Illegal Forward Pass Ruling in MIN-GB Game

[bisonlj]

I wondered the same thing. The receiver was definitely in the direction of the pass so I was surprised when I saw the flag. We he gave the signal and announced illegal forward pass and not intentional grounding, I assumed there was some aspect of the rule I did not know. As a Vikings fan I was happy about it though! Another strange Vikings game! They have found the strangest way to win games this year.

[mbyron]

The foul had to be intentional grounding, mistakenly announced as illegal forward pass.

[JugglingReferee]

That was IG?

Wow....

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by mbyron

The foul had to be intentional grounding, mistakenly announced as illegal forward pass.

Intentional grounding is an illegal forward pass.

The pass did not make it back to the LOS, so even if he's outside the tackle box, it's still IG.

Previous obvious call IMO.

[jontheref]

No doubt IG---throwing a pass in an effort to avoid a loss of yardage. I dont have a problem with the call. The explaination yes....the call no.

[PackersFTW]

Originally Posted by jontheref

No doubt IG---throwing a pass in an effort to avoid a loss of yardage. I dont have a problem with the call. The explaination yes....the call no.

so anytime somebody throws a pass to avoid a loss of yardage, that's intentional grounding? that's what you make it sound like. qb's "throw the ball away" all the time, which is perfectly legal as long as you are either outside the pocket or there is a receiver in the area. troy aikman said that both occurred. this was a crap call, and i'm going to watch for that show where they debate bad calls on nfl network. no doubt he will say it was a bad call.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by PackersFTW

so anytime somebody throws a pass to avoid a loss of yardage, that's intentional grounding? that's what you make it sound like. qb's "throw the ball away" all the time, which is perfectly legal as long as you are either outside the pocket or there is a receiver in the area. troy aikman said that both occurred. this was a crap call, and i'm going to watch for that show where they debate bad calls on nfl network. no doubt he will say it was a bad call.

PACKER fan, do you have any opinion about the ball not making it to the LOS?

[Trap]

I think this was an error, it happens all the time in the NFL. They are very liberal in allowing the ball to be thrown away. I think the Ref had his mind made up he was going to call a penalty. From what he told the coach it was an unnatural throwing motion, that is why he called the penalty. He later found out that probably wouldn't be a good reason, thus later changed it to being IG, something he could defend. Regardless, I think he had his mind made up and wasn't going to change it regardless of what his crew told him. JMO

[JasonTX]

Looked like a good call to me since it was obvious he was just trying to get the ball out of the end zone. There was a receiver in the area but he didn't have a reasonable oppurtunity to catch it.

[SportsFan]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Intentional grounding is an illegal forward pass.

The pass did not make it back to the LOS, so even if he's outside the tackle box, it's still IG.

Previous obvious call IMO.

How is intentional grounding the same as an illegal forward pass? They are enforced differently and have different signals.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by SportsFan

How is intentional grounding the same as an illegal forward pass? They are enforced differently and have different signals.

IG is one of the types of IFP's. It has it's one signal, but is a type of IFP.

[SportsFan]

Originally Posted by MJT

IG is one of the types of IFP's. It has it's one signal, but is a type of IFP.

Yes, but why did the referee say IFP this time. Isn't it standard protocol in the NFL to call it intentional grounding?

EDIT: The official for the game was Alberto Riveron. This is his first year as referee, so I probably haven't heard him before. I suppose he likes to call all IFPs like that, but he had several Fox analysts confused, including Troy Aikman and Michael Strahan.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by SportsFan

I suppose he likes to call all IFPs like that, but he had several Fox analysts confused, including Troy Aikman and Michael Strahan.

Oh come on, a ball of string could confuse those guys.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by SportsFan

I suppose he likes to call all IFPs like that, but he had several Fox analysts confused, including Troy Aikman and Michael Strahan.

LOL! And THAT is not new!

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by SportsFan

How is intentional grounding the same as an illegal forward pass? They are enforced differently and have different signals.

Intentional grounding is a type of illegal forward pass. Under Federation rules all illegal forward passes have the penalty. NCAA is slightly different as passes thrown to conserve yardage are peanlized different than passes thrown to conserve time or thrown from beyond the neutral zone and such. But still, they are all types of illegal forward passes.