Question for TXMIKE

[lepfan]

When the refs are going to measure for a 1st down...arent'tyou supposed to take the chains to the ball? The refs tonight picked the ball up and took it close to the side line where the chains were located,measured and then took the ball about ten yards or so closer to the center of the field and measured again. That seemed a bit strange. I thought you always were supposed to take the chains to wherever the ball was. I was just wondering why they might have done this...thanks.

[TXMike]

What is supposed to happen is that the ball goes to the foot of whichever official is marking forward progress. Example: Runner is tackled in the center of the field. The line judge comes in to mark the forward progress spot but stops at the hash mark because there are players between there and where the run ended. The ball should be taken over to the spot where the line judge is and put down at his foot. Maybe in your play the offricial had to stay out near the sideline as there were players between him and the dead ball spot. So they took the ball out to him. The side officials are told to come in as close to the dead ball spot as they can on close plays but they are not supposed to run around or jump over other players to do so.