Academic question

[ElvisLives]

4/G, B-5, 4:15 (4). A=7, B=13.

A11 receives a hand-to-hand snap, then attempts to hand the ball to A22, but they mishandle the exchange and the ball falls to the ground (A22 never had possession of the ball).  The ball bounces hard toward B's goal line, and crosses the goal line where A77 falls on, and recovers, the ball.  The ball is dead, and the game clock is correctly stopped.

The academic question is:  For what reason, by rule, was the clock stopped?


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Follow-up question:

4/G, B-5, 4:15 (4). A=7, B=13.

A11 receives a hand-to-hand snap, then attempts to hand the ball to A22, but they mishandle the exchange and the ball falls to the ground (A22 never had possession of the ball).  The ball bounces hard toward B's goal line, and crosses the goal line where A77 falls on, and recovers, the ball.  The ball is dead, and the game clock is correctly stopped.  During the loose ball, B55 grasped A66 by the facemask and pulled him to the ground.

Yes, A will accept the penalty.  But, what is the game clock status?




Robert

[ilyazhito]

The clock stopped due to the ball becoming dead per the fourth-down fumble rule. When a player other than A11 recovered the fumble, the ball would have returned to the spot of the fumble. However, since B would not be next to snap the ball with the penalty, the game clock starts on the ready-for-play signal. A 1/G , B-2.5, GC RFP, PC 25.

[ElvisLives]

The clock stopped due to the ball becoming dead per the fourth-down fumble rule. When a player other than A11 recovered the fumble, the ball would have returned to the spot of the fumble. However, since B would not be next to snap the ball with the penalty, the game clock starts on the ready-for-play signal. A 1/G , B-2.5, GC RFP, PC 25.

The ball is dead by the 4th down fumble rule, but that is not why the clock stops.  You won't find any reference to the 4th down fumble rule in Rule 3.  Rather, in this example, it will be:
1) because of the 'apparent' touchdown (before determining that the ball will be returned to the spot of the fumble, which results in the award of a first down to Team B);
2) to award Team B a first down;
3) to complete the penalty.

The purpose of this question is to determine when the clock will next be started.  For 1), it would start on the snap.  For 2), it would start on the snap.  For 3), it would start on the Referee's signal.
Redding/Shaw may say that there was no 'apparent TD,' because of the 4th down fumble rule, so we know there will be no score.  But, we could say the same thing about an 'apparent' TD with a live-ball foul by the scoring team, i.e., we know there will be no score. And we know that the clock will next start on the snap in that circumstance.

If the clock was stopped to complete the penalty, then we know the clock will next start on the Referee's signal, because Team B will NOT next snap the ball.

I don't have an authoritative answer. I'm guessing RR/SS would rule that the clock stopped to, ostensibly, award a first down to Team B, but, following the penalty, B will NOT next snap the ball, so the clock will next start on the Referee's signal.

But there is no clear answer to that in the Rules, Interpretations, or Bulletins.

Robert

[Legacy Zebra]

The clock cannot be stopped for a touchdown in this case because, by rule, a touchdown has not been scored. Rule 8-2-1-c specifically excepts the fourth down fumble rule. So this play is no different than Team A being stopped short of the line to gain anywhere else on the field. The clock will start on the ready for play.