Kickoff Rule

by roywilliamsisgod on Sep 10, 2007 9:29 PM CDT

A play during the game on Saturday ignited a friendly discussion between me and another fan. During a kickoff, if the returner tries to catch the ball at the 2 yard line, it touches him, but the momentum of the football carries it into the end zone, is the player allowed to take the touch back? Or does he have to run it out?

Just a silly question, but it is still bugging me. Any help?

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I believe

he has to carry it out or it is a safety. The momentum issue relates to the player's momentum such as if he is running and intercepts a pass on the 1 but his momentum carries him into the end zone he can take a touchback. On a kickoff one would have to assume the player is standing still and thus has no momentum to carry him into the end zone. The ball would not have enough momentum on it to push a player backwards 2 yards (6 feet) into the end zone.

by Screw O.U. on Sep 10, 2007 10:05 PM CDT reply actions

I re-read your post

The player does not catch the ball but touches it on the 2; the ball rolls into the end zone; the player can fall on the ball for a touchback and does not have to take it out. Sorry for the confusion - I misread your question and thought the player actually caught the ball and somehow ended up in the end zone.

by Screw O.U. on Sep 10, 2007 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Right

It is all about control.

If the player controls the ball out of the endzone, and his momentum is not carrying him into the endzone, then he has to return it, even if he somehow fumbles into the endzone subsequently.

If he touches, but does not control the ball, and it rolls into the endzone, then he can still kneel the ball for a touchback.

In Quan's case last game he probably could have taken the touchback, but he would have had to trust the ref to assume that he did not have control, plus when you muff the put and are freaking out about just picking it up, sometimes you don't have time to realize that you should just take the touchback.

by Wells on Sep 10, 2007 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions