I have heard people say that the old fumblerooskie play is illegal.. if so why? If the QB drops the ball on the ground and no one is touching it then shouldnt it be legal as long as he does not "fumble" it forward?

The only restriction is that a "planned" loose ball in the vicinity of the snapper may not be advanced by an offensive lineman unless the referee is notified prior to the snap that the pay will be run on that down.

When you say offensive linemen, do you mean Interior linemen, or can a TE also not pick it up and run? I actually think the play I was thinking of being illegal is the Guard Around. But either way what is the NFL ruling on the play?

By offensive lineman, I mean any A player on his line of scrimmage. I am speaking NFHS. I don't know the NFL rule.

Not only that, but the lineman must turn 180 degrees and be facing his own goal line before picking up the planned loose ball. I think he must also be at least one yard behind the LOS.

I'll have to look up the pro rule tomorrow. I have that book at work.

Al,
for NFHS, a planned loose ball play or "fumblerooski" has no requirement for a 1/2 turn or being 1 yard behind the NZ.
That requirment is for when a ball his handed to a lineman.

The only requirment for the loose ball play is that the referee be notified before the sanp the play actualy occurs.

There is no NFL rule I am aware of that prevents the fumblerooski. There are rules about the 4th down fumble, fumbles on try downs and fumbles inside the last 2 minutes of a half (regardless of down)that would prevent the fumblerooski in those situations but not in others.

You are right - I confused the handing rule. How could I be so stupid? Back to the books.

What is the rule in the NFL about fumbles inside the last 2 minutes of a half?

Inside the last two minutes of a half, all fumbles by the offensive team are treated like 4th down fumbles during rest of game, i.e the only offensive player who can catch/recover the ball and advance is the fumbler. Ball becomes dead as soon as any other offensive player other than the fumbler get possession.

Oh.. I didnt know that.. thanks for clearing that up for me..

Are you in the NAFL, or some other League?

I am an OC in the Southern American Football League.. I have also been a high school coach for the last 3 years, so the rule variations can be tricky.

The NAFL has their rulebook online and it essentially the NFL rulebook with a NAFL cover to it. I am not reffing with them this year so not sure if they have any major differences than NFL but I doubt it.