

As far as punishing the player, it may be harder to do. I think they could still scam the system. Not sure how to work around that part.

Who determines whether the injury is fake or not?

Some are obvious. Others, not so much. If it's a judgment call by the refs (whether on the field or in the box), that'll just encourage a more subtle approach with better acting.

Just make it a simple, "If we have to stop the game for you, you sit out for the longer of (1) when you're physically able to participate again, or (2) the rest of that possession."

 

[TENNTIDE1]

Who determines whether the injury is fake or not?

Some are obvious. Others, not so much. If it's a judgment call by the refs (whether on the field or in the box), that'll just encourage a more subtle approach with better acting.

Just make it a simple, "If we have to stop the game for you, you sit out for the longer of (1) when your physically able to participate aga in, or (2) the rest of that possession."

 

[TENNTIDE1]

I am in agreement with your post. It is a judgement call. But when do the fake injuries occur? When a team needs a breather, or the team needs a timeout and doesn't have one or doesn't want to spend one. Do we want to leave medical issues up to officials? Let the scamming of fake injuries continue if no one can determine if it is fake or not. We all know it is happening; how do you fairly enforce it is the question. That is above my pay grade.

 

[BamaFan6462]

I am in agreement with your post. It is a judgement call. But when do the fake injuries occur? When a team needs a breather, or the team needs a timeout and doesn't have one or doesn't want to spend one. Do we want to leave medical issues up to officials? Let the scamming of fake injuries continue if no one can determine if it is fake or not. We all know it is happening; how do you fairly enforce it is the question. That is above my pay grade.

As unpopular as targeting calls are, I don’t think we need to give SEC refs another subjective penalty they can flag. I’d give it maybe two seasons before Autrey’s crew flags a player with a leg folded backwards for this and costs his team a ball game as a result.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I am in agreement with your post. It is a judgement call. But when do the fake injuries occur? When a team needs a breather, or the team needs a timeout and doesn't have one or doesn't want to spend one. Do we want to leave medical issues up to officials? Let the scamming of fake injuries continue if no one can determine if it is fake or not. We all know it is happening; how do you fairly enforce it is the question. That is above my pay grade.

As unpopular as targeting calls are, I don’t think we need to give SEC refs another subjective penalty they can flag. I’d give it maybe two seasons before Autrey’s crew flags a player with a leg folded backwards for this and costs his team a ball game as a result.

You enforce it fairly -- and keep the SEC officials out of it -- with a simple rule that takes judgment out of the equation.

We stop the game for your injury, you're out for the rest of that possession.

It's simple. It's easily enforceable, even for an SEC ref, precisely because there's no judgment involved. If you're genuinely hurt, it's a move toward player safety. If you're faking, it's a deterrent.

 

[carder24]

You enforce it fairly -- and keep the SEC officials out of it -- with a simple rule that takes judgment out of the equation.

We stop the game for your injury, you're out for the rest of that possession.

It's simple. It's easily enforceable, even for an SEC ref, precisely because there's no judgment involved. If you're genuinely hurt, it's a move toward player safety. If you're faking, it's a deterrent.

I initially agree with this, thinking the right move is to take the player out for a series. Takes the guess work out of it for on field refs, because no way would it be evenly or fairly applied as far as penalties are concerned.

On the other hand, this could be still be such a deterrent that we could have players that are hurt and might need to come off, staying on. That should be coach, staff, player decision, but what if ref steps in and calls a player injured - and that impacts the series?

Maybe fake injuries can be monitored by league office? Take the call off the field. Usually obvious to us watching. Would that be more effective for worst offenders or less controversial, who knows. Right now it’s an embarrassing sportsmanship issue, penalties or playing time is going to have some major controversy at some point.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

As unpopular as targeting calls are, I don’t think we need to give SEC refs another subjective penalty they can flag. I’d give it maybe two seasons before Autrey’s crew flags a player with a leg folded backwards for this and costs his team a ball game as a result.

Remember in the NFL when Damar Hamlin collapsed after the play was over? It would not shock me to see someone like Autrey to throw a flag before he knew what really happened

 

[selmaborntidefan]

It's amazing to me we can do video review for almost anything and still get the spot wrong - but we can't use video review for THIS. We've all seen many teams suddenly tell a guy to drop so they can switch out players.

Like this one:
Auburn and Gus Malzahn faking injury

(The added element of hypocrisy from a guy whose entire coaching resume was built on trickery was rich, but that's not my point).

If that can be seen on video at ESPN, the officials sure as hell can know about it. That's an OBVIOUS case.

Okay, what about less obvious cases?

If you have timeouts, it's a timeout. Period. Even if it's real. It's a timeout.
If you have none and you're on defense, ten seconds ADDED to the clock.
If you have none and you're on offense, ten seconds REMOVED from the clock.

 

[Elefantman]

Have an injured player removed from the game until a change of possession. An injured player can return early after sitting out one play by having his team call a time out.

 

[Redwood Forrest]

Having read all te comments thus far I think the fairest thing to both players and refs is a 15-yard penalty for falling down after the ball is spotted. If that fails to work, then add loss of down to the 15-yards.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Have an injured player removed from the game until a change of possession. An injured player can return early after sitting out one play by having his team call a time out.

I can live with this.

 

[MOAN]

Why can't instant replay be used to determine if there is a fake injury going on and give the offending team a 15 yard penalty if determined to be fake? Yeah I know players and coaches will say they weren't faking but they already claim they didn't hold, interfere, etc. There is always time for replay to determine an obvious fake since a time out for the injury is already called, so shouldn't affect the game time.