Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

My brother mentioned this yesterday during the games and it got me wondering.

Let's say a team is out of TOs, what would happen if a receiver caught the ball and it out of bounds, backwards (like a missed lateral), would that stop the clock without a penalty?

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

Yeah, I don't see why not.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

umm, no. 15 yard penalty and a 10 second run-off, maybe?

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

actually though, if it were close enough to a lateral, i don't know...

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

I think of a similar thing when a running back is about to be stopped behind the LOS. Why not just throw it away (forward pass OB).

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

Not sure of the exact ruling, but a player can stop in the middle of the field and yell like "DOWN" or "STOP", and they would stop the play/clock if no one is near him.

FWIW I could be completely wrong about this and it may have just been a dream.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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I think of a similar thing when a running back is about to be stopped behind the LOS. Why not just throw it away (forward pass OB).

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I played football, so never RB, so I'm not the best person to ask. But in football, you generally don't know you'r going to eat turf until you're already on the way down. Also, lots of risk of fumbling when you're waving one arm around instead of locking up the football.

That's my guess at least.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

I don't think you can throw the ball away legally unless you're under the center.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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I don't think you can throw the ball away legally unless you're under the center.

[/ QUOTE ]If you are outside the tackle box and behind LOS you can, I'm pretty sure you can.

edit: I have a question. Can you run an end around to a tackle or guard? Nevermind why but assuming you snap the ball are they allowed to run back behind the QB and take a hand off?

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

In response to the OP, I don't know why they couldn't throw it out of bounds backwards like a lateral.

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edit: I have a question. Can you run an end around to a tackle or guard? Nevermind why but assuming you snap the ball are they allowed to run back behind the QB and take a hand off?

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Ive seen laterals to lineman on busted fourth down plays at the end of the game without penalty, so this should be legal if you wanted to for whatever reason.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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I think of a similar thing when a running back is about to be stopped behind the LOS. Why not just throw it away (forward pass OB).

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if any lineman were passed the line of scrimmage at any point before the pass it'd be ineligible receiver downfield penalty.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

[ QUOTE ]
My brother mentioned this yesterday during the games and it got me wondering.

Let's say a team is out of TOs, what would happen if a receiver caught the ball and it out of bounds, backwards (like a missed lateral), would that stop the clock without a penalty?

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I'm pretty sure this would work. It is essentially what happened in the USC/ND game a couple years ago when Leinart "fumbled" on his missed TD jump. He sort of tossed the ball OOB (about half a yard backwards), and they stopped the clock because it was a fumble that went OOB.

I've always wondered why teams don't do this, though, so that may mean that it's illegal.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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Not sure of the exact ruling, but a player can stop in the middle of the field and yell like "DOWN" or "STOP", and they would stop the play/clock if no one is near him.

FWIW I could be completely wrong about this and it may have just been a dream.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thayer's got a lot of gems, but this tops them all

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Not sure of the exact ruling, but a player can stop in the middle of the field and yell like "DOWN" or "STOP", and they would stop the play/clock if no one is near him.

FWIW I could be completely wrong about this and it may have just been a dream.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thayer's got a lot of gems, but this tops them all

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

This will stop the clock imo. A lateral pass can be made from any place on the field and if it is not caught, the ball is live. So if the lateral happens to go out of bounds the clock would have to stop.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Not sure of the exact ruling, but a player can stop in the middle of the field and yell like "DOWN" or "STOP", and they would stop the play/clock if no one is near him.

FWIW I could be completely wrong about this and it may have just been a dream.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thayer's got a lot of gems, but this tops them all

[/ QUOTE ]

agreed...solid post there that wasn't getting the love it deserved.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about though?

I could've sworn I've heard of something where a guy waves his hands and yells down and then they can have one more play for a FG or something.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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Does anyone know what I'm talking about though?

I could've sworn I've heard of something where a guy waves his hands and yells down and then they can have one more play for a FG or something.

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I know what you're talking about- something like this happened a few years ago. I remember the coach talking about how they had practiced it, and they called it a "declare down" play. I can't remember the circumstances, or even whether it was college or NFL, though (if it were NCAA, it seems like kneeling down would be sufficient). And I'm pretty sure the clock doesn't automatically stop- you have to have a timeout, or do it on change of possession, etc.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know what I'm talking about though?

I could've sworn I've heard of something where a guy waves his hands and yells down and then they can have one more play for a FG or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

On a punt return, a returner can call for a fair catch and the team can attempt a field goal (or drop kick)

Last year, this caused some confusion in a Rams/Cardinals game. Rams punt the ball. The Cards get called for a penalty. Clock runs out. The Cards fair catch the ball. Everyone thinks the returner is an idiot for calling a fair catch. But the plan is to have Neil Rackers attempt a 75 yard field goal.

The Rams decline the penalty, then realize that the Cards will have a free kick at the end of the game. So they change their mind and accept the penalty, then kneel on the final play of the game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=28...6&week=REG3

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

I just realized another obscure rule you might be referring to. The one where a player can fair catch a punt at the end of a half or game, and even if the clock has expired, the team gets one more play from that spot, including the option of a free kick for a FG, with the defense lined up ten yards down the field. That's a weird one.

Edit: gus beat me to it

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

Larry Fitzgerald tried it his rookie year I believe. There was some sort of penalty.

Time was running out and he was being wrapped up so he just lateralled it OB.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

I'm also pretty sure that before a few years ago, you were allowed go past the LOS and kick a drop kick for a FG.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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I think of a similar thing when a running back is about to be stopped behind the LOS. Why not just throw it away (forward pass OB).

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Ya seriously, I think this all the time.

The QB pitches the ball backwards to the RB, and the play goes wrong and he's trapped 10 yards behind the line, he can legally throw it away out of bounds, just like a halfback pass.

The other situation is not allowed. You cannot intentionally fumble the ball. Intentional is the refs discreation of course.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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Ya seriously, I think this all the time.

The QB pitches the ball backwards to the RB, and the play goes wrong and he's trapped 10 yards behind the line, he can legally throw it away out of bounds, just like a halfback pass.

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No, he can't.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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Ya seriously, I think this all the time.

The QB pitches the ball backwards to the RB, and the play goes wrong and he's trapped 10 yards behind the line, he can legally throw it away out of bounds, just like a halfback pass.

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Except, as Assani pointed out, there are almost always going to be linemen downfield on a play like that.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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the ball. Intentional is the refs discreation of course.

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Really?

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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Does anyone know what I'm talking about though?

I could've sworn I've heard of something where a guy waves his hands and yells down and then they can have one more play for a FG or something.

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I know what you're talking about- something like this happened a few years ago. I remember the coach talking about how they had practiced it, and they called it a "declare down" play. I can't remember the circumstances, or even whether it was college or NFL, though (if it were NCAA, it seems like kneeling down would be sufficient). And I'm pretty sure the clock doesn't automatically stop- you have to have a timeout, or do it on change of possession, etc.

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Here's some help for Thayer:

Giving Yourself Up

Q&A w/Jerry Markbreit:

Jerry, I noticed Sunday in Buffalo and Denver the officials were wearing new pants, was this for warmth? Also can you explain the "giving yourself up rule" at the end of the Tennessee-Indy? With 7 seconds left Tenn's squib kick was fielded by one of the up backs. Could he have downed the ball (taken a knee) to save time or does he needed to be touched before the whistle blows? --Manny Pasquale, Chicago

The black officials' pants with a white stripe are new cold weather gear. These pants are cold and wind resistant and allow the officials to wear other cold weather garments underneath. The officials' shirts for the 2006 season are a new design, as are the black pants.

If a player in possession of the ball voluntarily goes to the ground, making no attempt to advance, he is giving himself up, under the rule. The officials blow the whistle, ending the play. So, yes, the player could have taken a knee, giving himself up to save time.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
I think of a similar thing when a running back is about to be stopped behind the LOS. Why not just throw it away (forward pass OB).

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if any lineman were passed the line of scrimmage at any point before the pass it'd be ineligible receiver downfield penalty.

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This reminds me of the freak play years back with the Giants and 49ers on the botched field goal in the playoffs.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
the ball. Intentional is the refs discreation of course.

[/ QUOTE ]Really?

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Yeah, to hear Mike Pereira tell it, the whole idea of football rules is to have them so rigidly defined that the officials should hardly ever have to determine intention. That's the whole reason the "tuck rule", the fumble forward rule, etc. are written the way they are. Even intentional grounding is strictly defined, as as to keep subjective judgment as removed from it as possible (hell, if "intent" were all that mattered, it could be called all the time).

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

I'm pretty sure that the answer is:

college, yes
NFL, no (clock starts afret a fumble out of bounds)

I might be wrong though

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

Cool, this thread has turned into a football rules thread.

I have noticed that they start the clock after a flase start penalty (when the clock is running). If i were a coach, as soon as my team had the lead in the second half, I would instruct them to false start over and over until the game is over.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure of the exact ruling, but a player can stop in the middle of the field and yell like "DOWN" or "STOP", and they would stop the play/clock if no one is near him.

FWIW I could be completely wrong about this and it may have just been a dream.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you can stop the play like this, but not the clock. (it count the same as if the player were tackled in the middle of the field.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I just realized another obscure rule you might be referring to. The one where a player can fair catch a punt at the end of a half or game, and even if the clock has expired, the team gets one more play from that spot, including the option of a free kick for a FG, with the defense lined up ten yards down the field. That's a weird one.

Edit: gus beat me to it

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Just to clairfy, the fair catch kick can be attempted after any fair catch weaher or not the clock has expired. This is a free kick for a field goal (no rush).

A team does not have the option to put the ball in play from scrimage after a fair catch if time is expired.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

I do not believe that a ball going backwards out of bounds is supposed to stop the clock. I believe the rule is the same as if a runner goes out of bounds running towards his own end zone -- that does not stop the clock.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know what I'm talking about though?

I could've sworn I've heard of something where a guy waves his hands and yells down and then they can have one more play for a FG or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't watch a lot of college ball but doesn't the clock stop after every first down?

So i guess something like this could work

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Not sure of the exact ruling, but a player can stop in the middle of the field and yell like "DOWN" or "STOP", and they would stop the play/clock if no one is near him.

FWIW I could be completely wrong about this and it may have just been a dream.

[/ QUOTE ]

This will stop the play but unless you have a Timeout to call the clock will keep running in the NFL.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

See guys, I wasn't THAT crazy!

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Cool, this thread has turned into a football rules thread.

I have noticed that they start the clock after a flase start penalty (when the clock is running). If i were a coach, as soon as my team had the lead in the second half, I would instruct them to false start over and over until the game is over.

[/ QUOTE ]

Didn't someone do something like that in college last year? I think it was near halftime when it happened. I want to say it was during a Wisconsin game, but I'm not sure.

I've often wondered why some NFL coach hasn't tried that.

b

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

Wisconsin repeatedly took an intentional offsides on the kickoff since the clock started on the kick, that's probably what you're thinking of.

Re: Could a reciever stop the clock by throwing the ball OOB?
 

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Wisconsin repeatedly took an intentional offsides on the kickoff since the clock started on the kick, that's probably what you're thinking of.

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Ah, that sounds right. Didn't they kick it a few times? I remember the other coach was a bit pissed. Kinda funny.

b