MIN/NYJ: First Play
 

I didn't really understand the first play of the game where Farve was down field illegally... why wasn't it illegal touching?

Illegal touching of a forward pass is five yard just like an ineligible receiver downfield early. In reality, you would have both penalties.

Ok... illegal touching doesn't carry the extra penalty (LOD) like Fed.

Thanks.

Pro rules
 

Why was he illegal, he is a back and has a legal number.

By rule, a QB under center is an ineligible receiver.

Rule 8, Section 1, Article 6

(e) A player who takes his stance behind center as a T-formation quarterback is not an eligible receiver unless, before the ball is snapped, he legally moves to a position at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage or on the end of the line, and is stationary in that position for at least one second before the snap

Note: If he leaves his position behind the center and does not receive the snap, it is a false start unless he has been stationary for at least one second.

Would he have been eligible if it was a shotgun formation?

Yes
 

Yes

Is being set for a second to be eligible just for the QB?

The rule AllPurposeGamer quoted is an NFL rule. Don't even worry about it. It'll just confuse you as it doesn't apply for NFHS rules.

It's to make him a back after shifting from a position not in the backfield, so it'd go for other players having so been so positioned as well.

I think it was about 40 yrs. ago that NCAA made the "T" QB an eligible receiver.