Hit on Bengals punter

[Welpe]

QBs and kickers/punters are in limited supply as fairly specialized role players.

Because these players are in more specialized roles, the other team tends to headhunt them more, intentionally seeking them out during plays like kick returns and interceptions to blow them up.

The NFL is in the entertainment business. They've determined that this type of headhunting is detrimental to the product they put on the field.

Ergo, they have chosen this method of extending further protection to these players so that their desired product is put on the field.

If you'd like to suggest a rule change to the NFL as a concerned fan of the game, I'm sure there's a way to do that.

As to officials, "Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die"