Bucs vs Giants end of game

I understand that it's a live play with time on the clock, but if TB is going to do that, then naturally the NYG are going to have to line up for the snap ready to defend themselves as well.  What if the situation was reversed.  TB lines up intending not to do anything and the NYG lineman dive at the knees of the TB lineman?  Is that dirty...or is that just the NYG protecting themselves against something that never happens?

To me, it's like when UFC fighters touch gloves at the beginning of a round.  Just because I stick my hand out to touch gloves, it doesn't mean I can't pull it back and then clock you in the face.  It's perfectly within the rules, but highly frowned upon.  At the same time, I have seen fighters before the fight signal to the other fighter that they will not touch gloves (giving them fair warning) and then bull rush them at the start of the round. 

When the NYG line up to kneel the ball, they are basically saying something to the effect of "touch gloves".  If TB wanted to go and force a fumble, I think they "should" let NYG know they will do so...then it's fair game.  To me, the kneel down is an unwritten rule.  And it's one thing to blast a guy up high and push him back...but to dive at a guys knees is totally uncalled for IMO.

Again, there is nothing in the rules of the game to back my opinion...but it's just that...my opinion.

My two teams are the Giants and Tampa Bay so I had a lot of skin in this game.

However, why does NY get to dictate the game?.  Why do they get to say the game is over with time on the clock.  You line up ready to play football.  Otherwise why not have the option for NY to just say, we're done.  No need to even take the knee.

Remember the Miracle at the Meadowlands.  A screwed up snap results in a fumble and an upset.  Anything can happen.

If they were down by 2 scores I'd agree.  It's cheap.  But in that game we had what, 4 scores in the last 10 mins?  It was still anyone's game.

So you are telling me it was impossible for Eli to mishandle the snap (catches on the center's leg) drop the ball and have the defense run it back.  That's simply not true.

Low chance?  Sure.  Impossible.  Nope.

Like I said.  If it's "impossible" then why even force them to snap the ball and run a play.  Just call the game and save everyone the extra 4 seconds.

You race to the finish, you play to the whistle.  The clock decides when the game is over, not the players.  If someone is 4 minutes ahead in the last couple miles of the run can they just call a judge and tell them that it's obvious that they're going to win so let's just call this thing off?

It's a live play.  Wasn't there a quarterback (I'm thinking Marino or Elway but I can't remember for sure) who signaled that he was going to spike it to the defense then threw a pass?  They didn't break the rules.  What will happen is that opponents will be on their toes when they want to kneel at the end of a game.

I would have respected the Bucs a bit more if they hadn't given up over 500 yards passing.

Wow, I actually can't believe it is being defended. No, you do not play for every second. If you put your self in the position to take a knee to end the game and collect the victory... then it is the other teams job to not allow that to happen.

The Bucs didn't blow it in the final 4 seconds, they blew the whole game getting them to that .04. Game over, so sorry, do better next time.

No different in boxing... the guy protects a known lead and the other guy can't catch up...tough cookies, you should not have let that happen. You should have knocked him out.

Cycling... ettiquet. You do not attack misfortune. You beat him fair and square on his bike.

Every sport has a sportsmanship. A kneel down, is a kneel down, is a kneel down. It will happen hundreds of times this season and the next and the next. Game over, stop being such a cry baby. Beat them fair and square on their feet next time. Totaly classless.

Let's see.  It worked twice while he was at Rutgers...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/17/rutgers-twice-forced-victory-formation-fumbles-under-schiano/

And this talk about "blowing" the game...  The Buc's defense did fall apart a bit at the end but please recall the Giants only went ahead with less than 1 min on the clock.  It's not like it was a blowout.

You guys are getting soft. It's football.  Not some pansy sport like baseball.

Say what? Wow.

Jerry Jones has made a statment on this, so I guess the discussion should be over.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/18/jerry-jones-thinks-kneel-downs-should-be-banned/related/

My original post got deleted - probably too much anger and bad language.  But to this post X1,000!  This isn't college, it's the NFL.  There's a protocol.  You're not going to cause a fumble on a kneel-down and run it into the end zone with 4 seconds left.  The only thing that could probably happen is an injury.  Bad move.  Bad sportsmanship.  Bad everything!