09-16-2018, 10:04 PM
(09-16-2018, 09:03 PM)michaelsean Wrote: ARTICLE 2. LEGAL FORWARD PASS. The offensive team may make one forward pass from behind the line during each down. If the ball, whether in player possession or loose, crosses the line of scrimmage, a forward pass is not permissible, regardless of whether the ball returns behind the line of scrimmage before the pass is thrown.
Item 1. Illegal Passes. Any other forward pass by either team is illegal and is a foul by the passing team, including:
(a) A forward pass thrown when the passer is beyond the line of scrimmage.
Note: It is a forward pass from beyond the line of scrimmage if the passer’s entire body and the ball are beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball is released, whether the passer is airborne or touching the ground. The penalty for a forward pass thrown from beyond the line is enforced from the spot where the ball is released.
That's a horribly written rule. It specifically states that a forward pass is not permitted if the ball crosses the LoS, then states it's a penalty if the passer's entire body and the ball are beyond the LoS.
Although, looking at it again, the way the rule is written, if the ball crosses the LoS before being thrown, it's a penalty. It states in a
Article 2 that if the ball crosses the LoS, a forward pass is not permitted. Then, in Item 1, it states any other forward pass is illegal. The passer being beyond the LoS is an example of illegal pass, not the definition of an illegal pass. While the intent may very well be to allow passers to throw the ball after the ball has crossed the LoS, it's not worded that way.