Nit picking on a field goal question

[AndrewMcCarthy]

Originally Posted by BigFarns

I don't agree with you on the question of avoiding the safety. I don't have my books on me right now...I'll grab them when I get home....but I'm almost certain that forward progress is the foremost tip of the ball and if that foremost tip in past the plane of the goaline and in the field of play then the ballcarriers forward progress is NOT stopped in the end zone and therefore not a safety. Then when placing the ball I'm again almost certain that since no part of the ball can be in the endzone that the offense is "given" the few inches to make the back part of the ball get out of the endzone. Again I will get my books as soon as I get home cause these "once in a lifetime" situations are what makes reading the rulebook fun.

For forward progress, the ball is where the ball is. I believe you're thinking about when the ball is turned "sideways". To spot the ball for play you have to keep the back end where it was and the offense gains a few inches when you turn the ball to place it.