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Suh-weet!
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Speed_Kills
My follow up question was should it be?
In other words what difference does it make if his arm is moving forward if the ball was hit and knocked out of his hand prior to him releasing it
I mean what if Westbrook had take the ball off of his hand... literally just grabbed it... would that not have counted because his arm was moving forward?
Excellent point, Speed.
I mean, that's the logic of the rule, right? If the arm coming forward means it's a forward pass, then Westbrook grabbing it would be an INTERCEPTION, right?!
It is a weird rule. Because clearly it happens all the time that QBs pump fake (or start to throw, then pull it back). IOW, the arm could start forward with no intention to throw.
Seems it'd make more sense to say a pass requires both "forward motion" and that the ball be released. Ball knocked out of QB's hand should be a fumble, IMO, regardless of forward arm motion.
The rule states: ""When a player is in control of the ball and attempting to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his hand
starts a forward pass."
In your scenario here of a pump fake, a forward pass has been started, not necessarily completed. Think about what would happen if a QB does a pump fake and loses control of the ball, what's the difference between that and an errant pass? It should just be an incompletion.
I think the rule is what it is because actually knowing for certain the QBs intent would involve getting inside his head. That's impossible! So the next best thing is to judge his intent by what his body is doing.
QBs pass frequently. Thus, if his arm is moving forward we have to accept that his intent is to pass.
