Punt Question

[Bob M.]

Originally posted by jwaz
the ball is partially blocked at the LOS goes beyond the ENZ then the wind blows it into the endzone or it is muffed by R and goes back into endzone.
thanks

REPLY: The touching (block) behind the line is ignored. If the ball is untouched beyond the line and simply is blown back into the endzone, it will be a safety if it becomes dead there (unless of course B recovers, in which case it would be a TD for B). If the kick is muffed IN FLIGHT by B, then the force is still the kick, and A is looking at a safety if the ball becomes dead in his end zone. If R muffs a GROUNDED kick, then the official must make the judgement as to whether the kick or the muff was the force that put the ball back into A's EZ. If the official rules that it was B's muff (likely) that is responsible for the ball reentering A's end zone, then it will be a TB if A recovers or if the ball passes through the EZ. It's still a TD however if B recovers in A's EZ.