Rules question - pushing the ball out of bounds

[Reverend Conehead]

I was watching an old game from the 60s where a player's teammate fumbled. He was close to the ball, but didn't think he could recover it and keep it because his opponents were right there. He therefore simply shoved the ball out of bounds, knowing that would prevent the other team from getting possession of it. He was flagged, and his team penalized for doing that.

Does anyone know if this is still a rule? I knew about the one that says you're not allowed to kick the ball out of bounds on purpose, but this was the first time that I can remember that a player was penalized for deliberately shoving the ball out of bounds with his hands. The announcers clarified that it's only a penalty if the player deliberately shoves the ball out of bounds. If he's attempting to recover the fumble, but he can't hang onto it and it then goes out of bounds, that's no penalty.

Is this still a rule?

 

[cowboys5xsbs]

Section 4: Illegal Bats and Kicks

Article 1: Illegal Bat. It is an illegal bat if: (a) a player of either team bats or punches a loose ball in the field of play toward his opponent’s goal line; or (b) a player of either team bats or punches a loose ball (that has touched the ground) in any direction, if it is in either end zone; or (c) an offensive player bats a backward pass in flight toward his opponent’s goal line. Penalty: For illegal batting or punching the ball: Loss of 10 yards. For enforcement, treat as a foul during a backward pass or fumble (see 8-7-7). If the foul is by the defense, it is an automatic first down.

Article 2: Legal Bat. A forward pass in flight may be tipped, batted, or deflected in any direction by any eligible player at any time. Note: If a forward pass that is controlled by a player prior to completing the catch is thrown forward, it is an illegal bat. If it is caught by a teammate or intercepted by an opponent, the ball remains alive. If it is not caught, the ball is dead when it hits the ground.

Article 3: Illegally Kicking Ball. No player may deliberately kick a loose ball or a ball that is in a player’s possession.