What penalty is incurred for intentional grounding?

The penalty for intentional grounding in football is appropriately set at 5 yards and loss of down (LOD). This rule is designed to prevent quarterbacks from avoiding being tackled by simply throwing the ball away in situations where there is no receiver in the vicinity. By enforcing a 5-yard penalty, it adds a level of consequence for the offense while still maintaining the flow of the game, unlike a more severe penalty that might overly disrupt play. The loss of down aspect reflects the critical nature of maintaining possession and advancing the ball, encouraging the quarterback to make more responsible decisions under pressure. This particular punishment seeks to balance the need for player safety and fair play while disincentivizing reckless behavior by the offense.