invalid fair catch signal

[yankeesfan]

team A punts, R gives an invalid fair catch signal at his 5 yard line. the ball then goes over his head into the endzone for a touchback. where is the penalty enforced from? this is psk correct?

[mbyron]

Yes, this is PSK, and so the basic spot is the end of the kick. Since the kick crossed the EZ, the result is a touchback, which would make the basic spot the R20.

But I think you'd enforce the foul from the spot of the foul, which is behind the basic spot, based on 2-41-6 and 10-4-3 (and similar case 10.4.4B). If K accepts the penalty, it will be R 1/10 from the R2.5.

[Sonofanump]

I am ready for the "We do not judge which fouls are fair" response.

I do not think philosophically this is something that we want to enforce especially on touchbacks or if the signal is given in the endzone. I do not think this would fall within the spirit of the rules.

[With_Two_Flakes]

Suppose a K player has a good chance to down the punt at the 1yd line but he sees the (invalid) Fair Catch signal and that slows him down and the ball goes into the EZ for a touchback?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by With_Two_Flakes

Suppose a K player has a good chance to down the punt at the 1yd line but he sees the (invalid) Fair Catch signal and that slows him down and the ball goes into the EZ for a touchback?

(Assuming the punt is still in the air...)

If K sees it and recognizes it as a fair catch signal, why would we judge it to be invalid? And if we do, how about a talk to instead of a flag?

I had a back judge flag this in a game (it was 3 really unnecessary flags in a row) and I asked him if anyone had any trouble recognizing it as a fair catch signal. He said no, but the kid didn't get his arm up high enough.

"Well," I said, "it was high enough for those who wanted to hit him. How about a talk to instead of a flag?"

[With_Two_Flakes]

I'm not so picky about Fair Catch signals either, rather I was thinking about the case when he gives the signal after the ball bounces in front of him.