Najee Harris makes unfortunate NFL rookie admission

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Najee Harris admitted to not knowing one specific rule in the NFL after the Steelers tied the Detroit Lions. Harris confessed after the game that he did not know NFL games could end with a tie, as the rules regarding overtime are different in college.

Najee Harris still learning as a rookie

Najee Harris said after the game that he didn’t know the game could end in a tie until the very end. Harris was ready to keep playing and prepared to enter the game again, before someone had to tell him on the sideline that the game was over.

The Steelers ended the day against the Detroit Lions with a 16-16 tie after a scoreless overtime. The Lions are still searching for their first win of the season, but the tie on Sunday assures that a potential 0-17 finish is off the table.

In terms of rookie mistakes, Harris’ blunder is certainly not so bad. Even if it could be considered embarrassing, the news that Harris was ready to play until he was no longer allowed to is another reason for Steelers fans to love the rookie from Alabama.

Harris carried his share of the workload Sunday, running the ball 26 times for 105 yards. The Steelers offense struggled against the winless Lions with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out on the COVID-19 list at the last minute.

While Mason Rudolph was given the go-ahead to throw the ball, he completed 30 of his 50 passing attempts for just 242 yards. With one passing touchdown and an interception and a pair of fumbles in overtime from passes that were caught, the Steelers’ turnovers contributed to their poor offensive showing.

Rule differences in college

Harris’ confusion about rules that are different in college and the NFL is not a problem unique to him. On Saturday, Florida State took down Miami 31-28 in a thrilling finish marked by an unusual rule unique to college football that was implemented in 2013.

By rule, a team cannot spike the football with less than three seconds on the game clock in college football. Miami spiked the football with two seconds remaining and the rule resulted in the end of the game.

As the Hurricanes hurried down the field to reach the line of scrimmage and spike the ball to stop the clock, it appeared that the game would end on one final desperation play from near midfield. After Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke completed a 19-yard pass with time nearly out, the Hurricanes hustled to their own 44-yard line while the referees spotted the ball.

After a moment of confusion on the broadcast where Van Dyke appeared to take a long time to actually spike the football, there was some question about if time had expired during the quick play. Broadcast cameras caught Florida State head coach Mike Norvell arguing with referees on the sideline, causing more confusion before the officiating crew explained the situation.

“By rule, in order for the quarterback to spike the ball there has to be three seconds on the clock. There were 2… Therefore the ballgame is over.”

The rule was implemented by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel in 2013.