[BoomerSooner]

I don't think the rule is particularly clear on when the exception ends, so I'm having trouble with this play. My gut tells me once the kicker is no longer in position to kick the ball or simulate a kick, the exception ends and the ball is dead. The way the rule is written leads me believe with my head that the only requirement of the exception is that a player be in position to kick the ball at the snap. From there I logically concluded that as long as that requirement is met, the holder can remain with a knee on the ground independent of what the kicker does until some other criteria is met for to declare the ball dead.

That said, I'm leaning toward my gut and this being a dead ball because the kicker was no longer in position to kick the ball or simulate a kick when the pass was made. The nature of the pass (forward or backward, to the kicker or another player, immediate or following a fake) by itself has no influence on my decision in this situation. The timing of it combined with the position of the kicker is what bothers me here. To make my point, I compare this to the famed LSU fake FG from several years ago. In that situation the holder received the snap, placed the ball on the ground and almost immediately tossed it over his head to the kicker. Had he faked a pass to an end pulling behind the line and then tossed it to the kicker or any other player, my key for making the call would be the location of the kicker. If he's still in position to kick or simulate a kick (or even in the process of simulating a kick) the ball remains live. If the kicker is running toward the sideline, then I'm declaring it a dead ball.

Please note that no part of me believes my interpretation is necessarily correct. I'm just explaining how I would officiate this situation based on my understanding of the rule as written. Please feel free to let me know I'm wrong, but if so, please let me know why.