NFL Fumble

[rulesmaven]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I'm trying to figure out what you're asking. If the issue was whether the ball was loose before it was ruled dead (by virtue of TD), any action that occurred after the dead ball indication should be ignored, so who cares about the spot if the fumble were recovered? Then it's just a question of TD vs. inadvertent whistle.

For the record, that's true on this play because an offensive player recovered the ball. If there is a fumble in the last two minutes, or 4th down, or on a try, it's still a live ball. It just has to go back to the spot of the fumble if an offensive player other than the fumbler recovers it. Also, for purposes of awarding the ball after a fumble on replay, the whistle or touch down signal is ignored.

So, for example, if the running back had been deemed on replay to have lost the ball before the ball crossed the plane, and it had been recovered by the defense, it would be a turnover, not a dead ball, even if a whistle had blown or TD or other dead ball signal given.

Edit: For completeness, I guess I should also add going out of bounds in the end zone before recovery, which would have been touch back notwithstanding a whistle or TD signal.