In order to have a completed catch of a forward pass, the receiver must come down inbounds with both feet touching the
ground and begin to run with the ball in his possession. This is a “football move.” The receiver must take actual steps after landing inbounds. If both feet land inbounds with the ball in possession and during the first step the ball comes out, it is an incomplete pass.
Could you please explain the down-by-contact rule? I was curious about the a play in the Giants-Chiefs game where the receiver made a nice catch and it appeared that his shin touched the ground as defenders attempted to tackle him. The receiver escaped and scored. From the replay, it appears that his knee was not down. I saw this replay on a NFL network show where a former referee was explaining the rule. From my understanding, the receiver should have been called down and the TD nullified. His explanation was somewhat confusing, so would you please give me the scoop? –Stephen, Michigan City, Ind.
A runner is down by contact when he is contacted by an opponent and subsequently goes to the ground with anything other than his hands or feet. If, after the contact, he regains his equilibrium, and then goes to the ground, he is not down by contact. In the play that you describe, the officials ruled that the receiver’s leg had not hit the ground and they allowed the play to continue. This play was challenged and replay was inconclusive. Whenever a ruling on the field is made, only conclusive evidence can affect a change.
Hello, Jerry, during the Dec. 18 Bears-Falcons game, Atlanta coach Jim Mora challenged an interception call. Field reporter Suzy Kolber was on the Falcons sideline with her ESPN camera crew and their equipment, which included a flat-screen monitor. During the challenge, Mora walked over to the monitor and watched a replay of the game. I assume it was the feed from the ESPN broadcast. Having been at the game myself I know that the
scoreboard does not show the same replays as the television broadcast. TV broadcasts typically show more replays from different angles than what is shown in the stadium. After I got home I watched the game again via a DVR and was shocked to see that a sideline reporting crew was providing a single team a replay off their monitor. Isn’t this against NFL rules? It
certainly is against the concept of good sportsmanship. I thought each team should have the same technology at their disposal, and no team can have an advantage, other than the fan’s cheering. I can remember watching a game when a coaching staff was asked to remove their headsets because the power to the opponent’s headsets had been lost. Could you please clear this up, was
this against NFL rules? –Mike Taran, Chicago
The field reporter for network television is on the home sideline
for half the game, and the visitor’s sideline for the other half. The equipment includes a flat screen monitor. Both teams get the advantage of possibly looking at this monitor for half the game. Coach Mora was not restricted from looking at this monitor as long as he stayed in his coach’s area. The headset rule dictates that if the headsets for one team malfunction, the other team is required to stop using their headsets until power is restored.
If a point after attempt is blocked can an offensive player pick it up and advance it to score two points? –Shawn Sawyer, Southaven, Miss.
Under NFL rules, once a try for point is blocked, the play becomes dead and neither team may advance the ball. If the try is a play from scrimmage and not a kick, all regular rules regarding legal advances remain intact.
Being a high school official, I’ve never understood the rules surrounding the clock being stopped when the QB is sacked. What is the rationale for stopping the clock in this situation, and what conditions are needed for the clock to actually be stopped? –Mark Dexter, Plainfield, Conn.
This rule only exists in the National Football League. The reason is to allow the deep receivers time to return at or near the line of scrimmage before the clock starts again. Several years ago, this rule was modified. Now the clock is not stopped on sacks during the last two minutes of each half.
If the QB crosses the line of scrimmage and throws a ball for an interception is the play dead and the penalty enforced or does the defense retain ball from the interception? –Tom, Boca Raton, Fla.
Whenever an illegal forward pass is thrown from beyond the line of scrimmage, the play continues and the intercepting team can decline the penalty for the illegal forward pass and take the result of the play. There are no fouls under NFL rules that stop plays once the ball has been snapped.
Hey, Jerry! I recently played in Skokie’s Sixth annual Indo Jew Bowl and was grateful you could flip the coin for the game. You are truly an inspiration to officiating everywhere. My question is this: What is the deal with the time limit given to referees on looking at instant replays? When the timer goes down to zero, does the review television turn off? How does that work? Thanks! I am the one that asked you at the Indo Jew Bowl about the Bills-Titans forward pass. As a Bills fan, it will forever be an illegal forward pass! –Michael Wenger, Skokie, Ill.
Being selected to toss the coin in the Indo Jew Bowl was one of the highlights of my career. For that, I thank you. I remember you well! Once a call on the field is either challenged by a coach or is stopped by the replay official during the last two minutes of either half, special timing rules go into effect. Once the referee looks into the field monitor, he has 90 seconds to make his decision. Once the 90-second marker is reached, the review is over and the monitor is shut down from the replay
booth. The extra time taken by the referee before or after his viewing of the monitor is not counted in the 90-second rule. And, by the way, the Bills-Titans call was correct during that game and remains correct today. Thanks very much for your kind words.
