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[Deadskins]

I believe the clock stops when a player goes OB inside of 2:00 in the 1st half and inside of 5:00 in the 4th quarter. I can be wrong, but I'm almost positive that's the rule.

I'm not sure when this rule changed, but you are absolutely correct.
http://static.nfl.com/static/content/pu ... Timing.pdf

The clock always stops when a player goes out of bounds before forward progress is stopped. The issue is when the clock restarts. It restarts when the ball is spotted and the ref gives a signal UNLESS it is the last 2 or 5 minutes of the halves as stated above.

This rule went into effect in 1990.

Major rule changes

The following changes are made to try to speed up the game:

Whenever a player goes out of bounds, outside of the last two minutes of the first half and outside of the last five minutes of the second half, the game clock immediately starts when the ball is spotted for the next play and the Referee signals it is ready for play.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_NFL_season

I thought the original change was the last five minutes of each half, then changed to last two of the first half. This was the change that I was questioning.

[DarthMonk]

I thought the original change was the last five minutes of each half, then changed to last two of the first half. This was the change that I was questioning.

I know.

I believe it was all simultaneous. I don't think it was ever "last 5 minutes both halves." The wording of the 1990 rule certainly strongly suggests (and pretty much down right implies, given what I know) that the restarting of the clock after out-of-bounds once the ball is spotted began at the same time the "2 minute" and "5 minute" exceptions went into affect.

It appears that before 1990, OB simply stopped the clock until the snap regardless of what the game clock said. Otherwise, wouldn't the 1990 rule just mention one or the other - not both? After all, there is no reason to have the 2 and 5 minute exceptions if the clock is always simply stopped and not restarted until the snap - as was the case before 1990. That rule was changed with the accompanying 2 and 5 minute exceptions.

If it had been 5 minutes in both halves pre-1990, why mention the restarting of the clock with the spotting of the ball in 1990 as a way of speeding up the game since that part of the rule would have already existed?

It would be an extremely minor speed-up to simply change 5 minutes to 2 in the first half - and the 1990 rule is listed as a Major rule change.

BTW - true story:

I called in to a Super Bowl pregame show in 1983 when they were taking calls on ways to speed up the game. I suggested restarting the clock (as described in the 1990 rule (I did not offer the late half exceptions). I was laughed off by the talk show crew. 7 years later it was a major rule change. So I know the rule did not exist as of 1983 and its first appearance I have found under "NFL Rule Changes" from 1980 to 1990 is in 1990.

[Deadskins]

I thought the original change was the last five minutes of each half, then changed to last two of the first half. This was the change that I was questioning.

I know.

I believe it was all simultaneous. I don't think it was ever "last 5 minutes both halves." The wording of the 1990 rule certainly strongly suggests (and pretty much down right implies, given what I know) that the restarting of the clock after out-of-bounds once the ball is spotted began at the same time the "2 minute" and "5 minute" exceptions went into affect.

It appears that before 1990, OB simply stopped the clock until the snap regardless of what the game clock said. Otherwise, wouldn't the 1990 rule just mention one or the other - not both? After all, there is no reason to have the 2 and 5 minute exceptions if the clock is always simply stopped and not restarted until the snap - as was the case before 1990. That rule was changed with the accompanying 2 and 5 minute exceptions.

If it had been 5 minutes in both halves pre-1990, why mention the restarting of the clock with the spotting of the ball in 1990 as a way of speeding up the game since that part of the rule would have already existed?

It would be an extremely minor speed-up to simply change 5 minutes to 2 in the first half - and the 1990 rule is listed as a Major rule change.

BTW - true story:

I called in to a Super Bowl pregame show in 1983 when they were taking calls on ways to speed up the game. I suggested restarting the clock (as described in the 1990 rule (I did not offer the late half exceptions). I was laughed off by the talk show crew. 7 years later it was a major rule change. So I know the rule did not exist as of 1983 and its first appearance I have found under "NFL Rule Changes" from 1980 to 1990 is in 1990.

No, I wasn't doubting that this was the way the rule has always been since 1990, after reading your previous post, I was just explaining the word "change" in my original response. As for your anecdote, you, sir, are a true visionary.

[SkinsJock]

recently we saw a play where a player caught the ball running backwards and went out of bounds without being pushed or stopped in any way? I think the official ruled the clock should be kept running because he did not go out of bounds making forward progress ....

I'm sorry this is off-topic - I'm just interested

[Deadskins]

recently we saw a play where a player caught the ball running backwards and went out of bounds without being pushed or stopped in any way? I think the official ruled the clock should be kept running because he did not go out of bounds making forward progress ....

I'm sorry this is off-topic - I'm just interested

I'm pretty sure that in that instance the clock should have been stopped. It's when their forward progress has been stopped by a defensive player, in the field of play, before going OOB that they don't stop the clock.

[DarthMonk]

recently we saw a play where a player caught the ball running backwards and went out of bounds without being pushed or stopped in any way? I think the official ruled the clock should be kept running because he did not go out of bounds making forward progress ....

I'm sorry this is off-topic - I'm just interested

Actually on topic, bro. There is a bit of a gray area here. They can't give a guy forward progress AND stop the clock if he goes OB behind that point. It has to be one or the other. I'm not exactly sure how they make the decision. There might be a judgment call as to what the ball carrier is trying to do, i.e., is he trying to get OB or is he trying to get up-field.