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Last Answer on January 23, 2021

In tonights game between dolphins and texans on the play at end of first half where Osweiler fumbled and Houston picked it up for a td, the ball went backwards so why not a backwards pass which is in play for defense to pick up and run into end zone?

Asked by Greg over 7 years ago

A fumble is a fumble, not a backwards pass. That being said, they're both still alive for a defensive score.

Can a defensive player on the sidelines call a timeout during a game while his offense is on the playing field

Asked by Mark kettner over 8 years ago

No. Only a player - someone in the game/on the field - or a substitute - someone coming on to the field to replace a player - can call tmieout.

722 Votes

So if a team plays football on a Thursday of a given week, and that player plays in the game, but is then traded/released and signs with a new team on Friday, are they able to play in another game on that Sunday?

Asked by John almost 7 years ago

I don't know. That is an NFL policy or regulation dealing with the structure of the league. I have a hard enough time understanding the playing rules. Sorry.

718 Votes

Probably rare... Team A punts. Team B catches ball on their own 30, but there is a penalty (let's say holding at Team B's 25) which is behind where the catch was made.

Where is the enforcement spot of the penalty and where is the ball then placed

Asked by statman24 over 7 years ago

Not rare at all. You are describing a post scrimmage kick enforcement (PSK). Under PSK, if B - the receivers - commits a foul during the kick and they are the team to next put the ball in play, then PSK rules apply. So, in your situation, B holds behind where the kick ends (at the 30); the foul is administered from the spot of the hold at the 25. B 1/10 at the 15.

718 Votes

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On a screen pass, If the ball is caught behind the line of scrimmage, can you start blocking downfield before the ball is caught? Does it matter if pass is forward (not a lateral)?

Asked by Tom over 7 years ago

Blocking downfield seems to indicate you're looking at offensive pass interference. In college, pass interference only occurs when a legal forward pass crosses the line of scrimmage. If a pass is caught behind the line, it obviously hasn't crossed the line of scrimmage. If it's a backward pass (no such thing as a lateral) then it isn't forward and you can't have OPI.

717 Votes

Does the rulebook require cessation of play when the whistles begin blowing? Is there an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose? What is the penalty for not stopping when the whistle blows, if in fact not stopping can be penalized?

Asked by James over 7 years ago

I can only imagine what happened that generated THIS question!

Lots here so one step at a time. The whistle blows, play is supposed to stop. In theory, the "play kills itself", meaning that even if a whistle didn't sound,if a player, for example, jumped on the pile, that is still a foul. "But I didn't hear a whistle!" says over-zealous player. You jumped on a pile of players!

You ask if there is an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose; I'm guessing you mean what happens if the ball is loose - or not in possession, such as a pass in the air - and the whistle sounds. Yes, there is a rule for that. It is termed an "inadvertant whistle"; the official screwed up and, yes, I've done it. As have most officials, whether they admit to it or not. Depending on the result, different things happen. Too much to cover here.

Next, penalty for not stopping? Hmm, yes, but there's some judgmenf involved. Example A: player calls for a fair catch, whistle blows, he takes off. Technically, that is a delay of game. Careful throwing that one. The most obvious is Example B: Whistle blows and player continues to block or tackle. It could be a personal foul; not for not "stopping" but for the forceful action (contact) when it should be stopped.

713 Votes

A holds B on a scimmage kick at the line of scrimmage. Is the spot of enforcement where A recieves the scrimmage kick.

Asked by Jeffrey Kroupa almost 8 years ago

First, minor correction: B receives the kick. The foul by A is a previous spot, meaning a rekick after penalty enforcement.

713 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

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In tonights game between dolphins and texans on the play at end of first half where Osweiler fumbled and Houston picked it up for a td, the ball went backwards so why not a backwards pass which is in play for defense to pick up and run into end zone?

Can a defensive player on the sidelines call a timeout during a game while his offense is on the playing field

So if a team plays football on a Thursday of a given week, and that player plays in the game, but is then traded/released and signs with a new team on Friday, are they able to play in another game on that Sunday?

Probably rare... Team A punts. Team B catches ball on their own 30, but there is a penalty (let's say holding at Team B's 25) which is behind where the catch was made.

Where is the enforcement spot of the penalty and where is the ball then placed

Also on Jobstr...

On a screen pass, If the ball is caught behind the line of scrimmage, can you start blocking downfield before the ball is caught? Does it matter if pass is forward (not a lateral)?

Does the rulebook require cessation of play when the whistles begin blowing? Is there an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose? What is the penalty for not stopping when the whistle blows, if in fact not stopping can be penalized?

A holds B on a scimmage kick at the line of scrimmage. Is the spot of enforcement where A recieves the scrimmage kick.

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

In tonights game between dolphins and texans on the play at end of first half where Osweiler fumbled and Houston picked it up for a td, the ball went backwards so why not a backwards pass which is in play for defense to pick up and run into end zone?

Can a defensive player on the sidelines call a timeout during a game while his offense is on the playing field

So if a team plays football on a Thursday of a given week, and that player plays in the game, but is then traded/released and signs with a new team on Friday, are they able to play in another game on that Sunday?

Probably rare... Team A punts. Team B catches ball on their own 30, but there is a penalty (let's say holding at Team B's 25) which is behind where the catch was made. Where is the enforcement spot of the penalty and where is the ball then placed

Also on Jobstr...

On a screen pass, If the ball is caught behind the line of scrimmage, can you start blocking downfield before the ball is caught? Does it matter if pass is forward (not a lateral)?

Does the rulebook require cessation of play when the whistles begin blowing? Is there an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose? What is the penalty for not stopping when the whistle blows, if in fact not stopping can be penalized?

A holds B on a scimmage kick at the line of scrimmage. Is the spot of enforcement where A recieves the scrimmage kick.

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Probably rare... Team A punts. Team B catches ball on their own 30, but there is a penalty (let's say holding at Team B's 25) which is behind where the catch was made.

Where is the enforcement spot of the penalty and where is the ball then placed