Illegal Forward Pass Ruling in MIN-GB Game

[SportsFan]

I do not understand why there was a penalty for illegal forward pass on this play. For those who did not see it, here is what happened:

QB drops back, has ball knocked away by defensive player. Ball rolls into endzone. QB picks up ball and flings it in the direction of a receiver. Pass is incomplete. Referee rules illegal forward pass which obviously results in a safety.

I thought the only possible call that could be made on that play was intentional grounding. I did not see why the pass was illegal. Anyone know?

[JugglingReferee]

Are you sure that the ruling wasn't that a legal forward pass has already been attempt prior to the pass that was ruled illegal?

[Bullycon]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Are you sure that the ruling wasn't that a legal forward pass has already been attempt prior to the pass that was ruled illegal?

Only one pass was thrown.

The play in question: YouTube - NFL week 10 2008 Green bay Packers Aaron Rodgers Safety Vs, Vikings

[SportsFan]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Are you sure that the ruling wasn't that a legal forward pass has already been attempt prior to the pass that was ruled illegal?

If there was already a legal forward pass, someone would have had to catch it for the play to continue, right?

[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.

[Umpmazza]

Originally Posted by mbyron

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

No the referee gave the signal and said " illegal forward pass"

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by 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.

and lose.

[Ed Hickland]

He did not get out of the tackle box and the ball did not cross the line of scrimmage and from my understanding of the rule that criteria must be met.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Ed Hickland

He did not get out of the tackle box and the ball did not cross the line of scrimmage and from my understanding of the rule that criteria must be met.

He is SOOO close to being outside the tackle box, can they really be that accurate with an unmarked area of the field? It seems to me that a flag happy official would flag something right on the border.

[JasonTX]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

He is SOOO close to being outside the tackle box, .

That may be true, but the ball also has to cross the neutral zone.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by JasonTX

That may be true, but the ball also has to cross the neutral zone.

Is the NFL rule that the ball must also reach the LS even if someone was in the area?

[JugglingReferee]

Did anyone see the liberal "in the area" that Corrente caled last night? "There is no flag for IG, as the ball was thrown to #34."

In the MIN-GB game, the ball was < 5 yards from the potential receiver. In the MNF game last night, I believe that the eligible was > 5 yards from the ball hitting the ground, and the ball certainly looked like it was spiked into the ground. #34 didn't even make a play for the ball, whereas the eligible in the MIN-GB game did, and only needed a half-second more to actually get a finger on it.

I don't see how both can be correct calls.