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...eligible opponentÂ’s opportunity to move toward, catch or bat the pass
Nothing in there about initiating contact. Lets say B1 is just standing there and is run into by A1, who is attempting to move toward, catch or bat the pass. B1 is not. He's just standing there. A1 did indeed initiate contact (more of a basketball term) but B1 interfered with A1's ability to move toward, catch or bat the pass. 'Right to position' is also a basketball term that has no bearing here. If they're both trying to move toward, catch or bat the pass - different story.
Getting back to the original example, B was not attempting to move toward, catch or bat the pass, but A was. Just like on a kick, it's incumbent upon B to know where the ball is. If it's terribly underthrown, nothing. If it's not, and A is unable to change direction due to B's position, throw it. Now what's horribly underthrown vs. kind of underthrown vs. kind of off line.....? That's why we get the big bucks - except in Oregon apparently.
That being said, if you get a room full of 100 officials and derock, and then show a series of pass plays and say, "after each play, whoever thinks there is pass interference, raise your hand", you'd probably get half the guys raising their hands after each play and the other half shaking their heads no. It's that subjective.
[Edited by ABoselli on Dec 11th, 2002 at 10:57 PM]
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