FRISCO, Texas – At this point, it's about time to completely move on from the Broncos game last Sunday and the unique things that occurred.
But considering the answer Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones gave about a certain play in the game, and his position of power in regards to being an NFL owner and someone who has been on the league's competition committee, perhaps we might hear about this strange punt-block situation down the road.
By now we've all seen multiple angles of the Cowboys' third-quarter blocked punt by Malik Turner that was touched beyond the line of scrimmage by Nahshon Wright, but was then corralled by the Broncos. Despite not making enough yardage for a first down, Denver, by rule, was still awarded the ball.
When asked about his thoughts, Jones said the result of the play is actually the opposite of how rules are initially designed.
"It's a very odd rule because it rewards the team that makes the bad play," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. "That's a fundamental premise of rulemaking is that we try to not have these plays that you shouldn't be rewarded for."
Jones, who admitted he was having some fun with his answer, even painted a hypothetical scenario that involves punters intentionally kicking low punts aimed at the return team to be able to generate an "onside kick" type of play – based on the way the rules read.
"I guess I knew the rule, but I'd never seen it applied when it applied to us," said Jones, who added just how much that play affected the Cowboys' chances of making a comeback, trailing 16-0 early in the third quarter. "Under those circumstances, it's a backbreaker. Again, what you're looking for are those types of things that will switch that momentum. I call it 'body language' and that takes its toll. The other real, physical thing that takes its toll is that that caused us to be out there, that defense out on the field, to be out there longer. So, those were dynamics that we faced out there Sunday."
Some might argue that one play wouldn't change the outcome of what became a 30-0 lead until a couple of late touchdowns.
Who knows how that game might've changed. But one might imagine this play – and the rule – could pop up again in the committee meetings down the road.
