iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Replies

Rodger Sherman @rodger.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Last night, my football dreams came true. A play I’ve yelling about online for about a decade happened in an actual NFL game—the first fair catch kick since 1978. Here’s everything there is to know about this impossibly rare play, the NFL’s vestigial tailbone: open.substack.com/pub/rodgersh...

open.substack.com

Everything you need to know about the fair catch kick, football's vestigial tailbone

Thursday night, the Chargers made history by converting on a play that hadn't been successful in FORTY SIX YEARS

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The Only Good Jared @jaredpeacedout.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

This happened in a high school game around here in Western PA recently. People were sharing it like "What the hell is this???" And I'm just like "MY TIME TO SHINE, BABY"

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Some Guy @someguyfromtwitter.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Actual question: If a team was punting in a windy, icy game - the kicker slips - and the punt is fair caught at just the 8 yard line (free kick chosen), what would be proper procedure for the defense? By rule they have to be 10 yards back but the ball isn't even 10 yards into play...

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Katie (Taylor's Version) @chairbythewindow.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I don't watch football and I have no idea what any of this means, but I can feel the excitement radiating from this article and I love it omg

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💙💛🌻🇺🇦#FondantFella#🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦🇬🇪🇺🇳🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏴‍☠️ @fondantonfriday.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Catching Al Michaels unaware is really not that difficult. 😏

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Lucky Dog Hot Sauce @luckydoghotsauce.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I loved it. I remember when Harbaugh tried it with the 49ers. At the time I was confused and thought he’d lost his damn mind.

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Liberal Patriot Who Remembers His Oath @ormazd72.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I saw the Bears beat Packers with one in 1968. Good times!

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Sparkly @emsparkly.net · 20/12/2024

For some reason I remember doing these a whole lot in Madden 08 lol

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Tim Baker @shirleyboy55.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Props to you for dropping a Dayton Triangle's reference! Triangle Park is just up the street from where I live.

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Little Free Library SkyView @lfl111195.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Thank you. I did not get a reasonable answer from the Thursday night crew.

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SanDiegoan @solana77.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

As I always have said, you can tell the measure of a man by the internet's reaction to the most random play in football and how they connect that play to that man! We are all so happy for you Rodger!

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Sickos Committee @sickoscommittee.org · 20/12/2024

I’m so happy for you.

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paulmc @pmac.me · 20/12/2024

Love seeing the lesser known rules being used in real games! BTW, Gaelic Football does have a mark. It was introduced a few years ago, but not many like it. And Gaelic Football is not descended from rugby. It was codified in 1884, but had existed in a for at least 200 years before that.

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ade909.bsky.social @ade909.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Fantastic, thanks for writing it up! Now if the NFL would only adopt onside punts like in Canada…

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zamspurs.bsky.social @zamspurs.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

Next weird rule to see again is the drop kick field goal ala Doug Flutie en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_kick

en.wikipedia.org

Drop kick - Wikipedia

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CDogTx @cdogtx.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

How ‘bout a drop kick !? I think Flutie tried one in a blowout game? What I want to see is a player give a nod to rugby and down the ball in the end zone after a touchdown.

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Missy @vtgrnvet.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

That was very well done!

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No War with Iran @precogdissonant.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Same. More rare than an unassisted triple play in baseball. Next on my NFL bucket list is to see a 1 point safety during a PAT attempt.

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samherts.bsky.social @samherts.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Good read, thank you for the history lesson!

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Burt Ferguson @achad.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

First SUCCESSFUL one

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Corey Dietz @coreydietz.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Great post and article. Very informative

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stewartdompe.bsky.social @stewartdompe.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

That was a pleasure to read and your joy about it is infections. Well done!

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Buzz Bishop 🇨🇦 @buzzbishop.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Look up the rouge in CFL. And kicking back instead of catching and running.

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Rob Pannoni @rob-pannoni.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Damn. I turned this game off too soon. I missed a chance to witness history. And by history , I mean the Chargers not folding at the end of a close game.

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frestly.bsky.social @frestly.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Always wondered if punters that can boom a kick 70+ yards from the line of scrimmage have ever tried to put one through the uprights - say from their own 30 yard line? That would be a hell of a thing, fair catch on a kickoff (brings ball out to the 30) and then an attempted free (drop) kick.

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Garry D. 💙🌊🦋 @garry1369.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I had been wondering about this for years. It was on the books when I played in HS. Wondered if it still was legal.

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JoanieP1 @nelagirl.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It was pretty cool !

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J-Dave @j-dave.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

All it needed to be *really* perfect was this

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Jersey General @jerseygeneral.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

> the first fair catch kick since 1978 The first successful one

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Wallbert Paulson @pallwall.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

We would show a video, but the leg breakers at the NFL™️©️ have asked us to consider the safety of our families.

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Christine O'Dell @christine-odell.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I kept asking what was happening... Thank you for sharing.

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Mike Pirrotta @psychprof85.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

15ish years ago, one of the top announcers was obsessed with saying this was possible - and I've been trying to figure out who. Madden, I think?

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David Dennison @daviddennison.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

That was pretty fucking cool.

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mrteamster.bsky.social @mrteamster.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

This is why San Francisco should never have parted ways with Harbaugh.

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Gorgood@bsky.social @gorgood.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Fun fact. The term touchdown is both a rugby holdover and early gridiron rule, where the ball had to be touched to the ground in the end zone for the score to count. (That rule was changed to the modern day rule 1889)

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wnsim2.bsky.social @wnsim2.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Naw. First made fair catch kick since 1978. Last attempt was I think around 2018ish?

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Laura Perlinna 🇺🇦 🇨🇦 💙 🏃 🐕 @herewegoagainagain.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Loved this!

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limitedtimekyle.bsky.social @limitedtimekyle.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Great write up!

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Red Herring @nobadcoffee.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Great article. I love this weird stuff too. Not sure if it's legal in the NFL but in CFL rules you get a fresh set of downs if you dribble kick the ball over the line of scrimmage and recover it. youtube.com/shorts/NHu55...

youtube.com

You’ll only see this unique punt in the CFL! #football #cfl #cflfootball

YouTube video by CFL

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Johnny Law and the Disturbance @handle.invalid · 20/12/2024

It would have been super cool and interesting, if it didn’t contribute to a broncos loss

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Yak @yakapcsin.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I always wondered why no one ever tried it!

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Gramophoneman @gramophoneman.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I liked it

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Nathan M @nathanmesser.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Funny as hell as always

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petemarus.me @petemarus.me · 20/12/2024

Football needs these plays to come back. I’m dying to see another drop kick

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Granite Geek NH @granitegeeknh.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

this column is very good, said this person who doesn't care about football.

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thedougman.bsky.social @thedougman.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It's so beautiful

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Kill Them with Kindness @dcepaul.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

The last frontier is now seeing a team loose 6-1.

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Lemonface @civildiscourse4.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Wow I never knew about this. Really good article too btw, hilarious.

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Ryan @rminmurrr.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Is a fair catch kick possible in Madden??

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andytaraschke.bsky.social @andytaraschke.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I was at the ‘84 Colts game this happened. He missed the attempt.

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anderson .caak @shopnsave.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

we executed a kick to catch play in jv while I was in high school and it summarily confused everyone in attendance except our coach and the kicker. it is a fantastically silly football outcome. It should count as four points to make it even weirder

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Todd Brock @toddbrock.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

This is spectacular.

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josenorte.bsky.social @josenorte.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

great read!!

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Crisis Actor Bagger Vance @mrbrendan23.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

The NFL play equivilant of you being in person for a Purdue Fetty Wap during Road Rodge

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WooDysc @woodysc.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It's not the first fair catch kick since 1978. Joey Slye attempted one for Panthers in 2019, but didn't make it. I guess since it was the Panthers no one saw it.

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Zarathustra @parabellum2.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

😀👍

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Brian Grant @briangrant.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Great stuff.

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VonScheid @vonscheid.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It is like the Halley’s Comet of football. It’s was crazy. Literally will remember that forever. 👍

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A. Elms @elmsandr.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I love the fair catch kick. I just hate that Harbaugh is the proponent of it.

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patos heridos @mcd410x.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Well done, I even knew it came from calling 'mark' in rugby (:

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maryinseattle.bsky.social @maryinseattle.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I don't watch football, but I looked at this play and now I'm excited

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mrandypearce.bsky.social @mrandypearce.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

“the NFL’s vestigial tailbone” …. May have just spat my drink out 😂

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Jason Barr @old-jb.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

A delightful read!

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Mr. Niss @mrniss.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

That was great. You got a new subscriber ... and when I have a chance to read some of your other stuff, I'll likely upgrade to paid. Nice job. I really enjoyed that article. I've been praying for a fair catch/free kick since I learned of the rule in the mid-80s.

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Milhouse the 25th @milhouse25.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Not the first kick, the first completed kick. Rackers kicked one form 70+ a while ago. Missed badly though.

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PatriotBoy2025 @patriotboy2025.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

If it's that great, teams would do it all the time. Like Belicek wouldn't have done that in 15 years if it was great?

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Todd V @toddv2.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Pretty sure this wasn't in too many other play books, but wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a weekly thing now.

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Pseu! @pseudoboss.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I don't even like football, but that was interesting.

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Jason Kirk @jasonkirk.fyi · 20/12/2024

You when the special teams thing hasn't happened since the 1970s

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slyce.bsky.social @slyce.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Outstanding work! This may be your piece de resistance! Bring back the free catch kick in college!

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Gerald Weinand @dirigoblue.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Actually the first converted kick since 1978 - there was one tried and missed in London a couple years back

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Truth to Power 🇺🇸 VLG @vlgambini.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It's awesome! The game is not just "dumb football players." Having complex rules that each team must try to use to their advantage is part of the glory of the game. It's not boring and predictable like most others. It's chess with human players or mini war. It's fantastic!

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AllIrishSport @allirishsport.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Absolutely not having Gaelic Football as descending from rugby. A fprm of "Gaelic Football" was played in Ireland from the 14th century!

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Aaron Devos @adevos.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Thanks for the explanation, the article is well written and hilarious. I'm not a huge College Football fan, definitely NFL first, and I've never been able to put into words what exactly turns me off about the college level. Now I have it: "general aura of nonsense" 😆

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jefe315.bsky.social @jefe315.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Great article!

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namedbev.bsky.social @namedbev.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

That was a remarkable thing to see.

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The Kid in The Hall @froedb.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It's one of the last vestiges of football's rugby origins. Good on Harbaugh for knowing the rules.

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RobbDogg @robbdogg.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

This makes me happy for you

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Jewish Space Laser Technician @bigtparker.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It was 1976. This was only made possible by the 15 yard penalty for fair catch interference. Since the other team can run these back, Harbaugh would not have tried it from 72 yards.

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Sophie @sophie667.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

When a rule so rare it feels like a football urban legend actually gets used The NFL never fails to surprise us even after decades

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Captain Commonsense @captaincommonsense.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Now we just need a 1-Point Safety in the pros, and it's a wrap.

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Jb410s @jbrenner15.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Tired: wishbone offense. Wired: all PI offense Inspired: tailbone offense.

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Thomas [DARK MODE], DO @tom.medsky.social · 20/12/2024

Do Dicker fantasy owners get points for this?

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The Best Captain @thebestcapt.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Was so amazing!

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Silky Milk Tea @silkymilktea.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

When football nerd dreams become reality, it’s a beautiful thing. Forty-six years in the making, and totally worth the wait.

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Jim Kilgus @pokerrph.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Actually Carolina attempted in 2019 but missed. First successful kick in 50’ish years…..

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JT Displays @jtdisplays.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Maybe the rules committee needs to take a look at how we can get more of these next year

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SuttonimpaQt, JD 🌴⚜️ @suttonimpaqt.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Great read! My takeaways: 1. Bring back the fair catch kick rule in CFB 2. Thank goodness we invented color 3. The highlight reel of nice marks was good ✓ 😂

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angelalove101.bsky.social @angelalove101.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Saw it. Awesome!

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Cavalrysword @cavalrysword.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I remember the last one, I was surprised this was still a rule.

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Shepley, Bradford @bradiufan.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

I remember watching Paul Horning's end of half kick against Duh Bears in 64, I was 11. Was amazed at what was happening!!!!

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Joshua J. Freundel @lawlawcoolj.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Didn’t the Patriots try one in like 2014? I remember them using some obscure rule, I thought it was the fair catch kick.

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Ewart, Dave @davidewart.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

..", if you watch our sport’s Australian cousin, you’ll see the living, breathing equivalent of the fair catch kick on almost every play2. In Aussie rules, whenever a player catches a ball that’s been kicked a certain distance, they’re awarded a mark. Play stops and everybody backs off. " or not

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gearoidmm @gearoidmm.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Gaelic Football does have a mark. It was only introduced recently and came from Aussie rules via the compromise rules games that they played against each other and it is still quite controversial. It makes kicking more likely (better than all the handpassing recently) www.gaa.ie/the-gaa/rule...

gaa.ie

The Mark

Applicable in rule in 2024 2.12 Mark The Referee shall award a Mark in either ofthe following circumstances: (a) When a player catches the ball cleanly from a kick-out, without it touching the ground,...

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Len Hanger @lenhanger.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Cool Story!!! Thanks!! I had no idea it was possible.

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turnoverbone.bsky.social @turnoverbone.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

My favorite thing about this is that every box score (even on nfl.com) lists it as a FG, despite the fact that it is not a FG.

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darrenkilbride.bsky.social @darrenkilbride.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Nicely explained with historical context, here's hoping you don't have to wait too long for the next one .

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S Conrad @skopi.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

It is a bit of a surprise that's that rare. Make your opponent kick from their end zone with a few seconds left in a half. A fair catch at the 50 means a 60 yd field goal which many kickers can do these days. I was excited to see it too!

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BlueGreenMikey @bluegreenmikey.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Can I just say that Aussie rules is AWESOME and I wish it would catch on here in the States

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The Harlander ✅ @harlander-1.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Excellent review of something I had no idea about.

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Lyle Landry @lyletheacadian.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

I saw it happen one time in a HS game after a personal foul on the extra point. The team made the free kick to win the game and the announcers had no idea what was going on

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