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Originally Posted by Bob M.
REPLY: Does it matter if it intentional or unintentional? Absolutely. An intentional pushing of the ball forward is an illegal forward pass and you're right. It should be flagged. However, 'intention' is something that needs to be judged by the covering official...at least for Fed. The NCAA and NFL has obviated the need for that kind of judgment by instituting rules governing how to handle fumbles which go forward OOB, or which occur during 4th downs and tries. The NFL rule (also called the "Markbreit rule") had its genesis after a game where Kenny Stabler intentionally 'fumbled' a fourth down carry forward where it was 'muffed' further. It eventually ended up in the endzone where Dave Casper recovered for the game-winning TD. Markbreit was screened and could not see that Stabler's fumble was anything but accidental.
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I remember it being referred to as the "Dave Casper" rule.
I wonder if the play could have been ruled an illegal pass, although now the rule for the forward fumble takes away the judgment as to whether it is a pass or fumble.