During a scrimmage game last friday night we had this situation. Only the R and myself(backjudge) saw it. Quarterback drops back to pass. As his arm is coming forward, the ball slips out of his hands. However, he was able to regain control (catch the ball). He then throws a completed pass. Given the new rule for 2005 regarding only one forward pass, was the second forward pass a foul? R said he would have ruled the first one incomplete instead of a fumble since the quarterback's arm was moving forward when he lost control.

If the ball went forward and he caught it like you said then that would be a forward pass. If the ball hit the ground in what is a forward pass, then he recovered it then incomplete. If the ball landed behind him then I can see a fumble and allow the "2nd" pass. It is one of those things I would really need to see it to decide on it definitively.

Let 'em play.