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514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Runner fumbles but ref blows whistle saying down before fumble. Should play stop? If after whistle defender recovers, and review shows was a fumble, why is def team given the ball? It rewards continued play after whistle.

Asked by bridgbum about 8 years ago

Caveat: i have not worked games using replay. Rule 12,Art. 3: I replay has indisputable evidence of a fumble, "it belongs to the recovering team at the spot of recovery. " Without replay, the down is replayed.

469 Votes

Is a try after point mandatory or may it be declined

Asked by Ols almost 8 years ago

No one would decline the opportunity to score points. But in the case of the SupervBowl, the PAT score wasn't needed. The game had been decided. It's similar cat other levels. If the score might make a difference (e.g. as a tie breaker in league play or seeding) you have the try. If not, you can walk away...or decline.

468 Votes

In Saturdays LSU-Auburn game the officials called a penalty on LSU for illegal motion with 5 seconds to play. The play was nullified and brought back to the line of scrimmage and the penalty was assessed. Should the clock have been reset at 5 seconds

Asked by Rick over 8 years ago

Couple of things here. If the clock was running and the foul for illegal motion stopped the clock, then there could have been a 10 second runoff and the game would be over. If the click wasn't running, then yes you should have the clock reset to five seconds since the play never happened. But, and I'm not clear from your description, if the play was run and the foul was a live ball foul during the play, then you could have an untimed down or Auburn could decline the penalty and the game ends.

467 Votes

If there's a 2 TE offense, what determines the strong side (closed side) of the field?

Asked by Pats1 almost 8 years ago

Where are you backs? They would likely give you strength based on their position (slot, split (

466 Votes

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Has there ever been an NFL fame where they did not kick a field go when they were in field goal range and it was almost halftime?

Asked by Sean Duong about 8 years ago

Sorry, this isn't a trivia or history site.

466 Votes

Can a db have his arm around a receiver (hooked) as they are running down the field and while the ball is in the air

Asked by Terry about 8 years ago

Good question. Are you an Ohio State or Michigan fan? The philosophy officials often use is "advantage/disadvantage". Did the action have a material impact on the play? Having an arm around a receiver isn't automatically a foul. Did the arm actually hook or grab the receiver and turn him away from the ball, or prevent him from reaching for the ball? Or was the arm being there just a good play, timed right? The rules today at virtually all levels - but especially the NFL - favor offense. So I return to the earlier point: Did the action have a material impact on the play? If yes, then we have a foul. And that's why those deep officials get the big bucks - for their judgment on that play.

466 Votes

with regard to forward progress - if an offensive player is running and then collides with a teammate at the 35 yard line and falls backwards landing on the ground with the ball at the 34 yard line is the ball spotted at the 34 or 35

Asked by boby about 8 years ago

I have answered this question - or a variation of it - three times. No more!

465 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

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Runner fumbles but ref blows whistle saying down before fumble. Should play stop? If after whistle defender recovers, and review shows was a fumble, why is def team given the ball? It rewards continued play after whistle.

Is a try after point mandatory or may it be declined

In Saturdays LSU-Auburn game the officials called a penalty on LSU for illegal motion with 5 seconds to play. The play was nullified and brought back to the line of scrimmage and the penalty was assessed. Should the clock have been reset at 5 seconds

If there's a 2 TE offense, what determines the strong side (closed side) of the field?

Also on Jobstr...

Has there ever been an NFL fame where they did not kick a field go when they were in field goal range and it was almost halftime?

Can a db have his arm around a receiver (hooked) as they are running down the field and while the ball is in the air

with regard to forward progress - if an offensive player is running and then collides with a teammate at the 35 yard line and falls backwards landing on the ground with the ball at the 34 yard line is the ball spotted at the 34 or 35

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Runner fumbles but ref blows whistle saying down before fumble. Should play stop? If after whistle defender recovers, and review shows was a fumble, why is def team given the ball? It rewards continued play after whistle.

Is a try after point mandatory or may it be declined

In Saturdays LSU-Auburn game the officials called a penalty on LSU for illegal motion with 5 seconds to play. The play was nullified and brought back to the line of scrimmage and the penalty was assessed. Should the clock have been reset at 5 seconds

If there's a 2 TE offense, what determines the strong side (closed side) of the field?

Also on Jobstr...

Has there ever been an NFL fame where they did not kick a field go when they were in field goal range and it was almost halftime?

Can a db have his arm around a receiver (hooked) as they are running down the field and while the ball is in the air

with regard to forward progress - if an offensive player is running and then collides with a teammate at the 35 yard line and falls backwards landing on the ground with the ball at the 34 yard line is the ball spotted at the 34 or 35

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