Is this play illegal?

[Staubacher]

The play shall be called Droppin' a Deuce.

 

[StarOfGlory]

Is there a specific rule preventing an NFL player from lifting a teammate holding the ball and throwing / catapulting then into the endzone?

Yes, Rule 12, Article 4 covers this:

ARTICLE 4. ASSISTING THE RUNNER AND INTERLOCKING INTERFERENCE

No offensive player may:

1. pull a runner in any direction at any time;
2. use interlocking interference, by grasping a teammate or by using his hands or arms to encircle the body of a teammate in an effort to block an opponent; or
3. push or throw his body against a teammate to aid him in an attempt to obstruct an opponent or to recover a loose ball.

Penalty: For assisting the runner, interlocking interference, or illegal use of hands, arms, or body by the offense: Loss of 10 yards.

But nothing says he can't run between Mazi's legs!

Hmm…the specific play created by the OP is NOT covered by this rule!

1. Deuce is not being pulled, he is being pushed in the air, which is basically shot putting.
2. No type of interlocking interference is being used to block an opponent.
3. No type of interlocking interference is being used to obstruct an opponent or to recover any loose ball.

The penalty refers to the three parts of the rule; it is not a general statement.

Now, if the hammer throw motion was used, that would be a violation of Rule #1, as a hammer throw is basically a thrower pulling a hammer in a circle, generating torque through that circular pulling motion. Pulling is clearly against the rules.

The question now becomes this: Can a human, using a strict shot putting motion, balance a 165 non-rigid weight on one hand and put that weight in an arc five yards forward before the defense can disrupt the play? I think not.

 

[Hadenough]

Picture this....It's 3rd and 2 or 4th and 1. We have a Jumbo package in: 6 Offensive Linemen, 3 Tight Ends, Deuce Vaughn at QB, Mazi Smith at RB. Deuce is in a short shotgun with Mazi standing directly to his right. The defense has 10 guys jammed at the line of scrimmage and 1 floater to make sure nothing crazy happens on the outside. But something crazy does happen.....The ball is snapped to Deuce Vaughn who immediately takes 1 step toward the line of scrimmage as the defensive players start their push. Mazi Smith than picks up the 165 pound QB and shot puts him over the line of scrimmage for a 5 yard toss and a first down. The landing may be a bit hard, but I'm sure that they can work on that part during training camp.

What if the defense catches Deuce and carries him the other direction into th endzone never letting him touch the ground. Is that a TD for them?

 

[garyo1954]

Hmm…the specific play created by the OP is NOT covered by this rule!

1. Deuce is not being pulled, he is being pushed in the air, which is basically shot putting.
2. No type of interlocking interference is being used to block an opponent.
3. No type of interlocking interference is being used to obstruct an opponent or to recover any loose ball.

The penalty refers to the three parts of the rule; it is not a general statement.

Now, if the hammer throw motion was used, that would be a violation of Rule #1, as a hammer throw is basically a thrower pulling a hammer in a circle, generating torque through that circular pulling motion. Pulling is clearly against the rules.

The question now becomes this: Can a human, using a strict shot putting motion, balance a 165 non-rigid weight on one hand and put that weight in an arc five yards forward before the defense can disrupt the play? I think not.

You can research it (look it up on Wiki) where it is explained as Helping the runner, also called assisting the runner and aiding the runner, is a penalty in gridiron football that occurs when an offensive player pulls or carries the ball carrier in order to gain additional yards Though originally a common call, the penalty has become extremely rare, having last been called at the professional level in 1991. In the National Football League (NFL), a violation is given a 10-yard penalty. It is five yards in college football and high school football.

The last time helping the runner was called at professional level was in 1991, when Kansas City Chiefs center Tim Grunhard pulled wide receiver Robb Thomas in the divisional round of the playoffs. There are also sites where they point out the penalty would only be enforced if it leads to additional yards being gained and these plays generally do not.

Not to be rude, but assisting the runner is in the title of the rule.

 

[StarOfGlory]

You can research it (look it up on Wiki) where it is explained as Helping the runner, also called assisting the runner and aiding the runner, is a penalty in gridiron football that occurs when an offensive player pulls or carries the ball carrier in order to gain additional yards Though originally a common call, the penalty has become extremely rare, having last been called at the professional level in 1991. In the National Football League (NFL), a violation is given a 10-yard penalty. It is five yards in college football and high school football.

The last time helping the runner was called at professional level was in 1991, when Kansas City Chiefs center Tim Grunhard pulled wide receiver Robb Thomas in the divisional round of the playoffs. There are also sites where they point out the penalty would only be enforced if it leads to additional yards being gained and these plays generally do not.

Not to be rude, but assisting the runner is in the title of the rule.

The Eagles assist the runner every time they run the rugby scrum yet no penalty is called. Hurts is clearly being pushed a number of times with no penalty being called. Why not? Not to be rude, but you have surely seen this yourself. The rule cited does not anything about pushing. The rule is showing the types of assistance that are illegal. As I pointed out step by step, the play envisioned by the OP technically is not a violation based on the specific language of the rule cited. When the rule says "assisting the runner," that language is specifically referring to the language in the rule, nothing more.

When you get right down to it, blocking to open a hole is assisting the runner. This is illegal in rugby, btw.

 

[garyo1954]

The Eagles assist the runner every time they run the rugby scrum yet no penalty is called. Hurts is clearly being pushed a number of times with no penalty being called. Why not? Not to be rude, but you have surely seen this yourself. The rule cited does not anything about pushing. The rule is showing the types of assistance that are illegal. As I pointed out step by step, the play envisioned by the OP technically is not a violation based on the specific language of the rule cited. When the rule says "assisting the runner," that language is specifically referring to the language in the rule, nothing more.

When you get right down to it, blocking to open a hole is assisting the runner. This is illegal in rugby, btw.

The NFL removed the pushing part of the rule in 2005

 

[Blast From The Past]

aslong as you have 7 people on the LOS all of it is legal

If you can push a player who has the ball why not shot put or throw that same player forward?

 

[conner01]

Picture this....It's 3rd and 2 or 4th and 1. We have a Jumbo package in: 6 Offensive Linemen, 3 Tight Ends, Deuce Vaughn at QB, Mazi Smith at RB. Deuce is in a short shotgun with Mazi standing directly to his right. The defense has 10 guys jammed at the line of scrimmage and 1 floater to make sure nothing crazy happens on the outside. But something crazy does happen.....The ball is snapped to Deuce Vaughn who immediately takes 1 step toward the line of scrimmage as the defensive players start their push. Mazi Smith than picks up the 165 pound QB and shot puts him over the line of scrimmage for a 5 yard toss and a first down. The landing may be a bit hard, but I'm sure that they can work on that part during training camp.

If it’s not illegal, it would be if we called the play