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Originally Posted by RichMSN
I may have mispoke when I put "shotgun." I think I should've put "direct snap" as another poster put recently.
This happened in a game this year and it got quite a bit of exposure since (naturally) the other team recovered the football and felt screwed they weren't allowed to keep the ball. Here's the Markbreit explanation from his Chicago Tribune column:
"I'm sure you're getting a million questions about the ball that went through Brian Griese's legs, but why is that a false start and a snap over the punter's head is a live ball? If Griese was in the shotgun would it still have been a false start? --Michael Brenner, Chicago
Here's what the rule book says, "Any extension of hands by a player under center as if to receive the snap is a false start unless while under center he receives the snap. This includes any player under or behind the center placing his hands on his knees or on the body of the center. It is legal for a player under center who has extended his hands to legally go in motion, thus becoming a backfield man." The snap in the Bears game went through the quarterback's legs without touching him, thus, becoming a false start. This situation is seldom seen but was called correctly by Ed Hochuli and his crew by shutting the play down. When a snap goes over a punter's head or a shotgun quarterback's head, the ball is live and can be recovered and advanced by anyone. This action is considered a backward pass."
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It happened in the 2007 Bears/Eagles game. In 2006 the rule was not applied correctly in the Saints/Steelers game thus allowing a TD by Duece Macallister when the ball was snapped along ground while Drew Brees was under center.
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Originally Posted by waltjp
A team that wins the coin toss and elects to defer will get to choose kick/receive in the second half. The other team will then be asked to make a choice.
Is direction not a choice in NFL?
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Yes it is. Kick, Receive, or Defend a particular goal