NFL.com: Bizarre rule that most of us didn't know

[YosemiteSam]

Here was the situation: Early in the fourth quarter of the Bears-Eagles game. Bears ball, first-and-10 from the 50. Brian Griese has his hands under center Olin Kreutz. The snap rolls through Griese's legs, never touching his hands or any other part of his body. The ruling: False start on the Bears. Not a fumble, but a 5-yard penalty. Now if Griese had touched the ball, it would have been a fumble.

But here's the crazy part. If Griese had been in shotgun formation and the snap sailed past him without him ever touching it, it would be a free ball for either team to recover.

Found this on NFL.com and thought it interesting enough to share.

My take is, you have to rule this plays like you do force outs. With judgement. If the ball was snapped and the QB wasn't ready for it, then it's a false start. If the ball is snapped, with the QBs hands under center, it's a fumble. Same with the shotgun. If the QB clearly wasn't expecting the ball to be snapped, then it's a false start. Otherwise it's a fumble. It should have been a fumble for the Bears since he said he hands were under center.

 

[AdamJT13]

It's designed to keep the offense from snapping the ball to another player when the quarterback is under center. It doesn't matter whether the ball is "fumbled" or not. If the quarterback is under center, the ball must be snapped directly to him.

I'm not sure WHY they want to prevent that. It doesn't seem that the offense would get any significant advantage out of snapping the ball to another player. But the rule is designed to favor the defense, not the offense.

 

[viman96]

I believe it is also to prevent the center from fake hiking it to the QB and keeping the ball. When a center keeps the ball, it has to touch the QB's hand first before he can lunge forward.

 

[conner01]

weird rule. but my take is if a center ,with a qb under his tail can snap the ball to another guy he should be able too. that would take some talent.lol

there are some strange rules like the spike last year by the s.d. reciever who was'nt down. i thought it should be a fumble but was ruled a forward pass.

there are usually reasons for some of the weird rules. somewhere along the line of the nfl history something has happened to make them create a rule. some where some team probably rolled the ball under the qb to a rb and he scored on the 70's steelers so they had to change the rule.lol

 

[dogberry]

Question: Time running out, pass to receiver, pass caught, receiver throws ball out of bounds (lateral not forward). Must be a rule against.

Also, pass to receiver, receiver turns and drops kicks a field goal. Must also have a rule against.

 

[dallasfaniac]

Question: Time running out, pass to receiver, pass caught, receiver throws ball out of bounds (lateral not forward). Must be a rule against.

In the NCAA, the clock will stop. In the NFL, the ball will be spotted where the ball went out and the clock will continue running. That is, if they rule it a fumble.

 

[dogberry]

Dallasfaniac,

Thanks,

Kent

 

[joseephuss]

Question: Time running out, pass to receiver, pass caught, receiver throws ball out of bounds (lateral not forward). Must be a rule against.

Also, pass to receiver, receiver turns and drops kicks a field goal. Must also have a rule against.

Doesn't a drop kick have to come from behind the line of scrimmage?

 

[dallasfaniac]

Also, pass to receiver, receiver turns and drops kicks a field goal. Must also have a rule against.

As long as it is a backward pass, it would be legal. Although the shape of the football prevents most teams from trying it for quite some time. I think Flutie was the last person to attempt a dropkick field goal and McMahon would during pregame warmups but I don't know if he ever attempted one.

 

[dogberry]

Am I confusing with rugby where there a drop kick can take place anywhere?

Thanks

 

[dallasfaniac]

Am I confusing with rugby where there a drop kick can take place anywhere?

Thanks

Yeah, I think so. I went back and did some research and Flutie was the last person to successfully attempt a drop kick. Before that was 1941. It's just too many variables that can go wrong with a ball that must touch the ground before you kick it.