"down by contact"

[John Grasso]

In yesterday's CFL game a player recovered a blocked kick and was on the ground with it
when an opposing player ran by. The player on the ground initiated contact and just brushed
his foot into the opponent after which he got up off the ground and took the ball in for a touchdown.

After review it was determined that since his foot made contact with the opponent he
was considered "down by contact" and the td disallowed.

Shouldn't the referee be allowed discretion as to whether the player on the ground was
sent to the ground by the contact? In this case he initiated the contact and was not sent
to the ground because of it? Is the NFL rule any different?

[65 toss power trap]

The player on the ground who has not been contacted by the defense only requires a touch to put him "down." It is a bit of a misnomer to call it "down by contact" but it just puts that in the same compartment as defensive contact coming first and then the ball carrier goes to the ground.

The alternative is for the defender to land on top of the prone player (at worst) or initiate some sort of physical contact (at least). The ball carrier could be injured already when he is on the ground, and additional contact is just asking for trouble.

There are a few exceptions to touching the ball carrier to down the ball carrier on the ground. It is not a dead ball: if the ball carrier is not in control of the ball (fumbled or about to be); if the official determines the runner has given himself up without an attempt to advance; or if the ball carrier has no body part other than his hand, wrist, foot, or ankle touching the ground at the moment of contact. If the defender touches the hair, jersey, or even just the ball, it is considered touching the downed runner, and it is dead ball.

One other note, defensive contact to receiver before the receiver has secured the ball (step 1 of the process of the catch) does not put the receiver down if he falls.

[John Grasso]

I can understand a player being considered down when the defensive player initiates the contact
and touches him but in this case the offensive player initiated the contact - the defensive player
was actually trying to get out of the way (or so it appeared).

[NWebster]

Only Roger Goodell could F things up so much that nobody can define 1) a catch, 2) being down - without having to consult a rulebook.

[luckyshow]

In 1955 there was a rule change in the NFL. "The ball is dead immediately if the runner touches the ground with any part of his body except his hands or feet while in the grasp of an opponent." Before this he had to be tackled on the ground.

In 1956 the rule was further changed in the NFL. "The ball is dead immediately if a runner touches the ground with any part of his body except his hands or feet after being contacted by a defensive player."

I found nothing about this situation in question, but a player with the ball, on the ground, is down by any contact, no matter who initiates it. One sees it a lot of times when a ball carrier touches a defensive player who doesn't even know he is there. Then falls to the ground, perhaps even tripping himself over the other guys shoe. It's contact that counts, not intention.

Not sure when the rules changed in the CFL or NCAA.