Quote:
Originally posted by ljudge
Can someone explain #5? I had the same ruling, but when I read the answer (which agrees with me) I'm now changing my answer based on the assumption you make in the answer.
I pasted the question and answer between the ***** for convenience...
**********************************************
5. A 2/4 B8. QB A18 hands off to A44 on B's 13. A44 runs to B's 6 near the sideline where B55 hits him causing the ball to come loose. B38 then deflects the bouncing ball and B12 controls the ball while touching the end line.
Assuming the deflection was a legal muff, TB B 1/10 @ B-20 clock on snap
*********************************************
I had touchback because I was assuming it deflected of B38's uniform or something. But you assume it was a MUFF (an unsuccessful attempt to secure posession) which by rule constitutes a new force which makes me change my ruling to SAFETY. A new force can result from a muff of a grounded loose ball which is what happened. Am I all wet here???
|
A muff, by rule, is the touching or accidently kicking of a loose ball by a player in an unsuccessful attempt to secure possession. A muff, by rule, does not automatically constitute a new force. The rule defining force states after a fumble has been grounded, a new force "may" result from a muff. To have a new force in this case you would probably have to have a ball at rest or nearly at rest to have a new force. In question #5 it was stated that B38 deflected a bouncing ball. The original force,fumble,had not been spent. The ball was declared dead in B's end zone. Touchback is the correct ruling.