Onside kick recoveries

[NoCalMike]

If I understand correctly, once a player recovers the ball and is touched a player of the opposing team, they are considered DOWN. Now everytime there is an onside kick, the officials don't even get to the pile before the player is already DOWN and the ball has probably switched hands and possession about three times, and at least half the time, a different player emerges from the pile with the ball. My question is, why not make instant replay or "aid from the video replay equipment" mandatory on these players where there is no way the official could have seen who initially had the ball?

[Guest Vitamin X]

Because the NFL's competition committee is full of pompous assholes.

[2GOLD]

Cause the onside kick recovery, much like any fumble recovery is meant to be a big pile on.

 

That's what makes it exciting and fun. Without it, it's just another boring kick-off play.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Definitely. Knowing that there's been guys like Jack Lambert who would bite people at the bottom of piles, the fight for the ball holds my interest.

[Crimson Platypus]

I disagree, I think it's completely stupid that 5-6 people can jump on top of the pile the way they do. I have always felt that what should happen in a pile up is this: The ref walks up, taps a guy on the shoulder - that guy then gets off the pile. If not, bam 5 yard penalty. Next guy... tap, gone. The random pulling and shit is out of control, and it never ceases to amaze me when they call possession of the ball before getting to the bottom of the pile. (the only exception would be the rare ref who is willing to jump on and dig into the pile to determine possession himself)

 

 

Oh and this is coming from someone who, in high school football, made a name for himself by jumping on piles and giving kidney punches, charlie horses, cup checks, etc..

[NoCalMike]

Well I think my point was missed. I don't have a problem with the pile up per se, because technically everyone is moving so fast they can't just pull up and stop. I am saying that instant replay should be used to determine who really had posession of the ball when the ball was downed. None of this player gets ball, pile on ensues, ball changes hands three times, and whoever happens to have the ball when the officials end the pile up, gets posession of the ball...BULLSHIT.

[Crimson Platypus]

Ah gotcha, you're right I misunderstood. Yeah I agree with that, seems like the only way to really determine who got the ball - first guy to have possession probably never (I'd say less than 10% of the time) ends up with it. Seeing as how being on the ground, with possession, being touched by an opposing player would be considered down and the play dead.