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Last Answer on January 23, 2021

If a snap goes over a punters head; the punter retrieves it @ the 1.5 yd line & tries to throw a pass. The defense deflects it and the ball lands in the endend zone, but bounces out-of-bounds.
What's the ruling?

Asked by lcpcop@gmail.com almost 11 years ago

If it is ruled a forward pass (unlike the Patriots' play in the playoffs), it's an incomplete pass. On the other hand, if it is ruled a fumble -- as it was against the Pats -- then you have a safety. If anyone legally throws a forward pass - a punter, kick holder, a halfback - and it's incomplete, then it's, well, incomplete. The fact that it rolled out of the endzone is irrelevent.

700 Votes

If there is defensive of holding penalty and the offense gets a first down , do you add 5 yards to the end of the play?

Asked by dlibby360@yahoo.com over 10 years ago

There are fouls that can be tacked on to the end of the run. A defensive hold is not one. In college, for example, roughing the passer can be tacked on, even on a completed pass. And on kick plays (punt), if the defense was offsides, rather than rekick - if the team wouldn't get a first down with the penalty - that can be added to the end of the play. The idea there is to speed up play and also avoid additional fouls - and injuries - that can occur on kicks.

699 Votes

In trying to run time off the clock at the end of a close game, can offensive player with ball stop short of the goal line and stand there waiting for the defense to try to get to him before he steps over the goal line? Or is that “Taunting”?

Asked by sb almost 11 years ago

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with this. Not much different than the times when a punter takes a snap and runs around in the endzone (I think this was in last yeat's Super Bowl) to kill time before running out of bounds. Defensive teams have allowed offenses to score in order to get the ball back quickly. It isn't a "mockery" of te game, it's a strategy. As long as the ball carrier isn't taunting (e.g. waving it in the face of the opponent) it seems to be a legal and a smart move.

697 Votes

So if one team commits two penalties and the other commits one on the same play. Neither is a personal foul penalty do they offset?

Asked by Evildeadted about 10 years ago

yes

695 Votes

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When a QB is behind the line of scrimmage, when is it considered a sack to a minus rushing attempt?

Asked by Turk about 10 years ago

That's a statistical issue, which officials don't really deal with. My personal understanding is that sacks are rushing attempts.

691 Votes

Why was the pass that was challenged in the Michigan/Rutgers game ruled incomplete

Asked by Bob about 10 years ago

Don't know. From a "source", the replay people had no qualms about saying no catch once they saw the ball on the ground. On the field, it was ruled differently by the two officials on that sideline. It was "interesting".

688 Votes

If contact is made between a receiver and a defender past 5 yards downfield, and the contact is initiated by the offensive player is that an infraction? If not, does that give the offensive player motive to just run into the defender & draw a flag?

Asked by Reese about 10 years ago

You're talking NFL illegal contact beyond 5 yards. Offensive pass interference (OPI) rules begin with the snap. If a receiver makes contact - not just brushing past a defender or trying to get away - it is OPI. Defensive pass iterference begins once the ball is thriown.

688 Votes

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If a snap goes over a punters head; the punter retrieves it @ the 1.5 yd line & tries to throw a pass. The defense deflects it and the ball lands in the endend zone, but bounces out-of-bounds.
What's the ruling?

If there is defensive of holding penalty and the offense gets a first down , do you add 5 yards to the end of the play?

In trying to run time off the clock at the end of a close game, can offensive player with ball stop short of the goal line and stand there waiting for the defense to try to get to him before he steps over the goal line? Or is that “Taunting”?

So if one team commits two penalties and the other commits one on the same play. Neither is a personal foul penalty do they offset?

Also on Jobstr...

When a QB is behind the line of scrimmage, when is it considered a sack to a minus rushing attempt?

Why was the pass that was challenged in the Michigan/Rutgers game ruled incomplete

If contact is made between a receiver and a defender past 5 yards downfield, and the contact is initiated by the offensive player is that an infraction? If not, does that give the offensive player motive to just run into the defender & draw a flag?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If a snap goes over a punters head; the punter retrieves it @ the 1.5 yd line & tries to throw a pass. The defense deflects it and the ball lands in the endend zone, but bounces out-of-bounds.What's the ruling?

If there is defensive of holding penalty and the offense gets a first down , do you add 5 yards to the end of the play?

In trying to run time off the clock at the end of a close game, can offensive player with ball stop short of the goal line and stand there waiting for the defense to try to get to him before he steps over the goal line? Or is that “Taunting”?

So if one team commits two penalties and the other commits one on the same play. Neither is a personal foul penalty do they offset?

Also on Jobstr...

When a QB is behind the line of scrimmage, when is it considered a sack to a minus rushing attempt?

Why was the pass that was challenged in the Michigan/Rutgers game ruled incomplete

If contact is made between a receiver and a defender past 5 yards downfield, and the contact is initiated by the offensive player is that an infraction? If not, does that give the offensive player motive to just run into the defender & draw a flag?

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If a snap goes over a punters head; the punter retrieves it @ the 1.5 yd line & tries to throw a pass. The defense deflects it and the ball lands in the endend zone, but bounces out-of-bounds.
What's the ruling?