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"...if Hasslebeck was attempting to pull the ball back (clearly not throwing it) and lost it while doing so, I'd most likely say it was a fumble."
Just to add what Mike Periera (NFL Director of Officials, never sure if I spell his name right) had to say about it... The rule is, if his arm is moving forward and is in the throwing motion, regardless of his intention (that is, whether he meant to hold on to it or not), if the ball comes loose it is a forward pass. He would have had to get the ball all the way back to his body and "tucked" before it could be ruled a fumble.
I think the rule Bob quoted makes it pretty clear. Mike P. added that the rule is the way it is to (a) make no room for a "judgement call", they want pass/no pass to be a black and white issue and (b) to avoid "cheap fumbles".
By the way... Mike P.'s weekly segment on NFL Total Access is the most educational 5 minutes on TV for football. I'd love to see them make a half hour show out of that, reviewing rules and calls.
-Sean--
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