The Matt Blair Rule or The Gary Lewis Rule?

[Evan]

When the NFL prohibited taking a running start to block a field goal, I've heard that called "The Matt Blair Rule" on account of Don Shula referencing what Blair did when he argued that the practice should be outlawed.

But I've also heard it referenced as "The Gary Lewis Rule" in reference to the 6-5 Green Bay TE who by some accounts blocked 11 kicks in 12 games during a stretch from 1982 to 1983, taking a running start each time.

Personally I wish the running start rule was still legal as I've always thought a blocked kick is a truly exciting part of the game, and I never understood why simply running and leaping (really just about the purest form of athleticism) would not fit into football. If you don't like it, then go block the guy, or better yet, move your kicking spot back, or do a drop-kick, or kick the ball higher -- figure it out.

Anyway, side rant over, just wondering if anyone on the Forum has knowledge of these questions:

1. Was it Matt Blair, or Gary Lewis, or someone else, who was the main impetus behind the prohibition of running and leaping to block a kick?

2. This is probably a fastball right down the middle for John Maxymuk, but what was the story with Lewis? He caught 66 passes in college, but never found a way into the Packer offense. I'd think he could have been a great red zone "outleap a defender for a jump ball in the corner of the end zone" kind of guy. And where did his zeal and effectiveness for blocking kicks come from? And did he really block 11 in 12 games, or were some of those falsely credited to him?

[Rupert Patrick]

I checked my records for blocked field goals by Packers opponents from 1981-84, the years Lewis played, and I found exactly one blocked field goal, in Week 5 of the 1983 season. As far as missed extra points by Packers opponents during that era, there were 2 in 1981, 2 in 1982, 4 in 1983 and 1 in 1984. The NFL's defensive punting statistics doesn't keep track of blocked punts, for some unknown reason. I can't find any evidence that Gary Lewis blocked 12 kicks in 13 games; even if were true with the advantage of a running start, if the rules had been changed to prevent his running start, that kind of athletic talent still would have found him a job in the NFL someplace and his career should have lasted longer.

[BD Sullivan]

The bottom item below was mentioned after Packers' first playoff game in January 1983. The top one is after four weeks in 1983:

I uncovered most of them:

1982-83
11/28: Blocked Jets XP
12/5: Blocked Bills FG (not sure if they count it, but he also tipped an XP, that managed to go over)
12/12: Blocked Lions FG
12/19: Blocked Colts FG
1/8: Blocked Cardinals FG and XP (Playoff)

1983
9/11: Blocked two Steelers FG's and XP
9/18: Blocked Rams FG

The fact that Shula got the rule passed during the following year's owners' meetings in March 1984 would seem to make it known as the Gary Lewis Rule since Shula apparently had no problem with Blair doing the same thing.

Finally, Lewis was forced to retire in after playing in just 3 games in 1984, He had developed a blood disorder (clots in his legs and had been checked out after having dizzy spells and shortness of breath. A more recent example of an athlete's career ending in this fashion was in the NBA with the MIami Heat's Chris Bosh.

[JohnTurney]

The bottom item below was mentioned after Packers' first playoff game in January 1983. The top one is after four weeks in 1983:

I uncovered most of them:

1982-83
11/28: Blocked Jets XP
12/5: Blocked Bills FG (not sure if they count it, but he also tipped an XP, that managed to go over)
12/12: Blocked Lions FG
12/19: Blocked Colts FG
1/8: Blocked Cardinals FG and XP (Playoff)

1983
9/11: Blocked two Steelers FG's and XP
9/18: Blocked Rams FG

The fact that Shula got the rule passed during the following year's owners' meetings in March 1984 would seem to make it known as the Gary Lewis Rule since Shula apparently had no problem with Blair doing the same thing.

Finally, Lewis was forced to retire in after playing in just 3 games in 1984, He had developed a blood disorder (clots in his legs and had been checked out after having dizzy spells and shortness of breath. A more recent example of an athlete's career ending in this fashion was in the NBA with the MIami Heat's Chris Bosh.

Nick Webster shows 9, but this is regular season. And the playoff one is legit, the deflection is not really counted. It denotes the skill to block, though, but a uck of the bounce went against him.

Q3 P.Leahy Extra Point is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 11/28/82 GB@NYJ
4-10-GP27 Miller, Stark Holding, 44 Yard FieldGoal Attempt is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 12/19/82 GB@Bal
4-6-GB27 E.Murray 44 Yard Field Goal Attempt Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 12/12/82 Det@GB
Efron Herrera 26 Yard Field Goal Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 12/5/82 Buf@GB
4-7-GB14 G.Anderson 32 Yard Field Goal is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 9/11/1983 vs Pit
G.Anderson Extra Point is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 9/11/1983 vs Pit
4-1-27 G.Anderson 44 Yard Field Goal is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 9/11/1983 vs Pit
C.Nelson 27 Yard Field Goal is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 9/18/1983 vs Rams
Breech Extra Point Blocked by (Gary.Lewis'81) 10/30/1983 vs Bengals

[Rupert Patrick]

The bottom item below was mentioned after Packers' first playoff game in January 1983. The top one is after four weeks in 1983:

I uncovered most of them:

1982-83
11/28: Blocked Jets XP
12/5: Blocked Bills FG (not sure if they count it, but he also tipped an XP, that managed to go over)
12/12: Blocked Lions FG
12/19: Blocked Colts FG
1/8: Blocked Cardinals FG and XP (Playoff)

1983
9/11: Blocked two Steelers FG's and XP
9/18: Blocked Rams FG

The fact that Shula got the rule passed during the following year's owners' meetings in March 1984 would seem to make it known as the Gary Lewis Rule since Shula apparently had no problem with Blair doing the same thing.

Finally, Lewis was forced to retire in after playing in just 3 games in 1984, He had developed a blood disorder (clots in his legs and had been checked out after having dizzy spells and shortness of breath. A more recent example of an athlete's career ending in this fashion was in the NBA with the MIami Heat's Chris Bosh.

Nick Webster shows 9, but this is regular season. And the playoff one is legit, the deflection is not really counted. It denotes the skill to block, though, but a uck of the bounce went against him.

Q3 P.Leahy Extra Point is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 11/28/82 GB@NYJ
4-10-GP27 Miller, Stark Holding, 44 Yard FieldGoal Attempt is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 12/19/82 GB@Bal
4-6-GB27 E.Murray 44 Yard Field Goal Attempt Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 12/12/82 Det@GB
Efron Herrera 26 Yard Field Goal Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 12/5/82 Buf@GB
4-7-GB14 G.Anderson 32 Yard Field Goal is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 9/11/1983 vs Pit
G.Anderson Extra Point is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 9/11/1983 vs Pit
4-1-27 G.Anderson 44 Yard Field Goal is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 9/11/1983 vs Pit
C.Nelson 27 Yard Field Goal is Blocked (Gary.Lewis'81) 9/18/1983 vs Rams
Breech Extra Point Blocked by (Gary.Lewis'81) 10/30/1983 vs Bengals

When I was looking thru my list I overlooked a 42-yard FG by Leahy that was blocked on 11/28/82, but the game book says it was blocked by Lee.