Fair Catch Question

[RLeahey14]

Just watching the Arizona game, the guy called for a fair catch on the punt. But the kick wasn't far and it bounced before he picked it up. The ref blew the play dead but since the ball bounced doesn't that negate the fair catch call since he never caught it?

 

[tm3308]

Just watching the Arizona game, the guy called for a fair catch on the punt. But the kick wasn't far and it bounced before he picked it up. The ref blew the play dead but since the ball bounced doesn't that negate the fair catch call since he never caught it?

A fair catch lets the returner field it unmolested, whether it bounces first or not. If it bounces and he fields it, it's dead where he fields it, just like it would be had he caught it.

 

[RLeahey14]

Thanks man, I wasn't sure. I guess I was thinking about baseball where if it hits the ground it's not really a catch so you play it differently.

 

[Clonehomer]

I think that if it hits another player then he can pick it up and run with it.

 

[SheagleHawk]

Just watching the Arizona game, the guy called for a fair catch on the punt. But the kick wasn't far and it bounced before he picked it up. The ref blew the play dead but since the ball bounced doesn't that negate the fair catch call since he never caught it?

Speaking of AZ, talk about shot your wad. Iowa would kill that team they put on the field today. Thought I was over last week, but this just reaffirms the fact the the better team didn't win last week. Starting to eat at me again.