[RedBean]

He clarified it in the next week's column:

I know officials don't make the rules, but can you explain the rationale behind the rule about Michael Vick fumbling without being touched, and why that's a fumble? --Jim Boskey, Mokena, Ill.

The Michael Vick play is a fumble only in professional football. Both high school and college rules stipulate that a runner in possession of the ball is down when anything other than his hand or foot hits the ground, whether or not he is contacted by an opponent. Under high school and college rules, the Vick play would have been blown dead and Atlanta would have retained possession. Professional rules make it a little tougher on the players; thus, the reason for the pro rule, which is the ground can cause a fumble if the runner is not down by contact.