End of Game, Nose Swats at Snap

cowbyfan1 · #21 (**permalink**) Fri Oct 29, 2004, 12:48am

Quote:

Originally posted by Derock2004

Quote:

Originally posted by mcrowder
Nowhere does it say the release must be voluntary. If he drops it, the play is live, right? Same as the swat.

The reason you don't see this often is that it requires a lot of precision by the NT. If he moves early, it's offside - if he moves late, he's missed and is not in position to protect himself from a block.

But it IS legal (in FED).

The key word in what you said is "he drops it"! There is a distinct difference from releasing the ball and having it swatted or swiped from your hand(s). No way is this a legal play. You still didn't answer my question, say the Nose is swift and has a lot of precision and actually swipes the ball from the center hands. Is it a live ball or dead ball and what is the call or non call? Please explain.

Whether he drops it voluntarily or not the ball is released by the center. Thus the snap is over, reguardless if it touches a QB or not. One of the definitions of release is "An unfastening or letting go of something caught or held fast." It says nothing about voluntary or not.
You also quoted from the rule book the ball becomes live as soon as the center moves it other than to adjust the ball. So what difference does it make if the immediate release comes about from handing it to the QB, dropping it or if the defense knocks it out of his hands? Per the definition of release above the ball was released thus a legal snap. If he moves it back and then moves it back forward then it is not a legal snap, thus dead ball because there was no release of the ball in any way shape or form. Thus the dead ball foul.
Let me make it simple. You need ball movement by the center and a release. Center moves the ball, ball is hit by nose guard, ball is RELEASED by center. Live ball, no foul, legal snap.
Besides what are fouls? Something done by a team to gain an "unfair" advantage over the other team. The way you are arguing that this is not a leagal snap, are you really gonna flag the offense 5 yards because of something the defense did? If you do, let me know when so I can go to your game and laugh my *** off at you getting ripped by the coach.
As far as the call, live ball no whistle, throw a bean bag (because unlike a muffed snap by the QB,this is a true fumble)and then when recovered and downed, blow your whistle and signal which way we are going depending on who recovered it.

[Edited by cowbyfan1 on Oct 29th, 2004 at 02:01 AM]