Kevin Stefanski on Rashard Higgins’ fumble: “Our rule is not to touch the ball”



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USA TODAY Sports

Football’s worst rule raised its obnoxious heard Sunday in Kansas City, pricking the Browns on a game that looked like a touchdown for Cleveland but ended up being a touchdown for the Chiefs.

After the game, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about the game.

“I will never doubt the effort of Rashard Higgins or the effort of our guys,” Stefanski told reporters after the game. “Our rule there is not to shoot the ball when it’s first and the goal, and he knows it. Again, [I] appreciate his efforts. He fought like he always does, but we have to fight that urge because it’s such a big loss if it ends up being a touchdown.

Stefanski is right. And the Browns’ house rule is correct, considering the absurd NFL rule that would have given Cleveland possession over the fumble if he had gone out of bounds at the one-inch line but gave to the Chiefs possession of 20 because the ball went in and out of the end zone.

The biggest problem with the rule is this: it penalizes effort. Yes, there is a chance that a fumble in the end zone will be recovered by the defense. If so, the defense should get the ball back. If it is not recovered before it is out of play, the rule should not be different from if the ball goes out of bounds within 100 yards of the green.


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