Brees was on top of the pile and then driven backwards.

It was close but I think forward progress does apply here.

The reach was for good measure... he made the 1st down without the reach actually.

I agree he made the first down without the reach.

But for the sake of argument, running backwards to negate forward progress, and tucking or moving the ball as you are in the act of going down to the ground, are two different things. If you are not down, are in motion, and you extend the ball over the line, then you tuck it as you are in the act of going down to the ground, you are always given the spot of forward progress. That is why this type of play happens all the time, and never gets called by the refs as being short of the first down.

You see it happen frequently with receivers, when they catch the ball either directly right on the first down line, or are running sort of parallel to the line, and FALL DOWN instantly, the official will scoot the ball forward and spot the ball where the catch was made, with the forward progress. There doesn't have to be a defender pushing them back.

The reason why people in this thread are like "I never noticed this before" or "I never heard of that rule until this article" is because that rule doesn't exist.

I believe, though tough to tell from the angles, that the final spot was short of the extension, which leads you to believe that the refs marked the final forward progress based on where he wound up after retracting the ball. Plus, the moment he is contacted, his forward progress is marked. He was contacted while in the process of retracting, which would have spotted the ball beyond the required distance.

It's still a first down.

I know, right? Sounds like a no win situation. he's on top of a pile, so if he holds it out there, the lions would knock it out of his hands, but if he pulls it back that distance doesn't count? Peter King is a tool for even suggesting this, and for giving Lions fans more ammunition to claim the refs screwed the Lions. Thanks Peter!

First, line up with Sproles behind Brees.

Now;

There is NO ONE on that field who could have outrun Sproles around either end if immediately upon the snap he were shuffle-passed the ball as he goes toward the sideline. You'd get a lot more than a yard and the defensive line would still be waiting for him to come over the top.

No need for outstretched ball or quarterback to get his ankle stomped in a pile of defenders.

I want to see Brees run the ball when he has rolled out and there is open field ahead, not a pile of defenders.

I also found the call to give us the first down GENEROUS.

Alaska

Assuming King is right is like assuming your wife is not going to notice the lipstick on your shirt.

As SaintsBro stated, you didn't know of the rule because there is no rule covering the tuck in that situation. There is a rule that covers the player voluntarily taking steps back, but not bringing the ball back to his body when the player is launching forward.

Although, after King pointed it out, and it happened on a successful play by the Saints, surely we'll have a rule next year.

see: The Hartley Rule