Forward Pass

[Ed Hickland]

Did anyone see the play in the NY Giants - Washington Redskins game today.

Kerry Collins throws a pass that clearly left his hand backwards. A Giants receiver was blocking downfield. A flag was thrown but picked up because the pass was a backwards pass.

However, on review it was ruled that by rule a pass to be backwards must be received in back of where it was thrown. In this case it was not. The pass was thrown from the 39 and the receiver caught it on the 40.

The NFL rule is different than the NFHS rule -- initial direction of the pass.

A tough call to make.