Defensive Pass Interference

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by LDUB

ART. 3 . . . A defensive player shall not:
d. Contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker.

9.2.3 SITUATION A: End A1 sprints from the line and then cuts sharply toward the middle of the field. A1 makes no attempt to block defensive back B1. B1 pursues A1 and pushes him from the side using his open hands. Contact is made on A1’s upper arm before the pass is thrown. A1 was moving away from B1 when the contact occurred. RULING: Illegal use of hands by B1. A defender may legally contact an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight. The contact may be a block or warding off the opponent who is attempting to block by pushing or pulling him. However, if the receiver is not attempting to block or has gone past or is moving away, it is illegal for the defender to use hands in the manner described. In this situation, it is clear that A1 is no longer a potential blocker on B1. (2-3-5a; 7-5-7)

Interesting that the case switches from referring to mere "contact" to "use hands in the manner described". As some of you know, not being an official, I haven't kept up with all the rule changes in the various codes but did study them carefully for a while. Historically, the restrictions on contact by B vs. receivers were written as prohibitions on use of the hands & arms (not including the shoulder), which were only supposed to be used to tackle a ballcarrier or ward off blockers. But were the rules actually changed in Fed to prohibit all forms of contact by B against an eligible A receiver on B's side of the neutral zone when a forward pass is still possible and the A player is clearly not a blocker? I parse the above sentence's "The contact may be a block" as meaning a block by B1 with hands & arms kept close to the body would be legal regardless of whether it was to ward off A1, and that the "warding off the opponent who is attempting to block by pushing or pulling him" means that if A1 is attempting to block B1, then B1 may push or pull him as well.

Robert