Quote:
Originally Posted by infantrycak
To clarify a little bit more, there are two rules in play here. One says being beyond the LOS doesn't change the other rules. The other is any player not just a QB is a defenseless player when in the act of throwing or immediately afterward.
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That is a little better, but I still have to wonder what stops the QB from being 10 yards down the field, act like he is going to throw the ball right before he gets hit, and suddenly it's a penalty? Sure, it is fairly unlikely he would do this, but it has to be settled. It either is or isn't illegal to throw the ball past the LOS. If it is illegal, then any QB past the LOS should be treated just like any other player unless he is in the act of sliding.
There would not even be a discussion here if Cutler had been behind the LOS. But he wasn't. He was in the open field and even though he was still acting like he might pass, he could break away running at any moment. I think the call was BS, and the fine is BS.