2. RULING: B f/k B20. The score is A23-B24. Team B has the first option and may accept offsetting fouls or may decline offsetting fouls. It is more likely that, in this play, Team B will decline offsetting fouls. Now, Team A now has the option and will accept the penalty for B55's foul and that results in a safety. If Team B accepted offsetting fouls, it would be A 1/10 B15 with the clock starting on the ready. (jw091110)
3. RULING: A 4/2 B32. The ball becomes dead when any part of the ball carrier's body, except his hand or foot, touches the ground. On B's 42, only the football touched the ground. On B's 39, the back of the hand and probably the football touched the ground. The hand includes both sides of the hand. That's my earth shattering medical statement for the day. The advance to B's 32 was with a live ball. (dh091110)
4. RULING: A 4/7 B33. Team A is in legal possession of the ball when the down ends so postscrimmage kick enforcement does not apply. Team A will accept the 10-yard penalty enforced from the previous spot. If Team A declines the penalty, Team B will take the ball at the spot of illegal touching and it will be B 1/10 B20. If B44 did not touch the ball, enforcement of the penalty results in B 1/10 B10. (kw091110)
5. RULING: A 3/23 A27. A29 commits a blocking below the waist foul since he is in motion at the snap. If A29 was not in motion, the block would be legal since A29 is not positioned outside the tackle box at the snap. (my091110)
6. RULING: A 3/9 B19. The receiver must return to the ground inbounds with any part of his body to complete the catch. A84 landed on a defender, not the ground, and his first contact with the ground was out of bounds. If this play happened near the goal line and the ball penetrated the plane of B's goal line when A84 hit the ground, it would be a touchdown. It would not be a catch until A84 lands. (rr102406)
7. RULING: B 1/10 A35. The fact that B44 stepped out of bounds is reviewable. Since the play is reviewable, the replay official may inform the referee whether the foul occurred before B44 stepped out of bounds or after B44 stepped out of bounds. Since the foul occurred after B44 stepped out of bounds, the flag is picked up since the foul does not carry a 15-yard penalty. The replay official will not only notify the referee of the out of bounds spot but also the time on the game clock when B44 stepped out of bounds. The replay official may not buzz to rule on (a) whether or not this was a foul; (b) if a foul, whether it was a block in the back or perhaps a clipping foul; or (c) when the foul occurred if, in fact, the officials did rule that B44 stepped out of bounds.