A different "illegal fwd pass" situation

[Trap]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

Just for the record here, a ball that is loose from a backwards pass/pitch is not a fumble. It's simply a backwards pass. How is the defense being penalized? They can't recover a dead ball. Suppose all this took place behind the line of scrimmage. Do you think the defense should be allowed to gain possession of an incomplete pass? Everything regarding passes is consistant whether it is behind or beyond the line of scrimmage. The only thing that changes is the legality of such passes. If a forward pass (legal or illegal) hits the ground it is an incomplete pass. I don't really care what I have to tell the coach. Coaches don't like half of what we tell them anyway so we can just add this one to the list.

Yes I expect the defense to be able to recover a backwards pass or pitch.

We must be talking about two different things.

[JasonTX]

Originally Posted by Trap

Yes I expect the defense to be able to recover a backwards pass or pitch.

We must be talking about two different things.

I was just making a point where you were saying the pitch was a fumble.

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by gsf23

...The rule was then made that an intentional fumble forward shall be ruled an incomplete pass.

REPLY: Actually, I'm not sure that was the rule change. I believe that an intentional fumble forward was always ruled an incomplete pass. The problem was in those days before replay, no one could see that it was "intentional." I think (please correct me if I'm wrong) that the rule change was that any forward fumble (4th down?) is returned to the spot of the fumble, similar to the current NCAA rule. The rule in the NFL is called the "Markbreit" rule since the play occurred on his watch--and it was his first nationally televised game as a referee.