4th-and-10 from the A2. Player A1 punts with 5 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Kick returner B1 signals (with a valid signal) for a fair catch at the 50-yard line, but he is bumped at that spot by player A2 before the ball arrives. The ball then touches B1 first, and player B2 recovers the ball at the B45-yard line as time expires. What are the options for Team B?
Ball spotted at A35. Assuming that they accept the fair-catch interference penalty, Team B will have the ball on the A35-yard line after the 15-yard penalty is marked off. Because of the penalty, Team B may run one untimed down from the 35. Team B also has the option of kicking a fair-catch kick.
In this case, the holder for Team B will hold the ball for a normal field-goal attempt, except there is no snap of the ball and the kick occurs right from the 35-yard line. Team A lines up 10 yards from the fair-catch-kick line, and they may not rush to block the kick. Functionally, it is the same as a kickoff, except the ball cannot be placed on a tee, and unlike a kickoff, it can score three points.
Team B also has the option to decline the penalty and the half is over.
Because the punt receiver was interfered with, the fair catch is awarded. Had a fair catch been called at the 50-yard line without interference, Team B could have only attempted the fair-catch kick from the 50-yard line (with no time on the clock) or declined the option (the half would be over). Without a penalty, Team B does not have an option to run an untimed down with a snap.
Ben Austro is the editor and founder of Football Zebras and the author of So You Think You Know Football?: The Armchair Ref's Guide to the Official Rules (on sale now)
5 thoughts on “Tough quiz: 7 calls you may never see in NFL (but how would you rule?)”
The 2013 Fiesta Bowl featured a variation on Question 3.
Ah…. Dickie Moegel.
This almost happened in a 1997 Jaguars-Steelers game. The potential game-winning field goal for the Steelers was blocked, and as a Jaguar began to return it for a touchdown, he ran past Bill Cowher, who made a motion as if he was going to tackle the player. Cowher said that he almost made the tackle.
For Q #1, I have always been interested to see a 7th Quarter kickoff happen, but it never has as of yet. I did watch the Los Angeles Express Triple-Overtime USFL playoff game on ABC, and no kickoff occurred to start the 3rd OT period, only the ends of the field at the LA coliseum were switched, with possession maintained by the offense, as a continuation of the same drive from the end of the 2nd OT period.
Wow! Good to know someone was watching.
With all of the revisions to the overtime section of the rulebook for modified sudden death, it is a little more clearly stated that there is another kickoff. Before then, it was probably an item in the officials’ Casebook.
4th-and-10 from the A2. Player A1 punts with 5 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Kick returner B1 signals (with a valid signal) for a fair catch at the 50-yard line, but he is bumped at that spot by player A2 before the ball arrives. The ball then touches B1 first, and player B2 recovers the ball at the B45-yard line as time expires. What are the options for Team B?
The 2013 Fiesta Bowl featured a variation on Question 3.
Ah…. Dickie Moegel.
This almost happened in a 1997 Jaguars-Steelers game. The potential game-winning field goal for the Steelers was blocked, and as a Jaguar began to return it for a touchdown, he ran past Bill Cowher, who made a motion as if he was going to tackle the player. Cowher said that he almost made the tackle.
For Q #1, I have always been interested to see a 7th Quarter kickoff happen, but it never has as of yet. I did watch the Los Angeles Express Triple-Overtime USFL playoff game on ABC, and no kickoff occurred to start the 3rd OT period, only the ends of the field at the LA coliseum were switched, with possession maintained by the offense, as a continuation of the same drive from the end of the 2nd OT period.
Wow! Good to know someone was watching.
With all of the revisions to the overtime section of the rulebook for modified sudden death, it is a little more clearly stated that there is another kickoff. Before then, it was probably an item in the officials’ Casebook.