I have always wondered why 7 yards was chosen. Could it have been because most snaps for field goals and extra point trys were already 7 yards?
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As for roughing the snapper, that requires 7 yards and proper positioning of players to allow that protection.
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Does that mean if the kicker is 6 yards and 2 feet the snapper is "free meat?"
I would err on the side of safety and say close enough because the intent of the rule is to protect the long snapper who is in a terribly bad position after he snaps the ball. Long snapping is a highly skilled position not for those who cannot stand punishment. As Coach Madden says, if you can long snap it, you got a job.
But 5 yards as in this example is stretching the point.
What was the consensus of the meeting? Roughing or not?