Illegal forward what???

[mbyron]

This play cannot be forward handing, legal or otherwise, because it's not handing: the ball was thrown. 2-19-1 defines handing in terms of the ball remaining in contact with a player as it is transferred. This would have been important if a foul had occurred while the ball was loose.

Since it was thrown forward (toward the opponent's end line), it's a forward pass (2-31). Since the thrower (not a passer) was beyond the NZ, it's an illegal forward pass (7-5-2). And since the pass was incomplete, it's an incomplete forward pass and thus dead (4-2-2c).

[JRutledge]

The manner in which a ball is thrown does not change the status of the ball. Underhanded is not different than overhand. The ball is either thrown forward or backward and you rule accordingly.

Peace

[jTheUmp]

As described, it is an illegal forward pass.

Re: pass vs handoff, think of it this way... if the QB throws a shovel pass to the RB that hits the ground, it's still an incomplete pass. Same thing here, with the added wrinkle of being beyond the LOS.