4th down interceptions

[bachslunch]

I think it was the Bills' Leodis McKelvin (correct me if I'm mistaken) who intercepted a ball on fourth down once inside his own 5-yard line and was defended by a teammate who said something like, "You don't make the Pro Bowl for batting down balls."

And as the finalist nomination of Everson Walls shows, it doesn't help your HoF case any either.

[John Grasso]

As soon as I saw that play I immediately thought of this thread. He was shown sitting on the bench soon after with a "what have I done?" ashamed look on his face.

As soon as I saw that play I thought "Too bad he's not a member of PFRA - then he would have known what to do"

[Mark L. Ford]

Well, we've seen another one. Mike Adams intercepted Drew Brees on 4th and 2 in the final minutes of today's game. Adams actually did fumble, but the ball went out of bounds. He cost Carolina 16 yards of field position. Carolina actually drove down to the 21 yard line before an intentional grounding penalty moved them back.

Inexcusable. And Adams is 36 years old... He's not a novice.

In watching the play, I got the impression that Adams deliberately fumbled out of bounds after he realized his blunder, hoping that the officials would think that he hadn't maintained control of the ball.

[rhickok1109]

Well, we've seen another one. Mike Adams intercepted Drew Brees on 4th and 2 in the final minutes of today's game. Adams actually did fumble, but the ball went out of bounds. He cost Carolina 16 yards of field position. Carolina actually drove down to the 21 yard line before an intentional grounding penalty moved them back.

Inexcusable. And Adams is 36 years old... He's not a novice.

In watching the play, I got the impression that Adams deliberately fumbled out of bounds after he realized his blunder, hoping that the officials would think that he hadn't maintained control of the ball.

I thought that, too.

[JuggernautJ]

I think it was the Bills' Leodis McKelvin (correct me if I'm mistaken) who intercepted a ball on fourth down once inside his own 5-yard line and was defended by a teammate who said something like, "You don't make the Pro Bowl for batting down balls."

I was told "What's the matter? Don't you want to be on the highlight reel?!" after I batted down a ball on 4th down.
Frequently.

This would come up a lot more often in "sandlot" because we didn't have field goals.
Fourth and goal from the 25? You go for it.
So, every couple of weeks some nimrod would intercept the ball on the 5 and pin our offense on the goal line.

All one can do is try to make a "teaching moment" out of it and try to point out why it's
wiser to knock the ball down.
Sometimes players get it and you're filled with joy when, on 4th down, a ball-hog 24 year old
knocks down a sure interception.
The thrill of coaching.

I wouldn't be surprised if that play is shown to every defense in the NFL for the next several years.
It arguably cost the Panthers a shot at overtime.