If you didn't catch the first half of the Cardinals-Giants game, you missed a pretty big head-scratcher that goes way beyond "I didn't know NFL games could end in a tie."With five seconds left in the first half, Neil Rackers lined up for what they called a free kick. Still confused on what it is? Here is the definition, via Sportaphile.
After a fair catch, an NFL team has the right to take a free kick from the line of scrimmage on the next play. If the kick goes through the uprights, the kicking team scores 3 points. It is also known as a "free kick field goal."Basically, the difference between a free kick and a field goal is that it has to be after a fair catch, there is no snap, the defense has to be 10 yards back of the attempt, the kicker cannot use a tee, and the team can still kick it even if time expired on the fair catch (?). If that last rule is true, it seems like you would have seen one of these used since 1968, the last time someone knocked it in successfully. Rackers didn't.
I hope that helps clear it up. After the jump, there is video of the Cards' attempt from 68 yards out.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-23-2008 @ 7:43PM
Wayne said...
Wow, Rackers wasn't even close.
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 7:48PM
GIANTS FAN said...
WOW. What do the critics have to say about the GMEN now? Arizona played very well but lets give the gmen a little respect...............................
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 7:48PM
nick said...
jesus h. christ. i just about died watching that entire video. and for what? to watch him squib kick it? 2:25... an eternity in suspense for a big limp ending.
=D
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 9:43PM
leslie shepherd's flock said...
yea... those giants get no respect!
...
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 8:44PM
tred said...
How many other teams between the Bears in '68 and the Cards today have attempted a free kick and how many have ever made one?
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 9:28PM
George said...
The Cardinals are only in first place because they play in the weakest division the league has ever had. They are going to get slaughtered in the first round of the playoffs.
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 9:48PM
chuckie said...
Bet most coaches aren't even aware of this one. Been watching football since it's been televised and have never heard of it.
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 10:08PM
Pete Zelinski said...
When Tom Dempsey kicked the record 63 yard field Goal for the Saints in the 60's, it was on a fair catch free kick, so it is a known entity, at least for those of us who are over 50.
Reply
11-30-2008 @ 2:30PM
Lucas said...
Uh, you're wrong, and here's the video to prove it: http://www.cdol.com/saints/dempsey.html
12-28-2008 @ 11:52PM
Bob said...
TOM DEMPSY'S wasn't a free kick. It was a legitament FG.
11-24-2008 @ 1:38AM
nicefellow31 said...
Just to clear things up, a kickoff is also a free kick. The kick that teams do after a safety is a free kick. That is why teams are 10 yards apart. In order to score a FG you have to do either a place kick (normal FG attempts/PAT) or a drop kick. Kicking tees not allowed. All other kicks are scrimage kicks.
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 10:47PM
Jim said...
Did anyone check with Donovan McNabb about this free kick rule?
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 11:31PM
mike said...
100% sure you will see this work for points next week, what i dont understand is if the field goal is good do you still get an offensive position
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 11:44PM
Dr Huxtable said...
I'm 100% sure that you won't. Would you care to make a wager?
And why in the hell would you still get an offensive possession if you make the kick?
11-23-2008 @ 11:35PM
Matt said...
Hahaha Nice work Jim.
Tell Pam that we all said hello.
Reply
11-23-2008 @ 11:42PM
Dr Huxtable said...
"If that last rule is true, it seems like you would have seen one of these used since 1968"
It has been attempted about 20 times in the last 50 years. It's very rare to be in a situation where attempting this makes sense.
Reply
11-24-2008 @ 12:12AM
TexMike said...
The reason you don't see this very often is that most coaches will not punt in such a manner to allow a team to fair catch a punt right before the half or end of the game. I've seen 3-4 attempts in the last 10-15 years - most are not close. BTW-Tom Dempsey's kick was from a center snap, not from a free kick.
Reply
11-24-2008 @ 12:18AM
Brian said...
Found a video of this happening in a HS football game (you can use a Tee in HS). The announcers are classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mMAnYyf8tc
Reply
11-24-2008 @ 12:34AM
Bogroll said...
Where I'm from, in England, in rugby they kick point-afters all the time without a tee. And they have to kick them from any point behind the position where the guy who scored a "try" (touchdown over here), went over the line. Would make PA attempts more interesting in the NFL if the kicker had to make it from a position other than those 20 to 40 yard straight on chip shots, don't you think..? Imagine a field goal kicker having to win the game by making a 50 yarder with the angle from the sideline facing him.
From an ex-pat Brit who loves American Football.
Reply
11-24-2008 @ 3:18AM
Brian Hope said...
I can remember All-Pro HB Paul Hornung successfully making a 50-yard free kick under those circumstances back in the early 1960s. By the way, a tip of the hat to Doug Flutie for being the last person on record to successfully drop-kick a PAT (a neat way to end his career!).
Reply