Do they mean "fumble", "backward pass", "forward pass", "scrimmage kick" and "free kick" as being the statusses? "Muff" then being not one of these statusses, as you can muff all of those balls.
Yes , status of a loose ball in this context is simply how the ball is defined in rule 2.2.3:
Loose BallARTICLE 3. a. A loose ball is a live ball not in player possession during:1. A running play.
2. A scrimmage or free kick before possession is gained or regained or the ball is
dead by rule.
3. The interval after a legal forward pass is touched and before it becomes
complete, incomplete or intercepted. This interval is during a forward pass
play, and any player eligible to touch the ball may bat it in any direction.
b. All players are eligible to touch, catch or recover a fumble (Exceptions: Rules 7-2-
2-a-Exc.2 and 8-3-2-d-5) or a backward pass.
c. Eligibility to touch a kick is governed by kick rules (Rule 6).
d. Eligibility to touch a forward pass is governed by pass rules (Rule 7).
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Some common loose balls are:
1. fumble - loose ball after being fumbled by a runner
2. pass - a ball that has been intentionally passed (forward or backward) and is not yet in possession or dead by rule
3. kick - a ball that has been legally kicked
