Remember the time the quarterback with the off-the-field reputation, his team trailing during what probably is their last possession, fumbles the ball toward the end zone. Moments later, to the horror of the home crowd, an official throws his arms up in the air in the ``touchdown'' signal.
Or, remember the time the quarterback out of Miami scrambled, lunged for the goal line with the ball and never got there -- but the officials ruled it a touchdown anyway?
Sound like Sunday at Sun Life Stadium with the Dolphins and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a Miami of Ohio man? No, he just plays from the past that helped shape today's NFL rule book.
Each year, after receiving the suggestions from the Competition Committee, the NFL changes some rules and has ``points of emphasis'' -- rules already on the books, but not enforced stiffly enough for the liking of the league (after the suggestion of the Competition Committee).
Like most leagues, the NFL is reactive more often than proactive. Rules changes tend to be in response to trends. But, as highlights become ubiquitous and media noise louder, a single significant, infamous play prompts a rules change. Usually, these plays involve quarterbacks and games that can swing a division or a season.
• The Holy Roller, Sept. 10, 1978: With 10 seconds left, visiting Oakland trailed San Diego 20-14 but had the ball on the Chargers 14-yard line. Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler dropped back but right into the grasp of Fred Dean. As Dean dragged Stabler to the ground, Stabler flung the ball forward underhanded.
Referee Jerry Markbreit, unable to see Stabler's slinging arm motion, ruled it a fumble. Running back Pete Banaszak scooped the ball farther forward. Tight end Dave Casper feigned having trouble picking the ball up to run, kicking it until it reached the end zone. Casper fell on it. Officials ruled a touchdown.
The extra point gave the Raiders a 21-20 win, a loss the Chargers would remember when they finished 9-7, one win from their first playoff berth in 13 years.
Rule change: Fumbles in the last two minutes can only be advanced by the fumbling player.
• Didn't Get There From Here, Dec. 6, 1998: Seattle still had 26 seconds to nurse a 31-26 lead over the Jets, but the New Yorkers were down to one shot -- fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line.
Former University of Miami star Vinny Testaverde made a gutsy call at the line, checking off to a quarterback sneak. Testaverde charged forward to a touchdown -- or so it was ruled. Actually, only his helmet broke the goal line with the ball a good foot or two short. Everybody watching TV saw that.
Unfortunately for Seattle, the only people watching the game without access to any TV replay was referee Phil Luckett's crew. The NFL ditched its original, booth-run instant replay system after the 1991 season. So, the touchdown stood, and the Jets won 32-31.
Rule change: The NFL reinstituted instant replay in 1999 but with the challenge system currently in place.
• Muscles Blows It, Sept. 14, 2008: Down 38-31 to AFC West rival San Diego in the last minute, Denver sat a yard from the Chargers' end zone. As he cocked his arm for a rollout pass, Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler lost the ball. Chargers linebacker Tim Dobbins, now with the Dolphins, fell on the ball to seal the win.
Except longtime referee Ed Hochuli, known for his bulging biceps as much as his officiating, blew the play dead when Cutler lost the ball because he saw it as an incomplete pass. A booth replay ruled it a fumble, but, because of Hochuli's whistle, the ball couldn't be awarded to the Chargers. Denver got the ball at the 10, scored a touchdown, then got a two-point conversion for a 39-38 win.
Rules change: If the ruling of down by contact or incomplete pass is changed by replay, the ball belongs to the recovering player at the spot of the recovery, given there's indisputable visual evidence of which team recovered the ball.