So... explain to me the logic behind this 15-yard penalty (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

2nd Q of the Ravens/Texans game last night. Houston punts the ball. This is from the play-by-play in the box score.

M.Turk punts 54 yards to BLT 19, Center-J.Weeks. L.Webb to BLT 41 for 22 yards (J.Dreessen).

PENALTY on HST-S.McManis, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at BLT 41.

I don't remember the ref's explanation, but he basically flagged the gunner for going out of bounds on his own and failing to make an effort to get back in-bounds.Okay, two things:

1) Why is it unfair to the receiving team if a guy on the punt team goes out of bounds? It's one less potential tackler, no?

2) How in the world can they justify a major penalty for that infraction? An "unsportsmanlike conduct" call for a member of the kicking team running out of bounds incurs the same punishment as an egregious foul like roughing the passer or helmet-to-helmet contact or a chop block? Makes no sense to me.

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/penaltysummaries

 

[VaTerp]

I believe this is known as the Steve Tasker rule. Tasker use to run way out of bounds to avoid being blocked and could still get downfield to cover the punt. The idea behind the rule is that players who are on the field should actually be ON the field.

I have no problem with the rule or the penalty.

 

[Raider Nation]

I believe this is known as the Steve Tasker rule. Tasker use to run way out of bounds to avoid being blocked and could still get downfield to cover the punt. The idea behind the rule is that players who are on the field should actually be ON the field.I have no problem with the rule or the penalty.

Interesting.

 

[gianmarco]

My favorite new illogical penalty that I just learned about was the interference of a fair catch. Why is it my favorite?

Well, because when the penalty is called there isn't actually a penalty enforced. Awesome.

 

[Raider Nation]

My favorite new illogical penalty that I just learned about was the interference of a fair catch. Why is it my favorite?Well, because when the penalty is called there isn't actually a penalty enforced. Awesome.

You're gonna need to unpack that one for me. Fair Catch Interference is a 15-yarder.

 

[nysfl2]

2nd Q of the Ravens/Texans game last night. Houston punts the ball. This is from the play-by-play in the box score.

M.Turk punts 54 yards to BLT 19, Center-J.Weeks. L.Webb to BLT 41 for 22 yards (J.Dreessen).

PENALTY on HST-S.McManis, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced at BLT 41.

I don't remember the ref's explanation, but he basically flagged the gunner for going out of bounds on his own and failing to make an effort to get back in-bounds.Okay, two things:

1) Why is it unfair to the receiving team if a guy on the punt team goes out of bounds? It's one less potential tackler, no?

2) How in the world can they justify a major penalty for that infraction? An "unsportsmanlike conduct" call for a member of the kicking team running out of bounds incurs the same punishment as an egregious foul like roughing the passer or helmet-to-helmet contact or a chop block? Makes no sense to me.

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/penaltysummaries

It is illegal to block a player that is out of bounds, so just staying out of bounds on the kick gives you a free run to the guy catching the punt.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

My favorite new illogical penalty that I just learned about was the interference of a fair catch. Why is it my favorite?

Well, because when the penalty is called there isn't actually a penalty enforced. Awesome.

I think the penalty being enforced is interference with a fair catch.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

My favorite new illogical penalty that I just learned about was the interference of a fair catch. Why is it my favorite?Well, because when the penalty is called there isn't actually a penalty enforced. Awesome.

You're gonna need to unpack that one for me. Fair Catch Interference is a 15-yarder.

This happened in the MIN-NYG game last night.The KR called for a fair catch (Camarillo IIRC for MIN) and he bobbled it. During the bobble a NYG touched the ball. Since the ball hadn't hit the ground, the Giant was interfering with the catch attempt and it is a penalty.Enforcement = spot foul, possession awarded to receiving team. No yardage tacked on to it.This is NOT the same as hitting a KR/PR during a fair catch. That can be a personal foul and 15 yards. I think this would trump the spot foul - which is a brand new rule.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

The far more common penalty on punts is "illegal touching." That happens whenever the punting team downs the ball. It's a zero-yard penalty, marked from the spot of the touch.

 

[Raider Nation]

The far more common penalty on punts is "illegal touching." That happens whenever the punting team downs the ball. It's a zero-yard penalty, marked from the spot of the touch.

That's when a member of the kicking team goes into the end zone, fails to establish two feet back in the field of play and is the first to touch the ball?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

The far more common penalty on punts is "illegal touching." That happens whenever the punting team downs the ball. It's a zero-yard penalty, marked from the spot of the touch.

That's when a member of the kicking team goes into the end zone, fails to establish two feet back in the field of play and is the first to touch the ball?

It's just anytime a member of the punting team touches the ball before a member of the receiving team.It happens every time a punt is downed.A yellow flag typically isn't thrown, but it is a penalty (albeit a zero-yard infraction), and it can be accepted or declined.(That's why, after a member of the punting team touches the ball but doesn't down it, a member of the receiving team can try to grab it and run with it without worrying about muffing it. If he picks it up and gains positive yards, the receiving team declines the penalty. If he muffs it and the punting team recovers, the receiving team accepts the penalty and takes over at the spot of the touch.)

 

[gianmarco]

The far more common penalty on punts is "illegal touching." That happens whenever the punting team downs the ball. It's a zero-yard penalty, marked from the spot of the touch.

That's when a member of the kicking team goes into the end zone, fails to establish two feet back in the field of play and is the first to touch the ball?

It's just anytime a member of the punting team touches the ball before a member of the receiving team.It happens every time a punt is downed.

They throw flags for that? They threw a flag in the Minn/NYG game. Minn got a whole 0 yards for it.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

The far more common penalty on punts is "illegal touching." That happens whenever the punting team downs the ball. It's a zero-yard penalty, marked from the spot of the touch.

That's when a member of the kicking team goes into the end zone, fails to establish two feet back in the field of play and is the first to touch the ball?

It's just anytime a member of the punting team touches the ball before a member of the receiving team.It happens every time a punt is downed.

They throw flags for that? They threw a flag in the Minn/NYG game. Minn got a whole 0 yards for it.

I edited my previous post to note that they generally don't throw a flag for it.

 

[Zigg]

The Saints got a 15 yard personal foul for too many men in the huddle. 5 yards sure, but 15?

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

The far more common penalty on punts is "illegal touching." That happens whenever the punting team downs the ball. It's a zero-yard penalty, marked from the spot of the touch.

That's when a member of the kicking team goes into the end zone, fails to establish two feet back in the field of play and is the first to touch the ball?

It's just anytime a member of the punting team touches the ball before a member of the receiving team.It happens every time a punt is downed.

They throw flags for that? They threw a flag in the Minn/NYG game. Minn got a whole 0 yards for it.

I edited my previous post to note that they generally don't throw a flag for it.

This isn't the same rule as I stated earlier. There's a brand new rule for interfering with a fair catch attempt.