RefStripes.com
Football Officiating => National Football League => Topic started by: Welpe on January 09, 2011, 06:26:32 PM
-
Watching the Green Bay v. Philadelphia game during a try, the Philadelphia receiver stepped on the end line, stepped back in and caught a pass. Illegal touching. Initially the Referee announced it was a loss of down and then after the commercial break, they corrected themselves and said the down would be replayed.
I know in NCAA, illegal touching in this situation is a loss of down at the previous spot. I take it this is not the penalty in NFL? Seems kind of strange to me.
-
The NFL has a lot of strange rules.
-
Illegal touching is only a 5 yard penalty under NFL rules.
-
Article 8 Illegal Touching of a Forward Pass.
It is a foul for illegal touching if a forward
pass (legal or illegal), thrown from behind the line of scrimmage:
(a) is first touched intentionally or is caught by an ineligible offensive player; or
(b) first touches or is caught by an eligible receiver who has gone out of bounds, either
of his own volition or by being legally forced out of bounds, and has re-established
himself inbounds.
Penalty: Loss of five yards.
Note 1: If a forward pass (legal or illegal) is caught by an ineligible offensive player, the
ball remains alive.
Note 2: The bat of a pass in flight by any player does not end a pass, nor does it change
the impetus if the bat sends it in touch.
Note 3: If a player touches the ball after having been out of bounds, but prior to re-establishing
himself inbounds with both feet or any part of his body other than his hands,
the pass is incomplete, and there is no penalty for illegal touching.
A.R. 8.9 Third-and-10 on B40. A forward pass from behind the line goes off eligible offensive end
A1’s hands and flanker back A2 catches it in the end zone.
Ruling: Touchdown.
A.R. 8.10 While in midair, a receiver firmly takes hold of a pass, but loses possession of the ball when
his shoulder lands on the ground with or without being contacted by an opponent.
Ruling: Incomplete pass. Receiver must hold onto the ball when he alights on the
ground in order to complete the reception.
A.R. 8.11 A runner (in full possession of the ball) is contacted by an opponent while he is
attempting to gain yardage. The contact causes the runner to hit the ground, at which
time the ball comes loose.
Ruling: Play is dead when the impact jars the ball loose. No fumble.
A.R. 8.12 Second-and-15 on A4. A second forward pass from behind the line is caught by eligible
end A2 after the ball had touched eligible end A1. He is downed in the end zone.
Ruling: Safety. Safety kick A20 or second-and-17 on A2.
A.R. 8.13 Third-and-10 on B40. On a legal forward pass, eligible end A1 is blocked out of bounds
on the B36. He returns to the field of play, catches pass, and scores.
Ruling: No score. The player became an ineligible receiver by going out of bounds. A’s
ball third-and-15 on B45.
A.R. 8.14 Third-and-10 on B40. On a legal forward pass, eligible end A1 is legally blocked out of
bounds on the B20. He returns to the field of play and catches a pass after a defensive
player touched it. He scores.
Ruling: Touchdown. Legal play as all ineligible receivers become eligible after the
defense touches the ball.
A.R. 8.15 Third-and-10 on B40. Eligible end A1 touches a legal forward pass on the B35 and the
ball is then touched by ineligible receiver A2 on B35. A defensive player intercepts. He
runs it back to the B45 where he fumbles and passing Team A recovers.
Ruling: Legal touch. A’s ball first-and-10 on B45.
A.R. 8.16 Second-and-five on B20. A forward pass from behind the line barely touches the crossbar.
Eligible offensive end A1 catches the ball in the end zone.
Ruling: No score. The ball is dead immediately upon touching the crossbar (or goal
posts). Loss of down from the previous spot. A’s ball third-and-five on B20.
A.R. 8.17 Second-and-10 on B30. A legal forward pass is caught by offensive flanker A1 near the
sideline. His second step touches the sideline.
Ruling: Incomplete pass. Both feet have to land inbounds. A’s ball third-and-10 on
B30.
A.R. 8.18 Second-and-10 on B30. A legal forward pass is intercepted by defensive player B1. As
he lands with the ball in his possession, he straddles the sideline.
Ruling: Incomplete pass. Both feet have to touch inbounds. A’s ball third-and-10 on
B30.
A.R. 8.19 Second-and-10 on B30. A legal forward pass is intercepted by defensive player B1 who
jumped in from out of bounds to intercept pass. Both feet touch inbounds after
interception.
Ruling: Incomplete pass. Both feet have to be inbounds prior to interception. A’s ball
third-and-10 on B30. See 8-1-6-S.N. 6.
A.R. 8.20 Second-and-10 on B30. Eligible offensive A1 jumps in air (behind or beyond line) to
receive a forward pass and then passes backward to ineligible offensive A2 before
he lands.
Ruling: Legal catch.
A.R. 8.21 Second-and-20 on A40. Quarterback A1 receives a hand-to-hand snap from center and
hands off to back A2 who runs to his right and throws a legal forward pass from behind
the line to Quarterback A1. Quarterback A1 catches the pass on the A38 and runs to
the 50.
Ruling: A’s ball second-and-25 on A35 or A’s ball third-and-10 on 50.
A.R. 8.22 Second-and-10 on A40. A legal forward pass touches ineligible guard A1 behind the
line. The ball is then intercepted by a defensive player who returns it to the A20.
Ruling: Pass not incomplete when A1 touched by ball. Pass continues in play. B’s ball
first-and-10 on A20.
A.R. 8.23 Second-and-10 on A40. A legal forward pass is intentionally touched by ineligible guard
A1 behind the line. The ball is then intercepted by the defensive team which returns it to
the A20, fumbles, and the ball is recovered by the passing team at the A18.
Ruling: Five-yard penalty for touching ineligible receiver behind the line. A’s ball second-
and-15 on A35.
A.R. 8.24 Second-and-10 on A40. A legal forward pass is intentionally touched by ineligible guard
A1 behind the line and is then caught by eligible back A2 who runs to the 50.
Ruling: A’s ball second-and-15 on A35.
A.R. 8.25 Fourth-and-two on B4. A legal forward pass touches ineligible receiver A1 in the end
zone and falls incomplete.
Ruling: B’s ball first-and-10 on B4 (declined).
A.R. 8.26 Fourth-and-two on B4. A legal forward pass accidentally touches ineligible receiver A1
on the B3 and falls incomplete.
Ruling: B’s ball first-and-10 on B4 (declined).
A.R. 8.27 Second-and-15 on A8. A legal forward pass is batted back by a defensive player and
the ball lands in the end zone. A defensive player falls on it in the end zone.
Ruling: Incomplete pass. A’s ball third-and-15 on A8.
A.R. 8.28 First-and-10 on A30. A legal forward pass is touched simultaneously by two opposing
eligible players, A1 and B1. The pass goes in the air where ineligible A2 catches it on
the A40 and runs to midfield.
Ruling: A’s ball first-and-10 on 50.