Punt blocked question

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by CO ump

On the surface this makes sense. But something seems out of whack.
R blocks kick and ball remains behind neutral zone, at this point either team can recover and advance. R then muffs(I'm assuming an unintentional kick)
the ball, creating a new force which moves ball beyond neutral zone where only R can recover and advance.

True, new force or impetus which could come up in a safety/touchback determination. But the way the rules are written defining "kick", K's kick did not end until it came into player possession.

But this is not such a bad hosing as you might think. K tried to kick the ball to beyond the neutral zone, but they got it blocked. So then they got a little gift of field position by R's accidentally kicking the ball. The greater gyp is the rule since IIRC 1930 that makes both teams eligible for possession of the ball behind K's line, that can turn a blocked kick into an advantage.

Robert