Safety at end of Super Bowl (or end of any game)

For consideration:

I noticed holding going on in the Ravens punt at the end of the game where it was the Raven's intent to take a saftey which was smart for the punting team to do (hold) since it would give more time for the punter to run around and run seconds off the clock because the holding would prevent receiving team getting to the punter. Of course, if holding is called the receiving team would decline the penalty but damage in time off the clock is already done. Would suggest if holding is called in a situation like this that the safety would be awarded (of course) and that no time be allowed to tick off. In this case clock would have been reset to 12 seconds. In effect the punting team is penalized time and points instead of yards and replay of the down when penalty is accepted. This is still not much time but it is 3 times the amount that was left in this game and  many games have been decided in just a few seconds in all sorts of situations. Of course, if the punting team is not called for holding then the play ends when the punter is tackled, kneels down or steps out of the end zone boundary.

Ed Dickson definitely held. 

Correction: Holding called with ball carrier in endzone is an automatic safety (no replay of down) However this change would keep the holding from allowing extra time to tick off.

I thought this play illustrated some great coaching, or real savvy players.  I am convinced that the offensive line held on purpose, to give the punter more time, knowing there was no down side.  Whether they were coached prior to the play to do that or it was their call, I don't know.  But it was a stroke of genius.  There may be a rule implemented in the future to deter from this technique being used again, but bravo the the Ravens offensive line for using it to the fullest last night!

I thought the end of the game safety was a great play. 

Of course, I may be biased because I had a Ravens-4, 49ers-1 square in my pool.

The Niners were still caught off guard on the play anyway. Jim Harbaugh is supposed to be a great coach, but he got totally outcoached there. And seriously, it's a smart move by Dickson to hold because the net result is the same. And even if he doesn't hold, it probably only saved them 2 or 3 seconds tops considering that the Niners were playing to return the ball.

The play was irrelevant. 

I told my friend, "they are going to take an intentional safety here, if they are smart" and "he should run around as long as possible". What I didn't think of beforehand was the fact that there was no downside in holding and extending the play for as long as possible.

There should be a rule that if there is holding in the endzone in the last two minutes that the safety is awarded but no time comes off the clock. As the rule is now, it seems to favor the team giving up the points, and just seems a little unbalanced. 

Smart coaching by John... 

I don't even see the point in changing the rule. It's such a rare occurrence and it's only done when the situation is hopeless for the other team anyway.

They might look at the rule, but honestly, it's a waste of time. 

Not that I think it would have changed anything but it's pretty rediculous the refs didnt throw the flag.  Obviously not the best ref crew in the NFL and if it is....  Bring back the foot locker zebras.


As for the rule change, there isnt a rule in the game that gives back clock time and they wont start with an intentional safety.... 

It would not have changed a thing, but there is no excuse for not one flag being thrown. The only rule change that I think would help would be to move the clock back to where it was at the beginning of the play.

More importantly, congratulations to all my friends on here who are Ravens fans. You know who you are, bigjimmy, jaywagon, et al. One hell of a season. The Ravens, in the playoffs, won at home, two big wins on the road, then held off a charging 49er team after dominating the first half. Big brother Harbaugh has done a fantastic job for 5 years. NICELY DONE!

I don't even see the point in changing the rule. It's such a rare occurrence and it's only done when the situation is hopeless for the other team anyway.

They might look at the rule, but honestly, it's a waste of time.

i disagree that the situation was "hopeless" for the niners. what if they changed the rule to award the safety and assess the holding penalty on the kickoff. it may make it possible to use the fair catch-free kick. a fieldgoal in that situation would have meant overtime. i doubt they would ever change the rule, but it would have made things a bit more interesting.    

Why change the rule? If a team wants to commit a penalty that gives them an advantage, let them decide whether to do it. It's like when a team takes a delay penalty to give their punter more room. It's perfectly fine, if they are willihng to be penalized. Just because a coach uses an obscure situation to his advanatage doesn't mean it was bad or needs changing.

Had the 49ers not wasted their time outs, the issue would have been moot. The Ravens would have punted from their end zone, giving the 49ers about 1:22 to make a final charge from about midfield.

I was yelling for them to take the safety at the superbowl party I attended, and very glad they did.

In terms of the flags, the refs probably knew it was pointless.  As it stands, no time would have been saved and nothing extra would have been gained from it.

Whether they change the rule or not, can't say I care.  I think I've seen this happen twice in the last three years so it's not like it's a common occurence.

No need to change the rule -- it's part and parcel of the strategy of the game. Think 49ers fans would be complianing about the rule if the shoe were on the other foot? Hell no, they'd be crowing about what a great call Jim Harbaugh made and the great running around Andy Lee did to milk the clock.

Would suggest if holding is called in a situation like this that the safety would be awarded (of course) and that no time be allowed to tick off.

Why?  To give the 49ers more time when they didn't deserve it?  No amount of time was going to help them.  They lost.  No rule changes needed.