Over the years the NFL and it's officials have made some really curious, if not, boneheaded calls. As Browns fans know, more times then not those calls go against their favorite team. We here at DawgBones.com thought it would be nice to give you a weekly feature called, "Know the Rules".

Each week we will give you a breakdown of NFL rules, directly from the Official Rules of the NFL handbook. Some of you may already know about these rules, but many may not and we are betting from time to time we will show you something you never even knew. Enjoy and please feel free to let us know your opinions on the newest weekly feature here at DawgBones.com!

Official Rules of the NFL

Rule 1: The Field

Section 3: Goal

In the plane of each end line there shall be a centrally placed horizontal crossbar 18 feet 6 inches in length, the top face of which is 10 feet above the ground. The goal is the vertical plane extending indefinitely above the crossbar and between the lines indicated by the outer edges of the goal posts.

All goal posts will be in the single-standard type, offset from the end line and bright gold in color. The uprights will extend 30 feet above the crossbar and will be no less than 3 inches and no more than 4 inches in diameter. An orange-colored ribbon 4 inches by 42 inches is to be attached to the top of the post.

Note: Goal posts must be padded in a manner prescribed by the league.

Many of you are probably thinking, big deal, that was boring. Some of you though are remembering back to the AFC Championship game in 1986 to the Rich Karlis overtime kick. Was it in? Was it wide? According to the rules the posts reach up and extend to infinity, very much like your property lines at home. That being the case the kick counted, but many still don't believe it was good.



Rule 10: Fair Catch

Section 1, Article 3

If a player signals (valid or invalid) for a fair catch, until the ball touches another player he may not:

(a) block; or

(b) initiate contact with one of the kickers.

Penalty: For illegal block after a fair catch signal. Snap by receivers 15 yards from the spot of the foul. (Personal Foul.)

Supplemental Notes:

1. A receiver running towards a kick in flight has the right of way and opponents must get out of his path to the ball. Otherwise it is interference irrespective of any contact or catch or whether any signal (valid or invalid) is given or not.

2. After a valid fair catch signal, the opportunity to make a catch does not end when a kick is muffed. The player who signaled fair catch must have a reasonable opportunity to catch the ball before it hits the ground without being interfered with by the members of the kicking team.

3.An intentional muff forward prior to a catch in order to gain ground is an illegal bat.

You are now sitting there thinking, where have I seen this before? Well you probably have seen it every week of every NFL season, a play where the returner waves his hand, only to be pounded into the ground. Or maybe he bobbles the ball slightly and is lit up like a Christmas tree by your favorite special teams player, only to find out that there was no fumble, but a penalty on your team!

These are just a couple pf examples of what you can expect each and every week from our new feature "Know the Rules", we hope you enjoyed it and maybe even learned something from it.

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