[HLin NC]

NF 2012 Case Book

FLAGRANT FOUL
*9.4.3 COMMENT: Is there suggested guidance on what is meant by a defenseless player who should be protected from unnecessary roughness? Yes, defenseless players are especially vulnerable to potential injury. Game officials must diligentlyobserve all action and watch for contact against players who are deemed defenseless such as: (a) A quarterback moving down the line of scrimmage who has handed or pitched the ball to a teammate, and then makes no attempt to participate further in the play; (b) A kicker who is in the act of kicking the ball, or who has not had a reasonable amount of time to regain his balance after the kick;
(c) A passer who is in the act of throwing the ball, or who has not had a reasonable length of time to participate in the play again after releasing the ball; (d) A pass receiver whose concentration is on the ball and the contact by the defender is unrelated to attempting to catch the ball; (e) A pass receiver who has clearly relaxed when he has missed the pass or feels he can no longer catch; (f) A kick receiver whose attention is on the downward flight of the ball; (g) A kick receiver who has just touched the ball; (h) Any player who has relaxed once the ball has become dead; and (i) Any player who is obviously out of the play. The game official must draw distinction between contact necessary to make a legal block or tackle, and that which targets defenseless players.