It's amazing that this has popped up twice now in November. It's really an August issue, but I'll agree is can be a sticky issue to handle.
Here's a link to the another discussion:
http://www.gmcgriff.com/discus/messa...tml?1132331202
It seems the concesus is that the backside official has a better look. I can't agree nor disagree, but one thing for sure, if the pass is coming my way I'm holding the whistle longer than normal should it hit the ground.
If I do blow the whistle its because I felt it was forward and therefore incomplete.
I used to be an advocate of punching back. Couple years ago we were instructed NOT to do that. I really thought it was a good idea to do it. But I do what the boss says to do. Should the offside official punch back, I might not see it and possibly call it forward. One axiom I remember is when it doubt its a forward pass.