Team A is attempting a middle screen. The pass is grabbed in the air by lineman B75 less than a second after leaving passer A1's hand. R, focusing on passer A1, sees B55 take two full steps after pass is released and send a double forearm shiver to A1. He throws flag for "roughing the passer". Is this correct?
If the pass had been 40 yards downfield it would be a no-brainer. PF for roughing passer. However, this contact occured after the defense had intercepted the pass. Does the passer cease to be a passer when the pass ends, i.e. when the ball was possessed?
Is this a clean hands play where B should be able to retain possession because they had not fouled prior to their taking possession of the ball?
Was there any foul at all? If the play was deemed to not have been PF for roughing the passer, would the contact on A1 be deemed to just be a good legal block since he was no longer a passer but a player?
Thoughts and references please. This happened in a game governed by NCAA rules.
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