IMO, even if "A" voluntarily went OOB, he is allowed to return IB and catch the ball. If he does return IB and catch the ball or otherwise participate, "A" will have committed IP. If "B" contacts "A" OOB when he is attempting to return IB and catch the ball, it is defensive PI, fouls offset, and replay the down. Hope I do not have to try to explain that one to "B" coach. It would also be easy to make a case for live ball PF on "B" because he intentionally contacted an opponent OOB. All players are responsible to know that their opponents are OOB and not contact them unnecessarily contact them. I think PI. This would also elicit an extended series of boos and cat calls from the spectators sitting 23 rows behind the trombone section on the opposite sideline and 75 yards down field from the play. Don't you love it when they boo and do not have a clue what they are booing about?

Here's more info on the play. We had a "no call" on the play, and as a crew felt comfortable with the "call". The reciever was not forced out of bounds, was not trying to come back in bounds, and the contact was not a personal foul. The game ended without a problem. What started the conversation among the crew was a question to our officials association by the winning coach. The coach asked "There was no DPI since the pass was not catchable, right?" We all feel that there was no foul, but do the rules support this? As stated in a reply, if it is a foul, how do you explain it to the B coach? Which rule applies, or is this just one of those situations not completely covered. As I stated earlier, rule 7 is specific in that a player eligible at the snap remains eligible throughout the down.

[Edited by David Hymel on Oct 26th, 2003 at 09:28 PM]

Ok! Now lets assume we extend the end zone an additional 10 yards so the receiver is now in bounds. That was easy.
Now we have Pass Interference!