For all the non-lawyers out there just think of the movie "Demolition Man". as I recall, in the movie every store in the future is named "Taco Bell." therefore, the name was no longer associated with the store we now know. Threfore, the mark would no longer have been good.

It would be like if we started calling all soda "Coke". As in Orange Coke, grape coke, ginger coke, cream coke. I'm told they do this in parts of the South. The Coca-Cola co would then lose its trademark since the name Coke would no longer be associated with their company. The trademark lasts as long as it is associated with its source.

One of the worst Super Bowl's I've ever seen. Boring first half, partially caused by bogus penalties on Seattle, including pass interference call on touchdown and holding call on a big punt return. Calling that play pass interference means that the receiver isn't allowed to untangle himself from the defender. They were jostling and the receiver simply outjostled the defender. it happens all the time and is rarely called.

We'll never know if Rothliesberger really scored on that play but what makes it frustrating is that the official appeared to change his call when he saw Ben reach over after he was down. I see this all the time, are the officials that stupid that they don't know this happens.

The holding call on Seattle in the fourth quarter was ridiculous, as was the Hasselbeck penalty. As a fan with no rooting interest it makes for a terrible game to see the officials affect the outcome in such an overt way. having said all that, Pittsburgh played a better overall game, but the game had the excitement level of a MNF game in October

One other bad (non)call. I believe it was the play right after the pass to Stevens to the 1 was called back. Hasselbeck was sacked by a rusher who was clearly offside on the play. The next play was the interception if my memory is correct.

I guess the point is that there were a number of ticky-tack or questionable game changing calls and they pretty much all went the Steelers way. It ruined the game.

One of the reasons I like Baseball so much better is that there are no penalties. What you see is what it is. The last time I saw a home run "called back" on a penalty was the pine tar game in 1985 and that was reversed upon further review.

It seems to me that "trick" plays and "gadget" plays used to just be called "plays." Maybe we should start calling the plays Pittsburgh uses "exciting" plays and the rest "uncreative" plays.

the pittsburgh offense is a throwback offense in the sense that it allows for more improvisation and less iron-fist control from the bench. More like football from the 60s from what I gather from looking at old films

King, your proposed abolition of the break the plane rule sounds good in theory, but where would you spot the ball on the next play assuming the ball broke the plane but the runner did not? It would have to be a "by rule the ball is spotted" at the one or something like that. That seems a little weird.

But lending credence to your suggestion is the rule that a punted ball is not a touchback simply because the ball breaks the plane. There, either the ball or a player touching the ball has to make contact with the ground (your proposed touchdown definition exactly). shouldn't it now be a touchback when a punted ball crosses the plane?

Just one of many anamolies you can find in the NFL rules.