'I hate that': Former MVP rants about supposed worst rule in NFL

It appears the NFL is in no hurry to alter the rule regarding an offensive fumble that goes out of an opposing end zone resulting in a turnover and the defensive team obtaining possession at its own 20-yard line. Add one-time Most Valuable Player and current NFL analyst Boomer Esiason to the list of football fans who "hate" that.

"I hate the rule," Esiason said during Friday's edition of the WFAN "Boomer and Gio" program, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "The offense, if they have the ball and fumble it through the end zone, the defense gets the ball. They never possessed it, but they just get the ball. I hate that." 

Individuals such as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk and Matt Ehalt of the New York Post — not to mention fans who post on social media during games — routinely refer to this rule as the "worst" and "most controversial" in pro football and all of sports. 

With that said, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News mentioned that Dallas Cowboys executive vice president and NFL competition committee member Stephen Jones shared during the combine that conversations about possibly changing the rule had "died." NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent later said during an appearance on "PFT Live" that there was no appetite among committee members to discuss changing the rule this offseason. 

"If the offense fumbles the ball on the one-inch line, it’s their ball on the one-inch line," Esiason continued. "If the ball goes over the goal line and out of bounds, it’s now the other team’s ball on the 20 going the other way. What are we doing? The defense is getting its a-- kicked going all the way down the field…and you’re giving the ball to the defense. Why?" 

Some assumed this particular rule being spotlighted during a divisional playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills would force the NFL to act: