Punt and Kick Off Return Fair Catch

[Altor]

The receiver can't block after making a fair catch signal, but there is nothing requiring him to attempt to catch or recover the kick.

[JRutledge]

All the FC signal does is give the player protection that catches the ball and does not allow him to block. Many punts have a receiver give a FC signal so that they the kicking team will not go after the ball and get the ball in the EZ. Nothing is illegal if they give a signal and do not catch the ball.

Peace

[Robert Goodman]

Similarly, a player's calling "hut" or "go" or some such does not obligate that team to snap the ball at that time even if they've done so previously in the game. A downfield potential receiver's waving for the ball does not obligate a team to pass it there.

Although a fair catch signal is a rule-book communication to officials and opponents, it's not one of those situations where a team captain has indicated a choice to an official and can't retract it.