[Ed Hickland]

I cannot disagree with the wording of the Rule Book and the funny book. But, interpret the words and the Case Book situation and add in the fact our concern is safety of the players.

That fact a player is lined up seven yards from the LOS in a position to punt and his actions do not indicate otherwise, he is afforded protection such that when he places himself in a position where injury is possible, he cannot be charged, irregardless of whether a kick has met the definition.

The interpretation is the punter who is at a disadvantage in protecting himself from a charging opponent gets special protection through the rules.

The examples that comes to mind is the punter who has started his motion when a defender charges across his kicking leg as he extends it before striking the ball and the defender never touches the ball. Or, even worst, the holder sitting on the ground setting the ball for the kicker to kick when a defender from the blind-side creams that holder before the kicker has a chance to kick the ball.

Do you not call it roughing because the ball has not been kicked? Is that what the rules writers want?