Brain teaser

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

But no one is saying this. In fact, quite the opposite, the point is that by jumping into the air the receiver is illegally participating in the play (or illegally touching the pass depending on the code).

What he is not doing is touching a pass while OOB. This is made clear by the case play where a receiver who has been forced OOB jumps in the air, catches the pass and lands on the field has made a valid catch.

A player in the air over OOB may be illegally participating, but he is not OOB. Again, flag the foul and let play continue.

Don't know about any "code" other than NFHS. A player who is OOB is NOT illegally participating when he touches a pass, nor is he guilty of illegally touching the pass, provided he is an eligible receiver.

When A player is "forced OOB by an opponent", his being OOB is ignored, so in essence his being OOB never happened, which is why his completing an airborne catch inbounds, is not considered Illegal participation, provided it is judged he, " returnes to the field during the down, he shall return at the first opportunity."

The issue we're talking about has nothing to do with being forced OOB. The suggestion is that a player who has satisfied the requirement of touching OOB, who remainsoutside the boundry lines OOB, can touch (bat or otherwise redirect) a forward pass back into the field of play, where a teammate can legally complete a catch, by simply jumping up into the air, while OOB. I don't accept that interpretation as I don't believe it makes any sense, common or football.

The example previously suggested, although totally ridiculous, illustrates the falicy of this interpretation. A88 (an eligible receiver) voluntarily leaves the field, and runs behind the team area. A throws a pass way OOB that A88 emerges from behind his team area, jumps up into the air and redirects that pass to A44 (another eligible receiver) who catches the pass, clearly inbounds, and advances to the EZ. A88 has not committed Illegal Participation as he has not returned inbounds. Returning inbounds is a requirement of NF: 9-6-1 and 2.

A88 is not illegally touching the pass, as he is an eligible receiver when he touched the ball, provided he began the down as an eligible receiver. Since neither penalty applies, are you going to allow the score? Common sense suggests, (at least from my interpretation) that since A satisfied all the requirements of being OOB, his subsequent touching of that pass, whether he is in constant contact with the ground OR NOT, renders the ball dead.