NF play.

[Topshelf]

Originally posted by DrMooreReferee
Here's the play.

R makes a fair catch at his own 35. After that, A then throws a screenpass that gains all the way down to the 20 of B. On the tackle, B25 tackles A33 by the facemask. B is penalized half the distance to the 10 of B. A33 never leaves the field. However, he hangs out between the sideline and the 9 yard mark. After enforcement of the penalty, A then decides to free kick from B's 10 yardline. A33 still hasn't come back within the 9 yard marks and A/K kicks a successful FG through the uprights.

Is A/K penalized?

If so, what do you call it?

Interested to see what you guys think.

No Foul. The requirement for players to be between the 9-yard marks applies only to scrimmage downs. Rule references:

"7-2-1 After the ball is ready for play, each player of A who participated in the previous down and each substitute for A must have been, momentarily, between the 9-yard marks, before the SNAP." and...
"8-4-1a The field-goal attempt shall be a place kick or a drop kick from scrimmage, or from a FREE KICK following a fair catch, or an awarded fair catch."

Your play describes a free kick that scores a field goal which does not include a SNAP.

Would you penalize K if they came straight from their sideline before a free kick and went directly to their kickoff positions? No, because there is no requirement for player positioning during free kicks. The same would apply in this situation.