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

[BillNye]

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.

[THAY3R]

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.

[UATrewqaz]

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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.

[THAY3R]

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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.

[legend42]

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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.

[BigSoonerFan]

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the ball. Intentional is the refs discreation of course.

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Really?

[Brain]

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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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

[Jack of Arcades]

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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.

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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.

[legend42]

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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).

[jstnrgrs]

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