Dropping the Punt

mikesears · #1 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 05, 2004, 08:10am

I have no idea why the thread for the "Chrunch Time Quiz" was closed.

Some people were saying that if the punter drops the ball forward and then does not make contact, it is an incomplete forward pass, not a fumble.

If that was the case (and I don't believe it is), it would nullify the drop kick completely. All drop kicks would then be incomplete forward passes. Ruling this a fumble won't get anybody into trouble.

I wanted to edit my post but the the original thread was closed.

Deep · #2 (**permalink**) Tue Oct 05, 2004, 08:26am

Yes Mike, I wondered why the original thread was closed, too. Perhaps the moderater felt that the original poster had his question answered by at least 3 pretty good rules guys and could see no point in letting it continue since the orginal poster seemed to be the only one arguing that it was a pass, rather than a fumble.

But I had new info to add the thread, too. I have found an NCAA Approved Ruling that backs our position that this is simply a fumble. I leave it to others to try to find a similar NF case book play. This ruling specifically answers the original poster's question in the other thread.

On FI-58, AR 9-1-3-I: A1 plans to punt from behind his line of scrimmage but misses the ball after which he is contacted by B1. RULING: Team A fumble. There is no kicker until the ball is actually kicked, and B1 therefore is not guilty of roughing the kicker.