Is kicking a fumble legal?

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by PackersFTW

I'll go try to Google this some more. I'm still confused about what happens if it's not 4th down, you boot it 20 yards down field, and the defense recovers the ball. Do they decline the penalty (which is what exactly, 10 yards? 15?)? What if the defense kicks it and then recovers? I'm guessing the offense accepts the penalty and it automatically reverts back to the offense or something?

Packers, not sure why you're having trouble with this. If the defense had recovered the illegally kicked ball, then the result would have been the same. The defense would have declined the penalty and taken at the spot.

If he had kicked it downfield, then they might have accepted the penalty and forced them to re-kick. It would depend on field position, etc.

If the defense kicks it, then the foul would (probably) be penalized from the spot of the illegal kick, 1st down for the defensive team.

If it had occurred on 3rd down, the penalty would have been called. It might or might not have been accepted.

Had the defense accepted the penalty, then you replay 4th down. For obvious reasons, the defense would rathe rhave the ball.