best. — Rob S, Matteson
The definition of a horse-collar foul is grabbing the inside collar
of the back of the shoulder pads or jersey, or the inside collar of the side
of the shoulder pads or jersey, and immediately pulling down the runner.
This does not apply to a runner who is in the tackle box or a quarterback
who is in the pocket. Mike Brown was not a runner, and, apparently, the
action by the opposing team was not deemed illegal during the play in
question. Each official has a zone on the field, and in this case, any
official who saw the action could have made the call. The answer to your second question is that the wing officials did not feel that a defensive offside had occurred, and the officials are prohibited from looking at the Jumbotron to make a call. Thank you. It is good to be back. I appreciate your comment.
The San Diego kicker in the recent Bears-Chargers game felt that his punt
hit an overhead wire. Is that considered part of the field or should the
play have been re-run? — Todd Freeman, Belmont, Cal.
There is a “gondola rule” in the NFL. Any time a ball hits a wire
stretched across the playing field for any purpose, or hits the gondola
generally housing the sound system in indoor stadiums, the down is replayed,
unless there is a penalty. The penalty is then enforced as usual. The
“gondola rule” got its name when Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy of the Oakland
Raiders punted the ball in the New Orleans Superdome and the ball hit the
gondola on the ceiling of the dome.
Jerry, is the league going to go with having the umpire in the offensive
backfield, and what are the different mechanics that have to be adjusted for
this move? — Ron, Joplin, Mo.
The NFL experimented with the umpire moving into the offensive
backfield during weeks two and four of the preseason. The purpose was to
find out if the umpire could work from a different position without being in
the middle of the action behind the defensive team. The mechanics of this
position change are quite different, and everything will be analyzed and a
decision made in the future, certainly after the season is over. For the
2007 season, the umpire will be in his traditional spot behind the defensive
line.
Jerry, if a QB spikes the football to stop the clock, but does this behind
him, does it become a backward pass? — Petersen, Berkeley, Cal.
The quarterback must spike the ball in front of him in an attempt
to stop the clock. He is even given the leeway of putting the ball down at
his side. If he spikes the ball clearly behind his position, it is in fact
a backward pass and the ball continues in play with either team being able
to recover or advance.
I am a big fan of your column, great to see it back for another season.
Question about the end of the Cardinals-49ers game. The fumble into the
end zone. If the Cardinal player would have knocked it out of the end zone,
would it have been Cardinal ball at the 20 or is some other rule involved
there? — Chris Trella, Chandler, Ariz.
Thank you for your comments; it is great to be back for another
season. The play in question is covered under the two-minute fumble
rule. If a team fumbles the ball inside of two minutes remaining in either
half, only the fumbling player may recover the ball in advance of the spot
of the fumble. If a teammate recovers, as he did in the Monday night game,
the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble and awarded to the fumbling
team. If the Cardinal player had batted the ball out of the end zone, an
illegal batting foul would have been called and the enforcement would have
resulted in a safety, or a half-the-distance-to-the-goal-penalty-from-the-previous-line-of-scrimmage. A touchback could not have resulted from the action of this play. It was
perfectly officiated.
Jerry, glad to have you back for another season. Thank you for sharing your
insight so the more casual observer like myself can glean a better
understanding of the game. During this weekend’s games, I noticed the QBs
with a neon green sticker affixed to the back of their helmets. What does
this signify? — Stephen, Michigan City, Ind.
You are obviously very observant with regards to the neon green
sticker fixed to the back of the quarterback’s helmets. This indicates that
the quarterback is the only player on the field with a coach-to-quarterback
communication system. This allows the coach to call the play without the
quarterback or any player of the offensive team having to go to the
sideline. Only one player may be on the field having this communication system. This sticker helps the officials to enforce a very strict rule of the game. It is my pleasure to be back again, sharing what I know about pro football with all of the great football fans around the country
and overseas. Thank you.
Please explain the logic behind the “Ineligible receiver downfield” penalty.
What is the reasoning? What advantage would it give an offense otherwise?
Thanks. — Steve L., Lake Forest
Offensive players may not block downfield prior to any forward pass. If they do, offensive pass interference is called. The rule keeps the offensive linemen out of harm’s way by prohibiting them from moving downfield prior to the pass being thrown. When the offensive linemen move downfield, it indicates that a running play is being executed. When the linemen are restricted by the rule, it indicates to the defense that a pass play is imminent. The wisdom of the professional football rules has made it one of the most popular games.
I was watching the Packers/Eagles game. McNabb was called for an
intentional grounding on a flea flicker. Why was this? I thought the pocket
would cease to exist with the first handoff. Thanks for your help explaining
this. — Ryan, Lindenhurst
The pocket ceases to exist when the ball is handed off on a running
play or pitched out by the quarterback. Under these circumstances, illegal
contact will not be called. On the play in question, the
quarterback still remains in the pocket because the ball never left the
pocket. Intentional grounding was called because the passer did not meet
the qualifications of a legal forward pass. Intentional grounding is when a
passer facing an imminent loss of yardage because of pressure from the
defense throws a forward pass without a realistic chance of completion while
in the pocket.
Jerry, can a QB cross the line of scrimmage on a run and then cross back and
throw a pass as long as he is behind the initial line of scrimmage?
Thanks. — Dan Shaw, Rosemount, Minn.
The offensive team may make one forward pass from behind the line
during each play from scrimmage, provided the ball does not cross the line
and return behind the line prior to the pass. The penalty is the loss of
five yards from the previous line of scrimmage and the down is replayed.
This situation could occur when the quarterback scrambles beyond the line
and then decides to retreat behind the line before throwing the pass.
Many times we see a flag thrown for defensive pass interference, which is
later “picked up” because the ball was not catchable. Why isn’t a penalty
then called for illegal contact, with the defender contacting a receiver
more than five yards downfield? — Richard, Barstow, Cal.
An illegal contact foul is one that occurs prior to the ball being
thrown. This foul occurs five or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
The contact that resulted in a defensive pass interference flag is either a
foul or nothing, depending on whether the pass was catchable.
