RefStripes.com
Football Officiating => General Discussion => Topic started by: Covid 22 on October 12, 2020, 09:00:35 AM
-
In a game yesterday, a QB was about to throw the ball when his hand was hit and the ball popped out. He went ahead and completed a passing motion knocking the ball about ten yards forward. Whistle blows and incomplete signal given. Then a scramble for the ball and the defense picks up the ball and begins running. Once again whistles and pass ruled incomplete.
But wait, replay buzzes and determines it was a fumble (rightly so). The ball is given to the defense.
Why? Wasn't it an inadvertent whistle? If it had been a normal fumble by a running back and covered by the defense immediately, I can see the ball going over. But in this play, the whistle stopped the action and the offense had no reason to try to recover an incomplete pass.
Thanks
-
I think there is a caveat in NFL and maybe even college that allows for immediate action to recover the ball even after a whistle. This allows the opponent the right to possess the ball when/if replay eventually rules a fumble. But I’m no expert on either.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
If it's recovered in the immediate continuing action after the play is whistled dead, then we can give it to the defense.
-
If it's recovered in the immediate continuing action after the play is whistled dead, then we can give it to the defense.
That sounds like it's still a "judgment call" about what might be considered, "immediate continuing action", which seems like a really shaky basis compared to the principle long defined for dealing with otherwise might be considered as a potential Inadvertent (quick) whistle. However, NFL rules decide NFL questions.