Big John, or well versed NFL rule book junky

[eagles2010]

At the end of the JAX/Bills game yesterday Matt Jones tossed an obvious forward pass to Jones-Drew on the last play of the game. The highlight is part of the video at NFL.com. The play by play says a flag was thrown for the illegal forward pass. Can someone tell me if the play is frozen once Matt Jones tosses the illegal forward pass? I am in a tight game and am hoping for an adjustement . Watching closely it looked like Jones-Drew 's knee was down too before the fumble. That play could affect the Bills team defense and alot of teams with Jones-Drew. Am I right thinking that anything including the fumble shouldnt count considering it was an illegal play? Thanks

 

 

 

Anyone else in a close one with Jones-Drew? This may help!!! Thanks for any insight into the play

Edited September 15, 2008 by eagles2010

[LooGie]

well if NFL credits him with a fumble, or whatever else his end game stats are, wouldn't you get the points or negative points based on that anyway?

[Big John]

The illegal forward pass does not freeze the play as the opposing team can decline the penalty and take the play.

 

I did not see the play, but if it was ruled a fumble after the pass was made (and not reversed by replay), the opposing team can take possession of the ball and accept the play and decline the penalty.

[Bronco Billy]

It only wouldn't count against Jones-Drew if the D accepts the penalty. If they recovered a fumble, I'm sure that they rather take the result of the play rather than enforce the penalty.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the only penalties other than some outrageous unsportsmanlike behavior that stop a play from occurring and eliminate the option of a team choosing whether to take the penalty or not are illegal procedure by the offense and offsides resulting in an unabated path to the QB by the defense. Post edit - add delay of game by the offense to that list.

Edited September 15, 2008 by Bronco Billy

[peepinmofo]

The penalty at the end resulted in them taking 10 seconds off the clock. That is how the game ended. I dont recall the exact circumstances, or if that is even relevant, but thats how it ended. It was an illegal forward pass, not a fumble.

[eagles2010]

damn, guess I am not going to see an adjustment. I doubt they reverse the fumble. It was the next to last play I am guessing since there was 3 seconds on the clock and Buffalo probably took a knee after regaining posession. The Bills had to have declined the penalty and took the play because of the fumble. It really looked like the ball came out after his knee hit, but with just 3 seconds left, the play was not challenged by the booth. Tough break I guess. Thanks for the responses.

 

 

Wait a minute. Was the penalty accepted and the clock ran down? If thats the case, the fumble wouldnt count? Damn . I need to read the replies closely and try to find out if the penalty was accepted

Edited September 15, 2008 by eagles2010

[Bronco Billy]

BUF/JAX gamebook

 

2-10-JAX 31 (:14) (Shotgun) D.Garrard pass short left to M.Jones to JAX 41 for 10 yards. Lateral to M.Jones-Drew to JAX 41 for

no gain. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by BUF-J.Greer at JAX 41.

PENALTY on JAX-M.Jones, Illegal Forward Pass, 5 yards, enforced at JAX 44.

 

That is the last entry. If this is so and the illegal forward pass penalty was accepted, it would have negated the fumble but it also would have resulted in a runoff of the clock, which would have ended the game - which makes sense for BUF to accept the penalty. There is also no entry of BUF taking a knee afterwards.

 

It would appear based upon the above that the penalty was accepted.

[eagles2010]

Yeah, I was just looking at the same thing. Once Peep said the clock ran off I went and saw the penalty was accepted. So there is a chance the fumble is reversed, right? That would be awsome.

[Big John]

Yeah, I was just looking at the same thing. Once Peep said the clock ran off I went and saw the penalty was accepted. So there is a chance the fumble is reversed, right? That would be awsome.

Since the penalty was indeed accepted, there was no play after the pass was made and thus no fumble.