Steelers-Raiders

[BackJudge]

Another NFL question. Oakland had the ball. Gannon (QB) drops back and is under heavy pressure and throws the ball to a lineman. The lineman caught it and advanced a couple yards. Referee (Tom White) says that Pittsburgh declines the penalty and takes the result of the play, an incomplete pass. I know the pass was caught, as I was at the game and it was right in front of me. Is this a rule that if an ineligible catches a pass it will be ruled incomplete??

[mikesears]

I saw the game on TV and was wondering the same thing. NFHS rule calls that Offensive Pass Interference (not sure if the Lineman needs to be beyond LOS) - Someone please help because I do not have a rulebook in front of me. (Try explaining the 15 yard penalty and loss of down penalty to a coach or fan who has no idea about this FED rule.)


ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE GAMES ENDING ------------
The ending to the game was also controversial -- at least to the Raiders :^) Does anyone know which box in that game was indicating the wrong down? The official down marker, the auxillary down marker, or both? Or was it just the scoreboard? And was the clock running on 4th down or was it stopped?

This situation leads me to ask several questions:

1. How does the NFL handle making the ball ready for play. Is it ready when the ball is spotted or does the referee "whistle the ball ready"?

2. How would you referees handle a situation where the clock is running with very little time left in the game and the down marker is showing 3rd down when it should be 4th down? I know a good pregame with the chain-crew can help but I've had young guys for lower level games who are simply not paying attention or good crews who have simply had "brain farts". What would you do?

[Zeke5]

In the NFL, if a pass is caught by an ineligible receiver,
it treated as if the ball had hit the ground - the play is
dead and it is an incomplete pass ... but it is also a
penalty for illegal touching - 5 yards from the PREVIOUS
spot and REPEAT the down. So, in most situations (involving
linemen), B would elect to decline the penalty so as to
take the result of the play.

Just as a side note: A play, where a pass is touched by an
ineligible and subsequently caught by an eligible A player,
is blown dead and the result of the play is the spot of the
catch.

[BackJudge]

I know the scoreboard only showed third down, but everyone knew it was 4th. Also the PA announcer said 4th. I did not look at the down boxes.