NFL Game Clock Rules

[aschramm]

Quick question,
I've been noticing this year that in the NFL, after an offensive player goes out of bounds (forced out or by himself), that the clock stops. But once they get the ball back into the Umpire and placed, the clock starts again (Except toward the ends of each half). Has this always been done in the NFL? I think I've noticed this in NCAA games as well this year..

Thanks in advance.

[golfnref]

NFL rules: If a player carries the ball out of bounds on a scrimmage play, the game clock is stopped until the ball is spotted for the next down. The Referee then winds the clock. Exception: the clock is not restarted in the last two minutes of the second quarter nor the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. In those instances the clock starts with the snap.

[mikesears]

The NCAA also changed the rule this year to wind the clock when a player carries the ball out of bounds except for the last 2 minutes of either half.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by aschramm

Quick question,
I've been noticing this year that in the NFL, after an offensive player goes out of bounds (forced out or by himself), that the clock stops. But once they get the ball back into the Umpire and placed, the clock starts again (Except toward the ends of each half). Has this always been done in the NFL?

No. They put it in around the turn of the century to prevent games from exceeding their allotted TV time, along with shortening half time to 12 mins.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

No. They put it in around the turn of the century to prevent games from exceeding their allotted TV time, along with shortening half time to 12 mins.

The turn of the century??? Now I really feel old!

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Blue37

The turn of the century??? Now I really feel old!

How long before that term gets applied routinely? "Turn of the century", I mean, not "old".

Originally Posted by mikesears

The NCAA also changed the rule this year to wind the clock when a player carries the ball out of bounds except for the last 2 minutes of either half.

I wonder if the timer at Texas Tech really knew that rule, because I was watching their game with Nebraska and the timer seemed a little liberal with this rule.