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Last Answer on January 23, 2021

If I grab a player by his jersey around where his name is and tackle him I have made a legal play. However if I were to grab for the same place on the jersey of a long hair I would be penalized. Why does the league not require hair with the helmets?

Asked by tommdawg about 10 years ago

That is not a college or high school rule ad I'm not certain of the NFL rule. And I really can't respond to the philosophy that the NFL Competition Committee uses in creating rules.

719 Votes

Why is it that toward the end of the half or end of the game, the officials run faster and hustle more when the time is running out to place the ball? I feel like their helping the offense, they shouldn't be helping one team over the other.

Asked by Vilas about 11 years ago

Good point to raise. Officials try to maintain a steady pace, regardless of how fast the offense is going (no huddle, hurry up). However, as time is getting ready to expire in a half, officials will use one ball, the same one that was in the previous play, rather than substitute a new ball. There still has to be an opportunity for the defense to "match up", which means if the offense is subbing (even in a hurry up), the defense has to be given the opportunity to match subs (at least in college rules).

716 Votes

A snap goes over the qb head, dl kicks the ball forward into opposing endzone then falls on it. What is the decision on the play. Touchdown? Ian@bigstake.com

Asked by ian almost 11 years ago

That's an illegal kick by the defensive lineman. College rules call for a ten yard penalty against the offending team - in this case the defense. So, no TD and, after accepting the penalty, it's still the offense's ball.

705 Votes

If it is an unbalanced formation and the offense wants to throw to the OT on the end of the LOS. Does the throw have to be backwards or just behind the LOS?

Asked by Tate about 9 years ago

In high school and college, a pass would have to be backwards to be legal. Behind the LOS isn't a factor there. A forward pass to an originally ineligible player (by position or number) is illegal.

In the NFL, the rules are more restrictive. To be eligible to receive a forward pass, an ineligible (lineman's number - between 50 and 79) player must report in to the referee and be announced. In that case, the player can receive a forward pass.

Any backward pass can be caught legally by anyone - that's why those end of game multiple "laterals" are legal.

704 Votes

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In Bills vs Packers game yesterday. In the last 2 minutes of the game Aaron Rogers had the ball knocked or of his hands and ball landed in endzone and was recovered by Ed Lacy resulting in a safety. Is that considered a fumble or muff by NFL rules?

Asked by Eini34 about 10 years ago

From what you stated, "had the ball knocked or of his hands", that is a fumble. We are taking the position that he had possession, so there is no muff. A fumble by the offensive team that is recovered by the offense in the end zone, and the recovering player (Lacy) remains on the ground in the end zone, results in a safety. Even it was a muff, if the offense put the ball into the end zone and it remains there in their possession, it is a safety.

702 Votes

Suppose STL-SEA game is tied 17-17. In OT, STL receives ball and kicks FG. SEA returns kickoff to STL 10. SEA throws interception to STL defender at the 2, who backtracks and is tackled for safety. OT safety ends game, so does SEA win 19-20?!

Asked by John A. about 11 years ago

I can't answer definitively for the NFL, but in college the answer would be no. In college there is a momentum rule (and a fellow official says he's pretty sure it exists in the NFL, too). It's to prevenrt cheap safeties on good efensive plays like the one you describe. Inside the five, if a player intercepts or receives a punt, then goes into the end zone where he is downed, the ball would come out to the spot of the interception/kick reception. That's why you see officials toss a bean bag at that spot. It would be the defense's ball - in this case Seattle - 1/10 at the 2.

701 Votes

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

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If I grab a player by his jersey around where his name is and tackle him I have made a legal play. However if I were to grab for the same place on the jersey of a long hair I would be penalized. Why does the league not require hair with the helmets?

Why is it that toward the end of the half or end of the game, the officials run faster and hustle more when the time is running out to place the ball? I feel like their helping the offense, they shouldn't be helping one team over the other.

A snap goes over the qb head, dl kicks the ball forward into opposing endzone then falls on it. What is the decision on the play. Touchdown? Ian@bigstake.com

If it is an unbalanced formation and the offense wants to throw to the OT on the end of the LOS. Does the throw have to be backwards or just behind the LOS?

Also on Jobstr...

In Bills vs Packers game yesterday. In the last 2 minutes of the game Aaron Rogers had the ball knocked or of his hands and ball landed in endzone and was recovered by Ed Lacy resulting in a safety. Is that considered a fumble or muff by NFL rules?

Suppose STL-SEA game is tied 17-17. In OT, STL receives ball and kicks FG. SEA returns kickoff to STL 10. SEA throws interception to STL defender at the 2, who backtracks and is tackled for safety. OT safety ends game, so does SEA win 19-20?!

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?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If I grab a player by his jersey around where his name is and tackle him I have made a legal play. However if I were to grab for the same place on the jersey of a long hair I would be penalized. Why does the league not require hair with the helmets?

Why is it that toward the end of the half or end of the game, the officials run faster and hustle more when the time is running out to place the ball? I feel like their helping the offense, they shouldn't be helping one team over the other.

A snap goes over the qb head, dl kicks the ball forward into opposing endzone then falls on it. What is the decision on the play. Touchdown? Ian@bigstake.com

If it is an unbalanced formation and the offense wants to throw to the OT on the end of the LOS. Does the throw have to be backwards or just behind the LOS?

Also on Jobstr...

In Bills vs Packers game yesterday. In the last 2 minutes of the game Aaron Rogers had the ball knocked or of his hands and ball landed in endzone and was recovered by Ed Lacy resulting in a safety. Is that considered a fumble or muff by NFL rules?

Suppose STL-SEA game is tied 17-17. In OT, STL receives ball and kicks FG. SEA returns kickoff to STL 10. SEA throws interception to STL defender at the 2, who backtracks and is tackled for safety. OT safety ends game, so does SEA win 19-20?!

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?

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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?