FOOTBALL QUESTION

[Blade6119]

Is there an easy way to differentiate between a fumble that goes forward and an "accidental forward pass". meaning if a player is hit while going down purposely releases the ball in the direction of the endzone, is it easy to see?

[Blade6119]

anyone?

[SFL Cat]

I think as long as the QB has control of the ball while his arm is going forward in a passing motion, it will always be ruled as an attempted forward pass rather than a fumble.

[spleen1015]

I think it is strictly a judgement call by the refs.

[Blade6119]

I think as long as the QB has control of the ball while his arm is going forward in a passing motion, it will always be ruled as an attempted forward pass rather than a fumble.
Not just the qb..i saw a running play in a bowl game where the runner got stopped on the one at the end of the half...he had a teamate standing two feet in front of him in the end zone with no defenders around him(only one was tackling the runner)...if the runner had just kinda dropped the ball in the direction of the endzone and the other guy picks it up in the endzone to score, would they allow that(i mean, he would try to make it look like a fumble)...

[FrogMan]

Not just the qb..i saw a running play in a bowl game where the runner got stopped on the one at the end of the half...he had a teamate standing two feet in front of him in the end zone with no defenders around him(only one was tackling the runner)...if the runner had just kinda dropped the ball in the direction of the endzone and the other guy picks it up in the endzone to score, would they allow that(i mean, he would try to make it look like a fumble)...
iirc, a forward fumble can only be recovered in the endzone by the fumbler. They instituted that rule after a play from the Raiders (I think) many moons ago where the ball kept being "fumbled" forward until it reached the endzone...

FM

[albionmoonlight]

I think that there is also a rule in the NFL that in the last two minutes of the half, if a ball is fumbled forward and recovered by someone on the offense other than the fumbler, then the ball is returned to the place of the fumble.

That rule makes some sense. The ref does not have to decide if a fumble is accidental or on purpose, because no fumble can be advanced in that way.

[SFL Cat]

iirc, a forward fumble can only be recovered in the endzone by the fumbler. They instituted that rule after a play from the Raiders (I think) many moons ago where the ball kept being "fumbled" forward until it reached the endzone...

FM

Actually, I think the ball can only be advanced from where it is recovered by the person who fumbled and then I think the rule only applies on fourth down (yes the infamous "forward fumble" by Kenny Stabler of the Raiduhs). If a fumbled ball is recovered in the opponent's end zone by the fumbling team, I still think it is considered a touchdown

[Toddzilla]

iirc, a forward fumble can only be recovered in the endzone by the fumbler. They instituted that rule after a play from the Raiders (I think) many moons ago where the ball kept being "fumbled" forward until it reached the endzone...FM

Yep, in a playoff game against San Diego. The play is called the "Holy Roller":

From Wikipedia - The play took place with 10 seconds on the game clock in the fourth quarter. The Raiders had possession of the ball on second down at the Chargers 14-yard line, trailing 20-14. Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler took the snap and found himself about to be sacked on the 24-yard line. With the clock about to expire a sack would have run out the clock, so Stabler tossed the ball underhand toward the goal line. This was a forward pass so the ball should have been dead when it hit the ground, but the officials failed to see the toss and instead called it a fumble. (When asked after the game by radio announcer Bill King if he intentionally fumbled, Stabler said, "You bet your ass I did.") Running back Pete Banaszak recovered the ball on the 12-yard line, but could not keep his footing. Knowing that going down would end the game with a loss, Banaszak shoveled the ball towardthe goal line. Raiders tight end Dave Casper was the next player to reach the ball but couldn't get a handle on it. He batted and kicked the ball into the end zone, where he fell on it for the game-tying touchdown as time ran out; the Raiders won with the ensuing extra point by placekicker Errol Mann.