This happened last week in the Chargers @ Titans game that basically ended the 1st half
With 12 seconds left in the 2nd Qtr, Herbert from the Titans 25 yds line passed the ball into the endzone and double coverage intended for Williams. one of the Defensive Backs [McCreary] caught the ball, but he was falling out of bounds. McCreary knowing that he falling ob, had the wherewithal to “lateral” the ball to the other DB, [Kalu] and Kalu caught the ball inbounds. Kalu knelt down to get the touchback.
Titans got the ball at the 20 yd line and the half ended.
My question involves the “Lateral”. imo McCreary definitely caught the ball and flipped the ball to Kalu in a controlled manner. But also imo, it was a forward lateral to Kalu because Kalu was closer to the endzone line than McCleary.
I am guessing the play was ‘technically not intercepted’ until Kalu caught the ball in bounds and McCreary’s brief possession was a tipped ball.
But should the interceptioned been disallowed because of the forward lateral?
If you mean he hadn’t come down in bounds and established the catch already, then he never had possession. So it’s definitely not a forward pass. You have to possess the ball to pass it. Technically I guess that makes it a fumble, or maybe a muff. (Like when a quarterback gets hit just as he throws, and on replay we see he lost control just before his arm started going forward, that’s a fumble, not a forward pass, even if his hand no longer holding the ball happens to bat it forward.)
I know there is illegal batting, but I don’t think this is it. As far as I’m aware, if you catch the ball in the air you can throw it wherever you please before you touch the ground.
Think of it like a pass deflection bouncing off the running back short over the middle and then the wide receiver catches it 10 yards further downfield. That’s not an illegal forward pass either. I think any rule that applied to one would apply to both.
EDIT: On second thought, it could be illegal batting, I guess. I don’t know the details of that rule.
I think illegal batting is usually after the ball has hit the ground, i.e. a fumble, and usually toward the end zone.
If the ball is still in the air and hasn’t been “caught” (with the understanding that maybe people with NASA-like intellects may one day figure out what is actually a catch in the NFL), it’s more like a tipped pass.
From the description upthread I got the impression that it happened at the back of the endzone and the “pass” was definitely forward. Replay shows it was sideways at worst, like 5% backwards or so. Doesn’t matter where the 2nd guy’s feet are in relation to his teammate’s, but which direction the ball went.
But yeah interesting catch-22 (sorry) rule paradox if it was forward. I am still bugged that the receiver (or interceptor) isn’t credited with a catch until after a series of elaborate gyrations or football moves, and not from the instant he secures the ball. But the NFL has decided to stretch that indeterminate instant out for a second or two, for good or bad.
Amazingly, none of the YT comments wondered if it was forward.