Okay, let's go into the wayback machine to look back at the big play in yesterday's Raiders/Chargers game. And yes it's another sports story but look at this as one more story of cruel injustice instead. Besides, this post is worth it just for the above video made before the game made by a Chargers fan to show just what he expects the Chargers to do to the Raiders.

Anyways, the play was on fourth and inches and the Chargers made a thirteen-yard pass to Vincent Jackson. Even though he wasn't touched, Jackson got up and spinned the ball on the field. Because the whistle wasn't blown, the ball was still live and there was a scrum match to pick the ball up with the Raiders winning the scrum match.

Now everyone thought the ball was a fumble, including the Chargers who started to send their Defense out. But wait, maybe not. After much back and forth, it was ruled an intentional forward pass. The reason is because rule NFL Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2 which states: "It is a Forward Pass if: (a) the ball initially moves forward (to a point nearer the opponent's goal line) after leaving the passer's hands ..."

Another rule also states this: "An intentional fumble is a forward pass."

Now here's where it gets fun because you know the reason why that rule was made? Yep, the Holy Roller. In fact, Chargers fans are claiming this is all some sort of karmic retribution for the Holy Roller.

And yes, it's a ridiculous rule. One of those rules that drives people crazy because only in the NFL are there ridiculous rules such as this. Hell, later the NFL still backed up the call. But as other people have pointed out, Plaxico Burress did a similar thing against the Jaguars in 2000 and it was ruled a fumble. Warren Sapp's take on it is also dead on: "how many times have you seen a completed pass caught by the receiver and then the receiver throws it again?” It also goes without saying that this is up there with the infamous Tuck Rule on boneheaded calls that affect the Raiders (and how awesome is it that Wikipedia has an entry just on that play?). Except not involving a chance to go the Superbowl.