Fantasyfootballer.com's Gridiron


    
      
        Fantasyfootballer.com's Gridiron
        (https://www.fantasyfootballer.com/cgi-bin/theGridiron/YaBB.cgi)
      

        the Gridiron >> the Sidelines >>  Please Explain This to Me!
        
(Message started by: PA Outlaws on May 16^th, 2003, 11:13pm)

Title: Please Explain This to Me!
Post by PA Outlaws on May 16^th, 2003, 11:13pm

I consider myself a pretty knowledgable football fan and I think I know all the ins and outs of the game. There has been a question I have had for a number of years now and I have never gotten an answer. So to my fellow football geeks, here is the question........

Why is it not intentional grounding when a QB spikes the ball? He is not outside of the box and it is clearly not intended for any receiver! Could someone, anyone please explain this to me? [smiley=jawdroppin.gif]

Title: Re: Please Explain This to Me!
Post by Cirrinone on May 16^th, 2003, 11:19pm

Now that you mentioned it, I never really got that either. My son could tell you, the kid's been watching football with me since Day 1, had a little play football in his hands at birth. LoL, but I didn't know... so I searched.

I found this, looks like we're not the only ones who don't understand ;D.

Tim Farris, Madera, Calif.: How come when a QB spikes the ball to stop the clock, he is not penalized for intentional grounding?

These are two separate rules. In intentional grounding, the QB is penalized for the attempt to save a loss of yardage. It is not a foul to spike the ball in an attempt to stop the clock. Keep in mind the only legal way to spike the ball to stop the clock is to take the snap from under center and immediately spike the ball into the ground. Thanks for your question.

Hope that answers your question. I know I'm still a little shaky on it, so if you understand it.. please put it in simpler terms. I think I get it, I just don't know if it answers the question.

Title: Re: Please Explain This to Me!
Post by StegRock on May 16^th, 2003, 11:48pm

First off, let me express this regarding the term "fantasy football geek": [smiley=flipoffangrily.gif] . It is one of the terms that has been popularized by that other site and it drives me nuts! [smiley=gonecrazy.gif] Let's call ourselves "fellow Gridironers" or, if you prefer a more generic term, "fantasy football fanatics". Okay, now that that is off my chest [smiley=titflash.gif] ...

I can't quote the rulebook (don't think ya' need to). I have always chalked it up to (a difference in) "intent", as per name of the rule. I think "'intentional' grounding" has all to do with the "intention" of the passer to avoid the rush, more specifically a rushing defender who is closing in. When a passer merely spikes the ball, his "intent" has nothing to do with avoiding the rush, as a matter of fact, on such a play, there will not even be a rush, no less a rushing defender closing in. When spiking the ball, the passer's "intent" is to merely stop the clock. So, it is a matter of what the "intent" (of the intentional incompletion) is: avoiding the rush, intentional grounding; stopping the clock, no penalty. Well, that's my take, and I'll stick with it because it makes sense. No matter what the actual rule is, I am sure that is the spirit/logic behind it.

Title: Re: Please Explain This to Me!
Post by PA Outlaws on May 18^th, 2003, 3:33pm

Thanks for the explanations, but that still doesn't explain it to me. So if a QB sees two middle linebackers staring him in the face ready to blitz, and he knows that they both cannot be blocked, could he snap the ball and spike it straight into the ground then?

Title: Re: Please Explain This to Me!
Post by StegRock on May 18^th, 2003, 4:01pm

on 05/18/03 at 15:33:11, PA Outlaws wrote:

Sure, if you want to split hairs! But, I do not see how a play like that would ever come to pass, really. If a quarterback has any time-outs to spare, he'd probably use one if such an unbelievably unlikely situation arose. That's what quarterbacks often do when they don't like what they see when lining up (although I don't think they would ever quite have such utter despair in their heads... more of just a read/assessment that does not look good to them). I mean these are professionals; you rely on your fellow teammates to do their respective jobs! I don't think mistrust or incompetence would ever get to such a degree in the NFL. That is not to say a middle linebacker or blitzing safety is never going to come across like lightning and tackle the QB in like a second (we've all seen such plays), but I don't ever see the QB assuming that would happen and avoid it by an "immediate" spike. It would actually be quite a risky move on the part of a QB (especially if he believes they will be on him in like a split second) as the concern is that it would be ruled a fumble (not intentional grounding). But, ultimately, yes, I am under the impression that you can "spike" it on any down at any time of the game, and as long as there is no imminent rush (as perceived by the officiating crew), "intentional grounding" will not be called. Outside of that, [smiley=whatever.gif] ! Can anybody give a more "official" answer? Perhaps, Philly... It is an interesting discussion, conclusion aside! [smiley=smileytrash.gif]

Title: Re: Please Explain This to Me!
Post by Philly on May 18^th, 2003, 8:12pm

The only interesting tidbits I know about the rule is that the QB has to take the snap from center to spike the ball, if he is in the shotgun and spikes the ball, it is intentional grounding. Likewise, a holder for a FG or XP cannot spike the ball to stop the clock either since he did not take the snap from under center.

[smiley=shrug.gif] [smiley=whatever.gif] [smiley=shrug.gif]

Title: Re: Please Explain This to Me!
Post by PA Outlaws on May 18^th, 2003, 10:21pm

That I did not know! I always wondered why when teams would line up to spike the ball, they never went into the shotgun. I always thought it would be a hell of a lot quicker to just get into the shotgun then under the center! Thanks!