Player touches out of bounds

[Mike Simonds]

Originally posted by William C
That being the case -- w/ K stepping on the end line -- before the snap -- what the call?

Is it a dead ball foul?
Or - do you let the snap occur and the play go -- and give options -- of which one is a safety?

You might have a dead-ball foul for an illegal substitution by K if K steps out of bounds, and then returns prior to the snap.

You might have a live-ball foul for an illegal substituion by K if K steps out of bounds prior to the snap, and then returns inbounds after the snap.

Here is something else to think about: what if K, the punter, is standing in the end zone with one foot touching the end line and the other foot in the end zone at the snap. You would have a live-ball foul for illegal substitution. If K catches the snap while his foot is still on the end line you would have a dead-ball. R's options would be to accept the penalty from the previous spot and replay the down, or decline the penalty and take the safety.