football: touchback or safety

Question
Hi coach.  Sorry to say that I don't think that your answer related to the play I was talking about so I'll try again.  Your answer dealt with the offense fumbling the ball and landing in the offensive end zone and the scenario I am dealing with is the offense fumbling the ball and landing in the defensive end zone.

For the sake of clarity, it would be great if you only answered the 3 scenarios that I am going to present.

In this play the Giants have the ball.  The Giants' receiver is running to the end zone.  At the 15 yd line of the Eagles, he fumbles the ball.  It lands at the Eagles 3 yd line.  An Eagle attempts to recover but fails.  The ball goes into the Eagles' end zone.  What happened in the play is that the Giants recovered and they got a TD.  What I am asking is what would be the result, whether touchback or safety, if the play ended in the following 3 scenarios after the original fumble in which the ball landed at the Eagles 3 yd line:  

1. The Eagles recover the fumble in their end zone.
2. The ball goes out of the end zone with an Eagle last touching it, but not having possession of it.
3. An Eagle smacks the ball from the 3 yd line resulting in the ball going out the back of the end zone with no other contact with the ball made, whether it looks intentional or not.  

I appreciate the service you are providing and hope this is more clear for you.  

Thanks again,
Eric
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi coach, I have a question about a play that happened in week 2 of this past season in the Giants - Eagles game.  Here is the play:
1-10-PHI39 (13:53) (Shotgun) E.Manning pass short right to P.Burress to PHI 16 for 23 yards (B.Dawkins). FUMBLES (B.Dawkins), recovered by NYG-T.Carter at PHI -6. TOUCHDOWN.
A friend of mine have been debating what would happen if there was a different result in the play, keeping in mind that the ball did NOT land in the end zone from the fumble, but landed at the 3 yd line and was forced into the end zone by an Eagle attempting to recover it.  The 3 different scenarios that we changed from the actual play are: 1. If the Eagles recovered the ball in the end zone, 2. If the ball would have gone out of bounds through the end zone and an Eagle last touched it, but did not have possession of the ball, and 3.  If an Eagle deliberately smacked the ball out of the end zone from the 3 yd line, whether it appears to be deliberate or not.  So the question becomes in each of these scenarios, would it be a touchback or a safety?  Thanks,
Eric
-----Answer-----
Eric -

Well, honestly, your question was a little hard to follow.  But I think I see what you are getting at, so I will go ahead and try here.  If I havent gotten what you are asking, just do a follow-up and try again.

OK, anytime an offense fumbles the ball, and it is loose (the defense has not gained possession at any point of the play), and the defense recovers the ball in the end zone, its a touchdown for the defense.

If the fumble is loose, and goes into the endzone, and the defense never gains control, and the offense covers it, safety.

If the ball is fumbled, and the defense never gains control and it goes out of the enzone, safety.

Now, there are a few exceptions.  If the offense fumbles, and the defense recovers (lets say at the 5 yd line), and then the defender while trying to score fumbles into the endzone, and the offense recovers it, thats a touchback, and the offense gets the ball 1st and 10 at the 20 td line.

Also, an offensive player cant purposely bat the ball forward.  If he does and another offensive player recovers it, the refs can spot the ball at the place where the player who batted the ball forward was when he attempted it.  

Basically, for the most part, just remember the basics.  They pretty much work for all of your examples here.  If the offense still has possession and the ball is either downed in the endzone or goes out of the endzone, its a safety.  If the defense gains control and it goes out, touchback for the offensive team.  If the defense recovers anything in the opposing teams endzone, touchdown.  Anything deliberate becomes a judgement call for the refs.  They can rule it several different ways.

I hope you are getting a good idea of how these would be called.  Let me know if I missed what you were trying to say and I will give it another shot.  You seem to be very interested in these questions.  I would definately recommend you pick up an NFL rulebook.  They are available at most sporting good stores, or you can order them online.  It would help you with all of these situations, and is a great tool for someone who watches a lot of pro ball.  AS always, if you have anything further, please feel free to ask me.  I am happy to answer anything I can. The rulebook is just a faster way to answer these in the case you are watching a game and need a quick answer. It is also a great way to settle any arguements on the spot!

Best wishes
Coach Perl

Answer
Eric -

I have re-read the question, and also re-read your follow-up, and will try it once again.  I wasnt sure exactly what you were getting at in the first one, but your follow-up is much easier.  Here are your answers. Keep in mind the same basic principles written in the first response apply here as well.

If the offense is DRIVING towards the defenses endzone, and fumbles, the ball never changes POSSESSION (but isnt purposely batted into the endzone by the offense) and the offense recovers, it is a TD.  That was what really happened in the play.

OK, same situation, but the defense recovers it in the endzone.  Touchback.

If the ball goes out of the back of the endzone, without the ball ever changing possession, this is also a touchback. Defenses ball at the 20.

If the ball is smacked out, its the same as if it just goes out.  Touchback. Defense gets the ball at the 20.

There you go.  Again, although the first response was  at the other end of the field, the same principles apply.  If you remember the basics of what you already knw about football, you will usually have the calls right.

Hope to hear back from you soon.

Coach Perl