Intentional Grounding or Not?

[Tom Cook]

I think that if the ball falls near the feet of an eligible receiver you have to be very careful calling the play anything but a legal incomplete pass. There is no way that we could be expected to know the route of the receiver, or wether the receiver was smart enough to remember when to look for the pass. If the QB is smart enough, and accurate enough, to fulfil all of the requirements of an incomplete pass, it's an incomplete pass. The only explanation that I would be comfortable giving to a coach on this play is that the ball was close to an eligible receiver. I'm not calling a penalty on the offense and explaining that I have read the QB's mind and know for a fact that he threw the ball low and behind on purpose.