A theoretical football question...

[Felken]

There's a professional football game going on. It snowed quite a lot and the field is covered with snow. Now, there's an important play going on, and you gotta take down the QB. But he's covered, and you know you won't be able to get to him. So, being the genius you are, you decide to grab some snow and make a snowball. The play begins and you whip your snowball and hit the QB in the visor. He is distracted, fumbles the ball and it is recovered by your teammate who goes for the touchdown.

Is that a legal move? Would you be allowed to throw a snowball at an opposing player or even to throw it at the ball midair to try to put it off course?

It's a crazy idea I came up with while throwing the football outside.

 

[Stumbo]

No.

 

[blastoff99]

I dunno, sounds good to me. If the home team got away with this one..... well, ok, they did outlaw it later.

 

[MrLenny1]

No.

 

[JimK]

No...unless you're the Patriots.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

Football season is over.
Sergio wins the Masters!

 

[DirtDog]

Sure, but it'll be pass interference and an automatic first down. It just might be enough to throw the other team off their game, though, so might be worth it. Especially if they're the Cardinals or Cowboys or something.

Also: only 59 days until the CFL preseason opens!

 

[line6man]

I know absolutely nothing about football, but I'm going to go with no. If gameplay involved snow, in some way, then every football game would be played in the snow.

 

[yodedude2]

There's a professional football game going on. It snowed quite a lot and the field is covered with snow. Now, there's an important play going on, and you gotta take down the QB. But he's covered, and you know you won't be able to get to him. So, being the genius you are, you decide to grab some snow and make a snowball. The play begins and you whip your snowball and hit the QB in the visor. He is distracted, fumbles the ball and it is recovered by your teammate who goes for the touchdown.

Is that a legal move? Would you be allowed to throw a snowball at an opposing player or even to throw it at the ball midair to try to put it off course?

It's a crazy idea I came up with while throwing the football outside.

i am not a referee, but that scenario sounds like it would draw a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct at the least.

"PALPABLY UNFAIR ACT (PLAYER)
Article 3
A player or substitute shall not interfere with play by any act which is palpably unfair.
Penalty: For a palpably unfair act: Offender may be disqualified. The Referee, after consulting his crew, enforces any such distance penalty as they consider equitable and irrespective of any other specified code penalty. The Referee could award a score. See 15-1-6."

this rule also covers the scenario where someone comes off the bench and tackles a ball carrier on the field, e.g.

 

[mrpackerguy]

Personal foul
Unnecessary roughness
Unsportsmanlike

Take your pick