Illegal Forward Pass and Roughing the Passer

[Ed Hickland]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

A12 is chased from the pocket, and as he approaches the line of scrimmage, he sees an open receiver. He steps beyond the line of scrimmage, throws a completed pass, and is then hit late after releasing the ball.

Is it possible to have Roughing the passer on this play?

Cannot have a roughing the passer as in order to be a passer he must throw a legal forward pass.

It is possible to have unnecessary roughness as the runner who threw the pass was no longer involved in the play. However, you need to use judgment, consider if his illegal pass is intercepted, B's contact would be legal as he would be blocking.