ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS

[cw3Retired]

Originally posted by zebraman55
Let's keep things simple here.......The offensive guard had no intention of catching the ball, wasn't even facing the passer. In this case,it is just that the ball "slipped from the passer's hand". Common sense here says A's intent was to do nothing more than stop the clock, which the passer clearly attempted to do.

Incomplete pass, stop the clock, and allow A to set their strategy for their next play.

I have to disagree. Football is a game of skill, and the reward is to those who accomplish with skill the things that they attempt. It does not reward the mere attempt in and of itself.

Rule 7-5-2d (exception) "It is legal to conserve time by intentionally throwing the ball forward to the ground immediately after receiving a direct hand-to-hand snap."

This play does not meet the requirements of this exception. While it is not illegal touching by the lineman, it IS an illegal forward pass, and should be penalized as such, 5 yards and loss of down. To rule otherwise is to penalize B by nullifying his superior line charge. The clock stops on the illegal forward pass (Rule 3-5-3e), so A still gets the clock stopped.