Ask a Football Official anything

514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Ok if your team get caught with 12 men on the field right as the 12th player is walking off its a free play for offence right? so can that player turn around and participate in the play because the penalty has already been called?

Asked by hunter k almost 8 years ago

Nice try. If you pulled that, you might find an official willing to throw a second flag for a personal foul (you shouldn't have been there!) or unsportsmanlike conduct. First, if they catch 12 on the field, they should shut it down and not let the play go off. That's the proper mechanic, despite TV announcers saying the QB is trying to catch them. If they don;t catch it early enough, it isn't real a "free play". They need to shut it down.

641 Votes

In the game tonight, Cam was taken down behind the line of scrimmage, why isn’t that recorded as a Sack?

Asked by Setty about 8 years ago

Officials don't deal with statistics so I can't answer definitively. If it was,a "dezigned" run from thecstaff, then he's a runner, not a passer, hence no sack (?).

640 Votes

Why is a quarterback not charged for "intentional grounding" when he spikes the ball?

Asked by Les almost 9 years ago

The rules allow the player who "first controls the snap" to immediately throw it to the ground without being called for grounding.

639 Votes

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 almost 9 years ago

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

638 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Hollywood Executive Assistant

Are Hollywood execs as nightmarish as depicted on TV?

Navy Officer (Former)

Why do so many people miss the military after they get out?

Audiologist

How come people with hearing aids still can't seem to hear?

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 almost 9 years ago

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

637 Votes

Ok- It’s fourth down with 4 sec left. The QB runs backward on 4th down. The clock hits zero and he tosses the ball underhand, skyward to celebrate. The ball comes down to the field and bounces in the end zone. If it went backwards- isn’t it a fumble

Asked by The Old AD almost 8 years ago

Yup. Or technically, a backward pass which is still alive. This is the end of the JMU - South Dakota State game that someone just called me about. He thought the whistle had blown and if so, the ref may have felt the QB had "given himself up" knowing what the purpose of the running around was. In truth, the QB should have killed the clock running around and then gone to a knee to end the game.

636 Votes

It is 4th down, with 5 seconds left in the game. The offensive team is ahead by 2 points. The QB receives the snap and runs backward and throws the ball up The offensive team storms the field and ball is caught by a player not in the game. Is game o

Asked by Rick almost 9 years ago

This play will never never happen, even in a Pop Warner game.

Here is my take: Too many men on the field and yes 15 yds for unsportsmanship and replay after 15 yds back.

Also, if QB threw up ball, would this be intentional grounding? If yes, that is a spot foul, 5 yds from spot and loss of down. LOD on 4th down with no time left means that we do not extend so game would be over and B loses if they accept this foul (which they would not).

The QB would take the snap and run backwards for 4 seconds and then take a knee. Period.

636 Votes

Showing 253 - 259

Show All

142 More Answers by Football Official

Last 7

34 35 36 37 38 39

...

Next 7 Answers

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Ok if your team get caught with 12 men on the field right as the 12th player is walking off its a free play for offence right? so can that player turn around and participate in the play because the penalty has already been called?

In the game tonight, Cam was taken down behind the line of scrimmage, why isn’t that recorded as a Sack?

Why is a quarterback not charged for "intentional grounding" when he spikes the ball?

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?

Also on Jobstr...

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

Ok- It’s fourth down with 4 sec left. The QB runs backward on 4th down. The clock hits zero and he tosses the ball underhand, skyward to celebrate. The ball comes down to the field and bounces in the end zone. If it went backwards- isn’t it a fumble

It is 4th down, with 5 seconds left in the game. The offensive team is ahead by 2 points. The QB receives the snap and runs backward and throws the ball up The offensive team storms the field and ball is caught by a player not in the game. Is game o

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Ok if your team get caught with 12 men on the field right as the 12th player is walking off its a free play for offence right? so can that player turn around and participate in the play because the penalty has already been called?

In the game tonight, Cam was taken down behind the line of scrimmage, why isn’t that recorded as a Sack?

Why is a quarterback not charged for "intentional grounding" when he spikes the ball?

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?

Also on Jobstr...

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

Ok- It’s fourth down with 4 sec left. The QB runs backward on 4th down. The clock hits zero and he tosses the ball underhand, skyward to celebrate. The ball comes down to the field and bounces in the end zone. If it went backwards- isn’t it a fumble

It is 4th down, with 5 seconds left in the game. The offensive team is ahead by 2 points. The QB receives the snap and runs backward and throws the ball up The offensive team storms the field and ball is caught by a player not in the game. Is game o

Login

Forgot Your Password?

Register