NFL Rules on Cowboys Scoreboard Mess

The biggest off-field story of the week came to an end on Friday when the NFL decided the Dallas Cowboys' 90-foot high video board, the largest in the world at a sporting venue, can stay the same height. The league clarified its rules regarding what happens when a ball hits a video board, guide wire, sky cam or any other object.

"The ball will be dead immediately, and the down will be replayed at the previous spot," the league said in a statement. "If there is not an on-field ruling that the ball struck an object, the Replay Assistant is empowered to initiate a booth review, including if the event occurs prior to the two-minute warning."

Last Friday night, Tennessee Titans backup punter A.J. Trapasso hit the video board in the third quarter of a preseason game at Cowboys Stadium. Officials didn't notice the obstruction until Titans coach Jeff Fisher threw the red challenge flag to notify the referees.

At that time, the play was ruled dead and Trapasso re-kicked.

The Titans, Trapasso and Fisher concluded the video board is too low, but members of the Cowboys, from coach Wade Phillips to punter Mat McBriar said the positioning of the board is fine and that the Titans tried to hit it on purpose.

Fisher, who is co-chair of the competition committee, held a conference call on Monday to talk about the video board and whether or not it should be moved.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the video board isn't moving because there's no reason for it to move, which would cost the Cowboys $2 million.

Earlier this week, Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian spoke out about the situation, noting that when the Colts were planning for Lucas Oil Stadium, which debuted last year, they had punter Hunter Smith kick the ball to ensure a similar interference wouldn't occur. Smith later denied that story.

The 60-yard screens have become the talk of the league since the Cowboys played in their new home last week. The 49ers visit the Cowboys Saturday.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

8-28-2009 @ 2:18PM

lam2ray said...

Go Skins.

Even after spending a billion dollars on their stadium they still cannot get things right.

8-28-2009 @ 3:21PM

YALL said...

FQ all Haters, NAd what have the 49ers done latley??....... Im waiting.........

8-28-2009 @ 5:05PM

me said...

The Cowboys got it right (5 feet above the regulation height), and they shouldn't move it unless the NFL changes the height requirements. The kickers just need to keep their eyes on the ball and off their own images on the big screen.

8-29-2009 @ 4:58PM

trek1956 said...

Actually it was done right, you pinhead moron. The NFL mandates an 85-ft minimum height and the board was built 5-feet above that.

Skins suck.

8-28-2009 @ 2:36PM

mcphinfan said...

So what happens when a team, up by a point or two with less than a minute left in the game, runs the clock down and deliberately kicks into monitors? They just get to re-kick while the other team loses precious seconds they might need to get into field goal range? You're missing the big picture here, because its going to happen. Then the league will be forced to change the rules of the game to accommodate Jerry Jones' ego. I just hope it works against the Cowboy's more than it helps them. We've all seen enough of Coach Jones, both on and off the sidelines, to know he'll be quick to call the "kick it into the monitors" play when it benefits his team.

8-28-2009 @ 3:35PM

Chris said...

Uhh, if they have to re-kick from the previous spot, I'm almost certain that this also means they must kick from the previous TIME, too.

8-28-2009 @ 5:04PM

bakebooey1368 said...

Actually he's right, the rule states that you have to punt the ball again and the TIME DOES NOT GET PUT BACK ON THE CLOCK

8-28-2009 @ 11:58PM

samm said...

idiots...the clock gets reset wen there is a re kick...so there is really no BIG problem...f***** retards

8-28-2009 @ 2:42PM

michiscute said...

I think this isn't fair because of the fact it's going to make the games played in Texas that much longer. And I think that Jerry Jones planned this whole thing. The leauge should have the guts (word I didn't want to us) and say pull the sign up or be ready to have sancations placed against you. This is creating a very special home field advantage for the Cowboys because you can't practice for it, you can't learn to kick around the dang thing, and you I guess the league doesn't have the guts anymore. I highly doubt in Pete Rozell's day he would have allowed such a thing to happen. I also guess this gives other teams now a way to create a home field advantage from here on out. Way to go Goodell, and way to go with Vick!

8-28-2009 @ 2:49PM

ocbrog said...

Hey moron, if they have to re-kick, the clock is reset to where it was in the first place just like every other replayed down in the NFL. Don't you think they thought of that already?

8-28-2009 @ 2:51PM

josephzman63 said...

Two million dollars to raise the screen is like $20 to Jerry Jones. Give me a break. Make them raise it by 2010 or give every team that has to receive a punt an extra five yards added on to their next return. That should fix the problem.

The league is the one that made the rule of nothing lower than 85 feet. The scoreboard is 90 feet up. How can they make the Cowboys change it when they followed the league rule in the first place. There is no reason a punter should hit it unles they want to. You don't punt that high in the middle of the field anyway. You only punt that high when you are trying to pin the ball inside the 20 yard line.

8-28-2009 @ 2:55PM

medinensis said...

The ineptitude of those involved in mounting that sign is staggering. I wonder how much they got paid to do something so obviously boneheaded?

rob said...

Just put a big red Bullseye on the bottom of it. Wade saying the punter did it on purpose, no kidding. Every punter in the league will use it as a target from now on!

8-28-2009 @ 2:59PM

mistertschopp said...

The league will need to tell Jones that his scoreboard needs to be raised after the season is complete. If they don't, then we'll know how the league really feels about its beloved Cowboys. I can't believe that this was allowed to happen in the first place. This would have never been allowed to have happened at any other stadium the league.

8-28-2009 @ 3:06PM

carmelusp said...

Incredible. Built-in scoreboard interference! Wow! Let's just do it over until the punters leg gets tired! OK, so the visiting team with a superior punter will ALWAYS be penalized by not being able to use their strength, i.e. the punting game, to their advantage. So let's say a Ray Guy would have to punt lower, ensuring a runback, or punt with less strength, i.e. shorter. Oh yeah, this is really fair.

Donna F. Wade said...

Well, another example of Money Talks and B.S. Walks when it comes to the owner of America's Team. All that money spent and they (Jones) still did NOT get it right. Tom Landry...where are you when we need you? And Randy White, Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach.............

8-28-2009 @ 3:30PM

Half Fast 5 said...

Wake up Sheeple....The Dallas Cowboys are the most popular and successful franchise in league history by any measure. Ask any owner in the league and he will thank Jerry Jones for the innovative ways he has created to build the Cowboys brand and revenue. Jealousy is not a reason to bash what is absolutely the most fan friendly stadium in the league....FYI you can go for $29.00 a ticket....He met the league guidelines no discussion period! Don't you wish your teams ownership would provide a stadium like this that you could attend for $29.00....Hate him not Jerry.

8-28-2009 @ 3:56PM

mymrmax said...

Ah, half-truths, the weapon of the ill-informed and those defending the guilty. There are no $29 seats in Dallas. The cheapest seats are $59 per ticket. Hmm, who should we believe, Max or Half Fast. I say check it out yourself at the official Dallas Cowboys website: http://www.dallascowboys.com/tickets/newstadiumInteractiveMaps.cfm
Half Fast also failed to note that the only parking lot within reasonable walking distance from the stadium costs $75 to park at. And that was the Pre-Season price. Lord knows how bad JJ will try to rape us during the regular season or even, dare I say it, the Playoffs?

8-28-2009 @ 4:03PM

brian said...

Half Fast 5 said...

Wake up Sheeple....The Dallas Cowboys are the most popular and successful franchise in league history by any measure`````````

Sorry buddy... The Steelers have you there. Most successful? LOL!! You haven even won a playoff game in what.. 13, 14 years?? HAAAAAAAAAA