Quote:
Originally Posted by cmathews
The expanded neutral zone is to allow mostly linemen to complete regular blocking actions and still be considered on or behind their line of scrimmage. This is important because if they are hit by a kicked ball or intentionally touch a thrown ball while not on or behind the line of scrimmage the ball becomes dead on the kicked ball and it is illegal touching potentially offensive pass interference/ and or Illegal man downfield on the pass play. Touching of a kicked ball in or behind the expanded neutral zone is ignored. If he had been another couple yards downfield in your example it would have been just like a kicking team player touching a punt 30 yds downfield it will be dead.
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A merely touching a punt doesn't kill it.
Essentially what the original post is saying is that the touching by A is ignored because it was in the expanded neutral zone. Touching by either team in the ENZ is ignored.
Had A76 touched it beyond the ENZ, it would have been illegal touching, but that in itself wouldn't have killed the play. B would've had the option (with some exceptions which I won't bother with here) to take the result of the play or take the ball at the spot of illegal touching.