If a punt returner makes a fair catch signal and muffs the ball, he is entitled to "reasonable opportunity" to catch the muff before it hits the ground without interference of the coverage team. The ball will be rewarded at the spot of the interference, but there will be no penalty yardage marked off. Source: NFL.com
Wtf? they should get rid of the fair catch. In the CFL there is no such thing as a fair catch. You give the player 5 yards to catch it and if you come within the 5 yards when he catches it it's a no yards penalty. This appears to be another stupid rule the NFL has implemented.
What kind of interference? The opposing team can't touch him? Can they put their hands in front of his face to block his view?
As long as the ball doesn't hit the ground, the returner still has the opportunity to regain control of the ball without being touched.
this rule doesn't bother me, remember its only for a fair catch. If someone doesn't fair catch and starts to muff it you can still run through them.
Yeah this rule is no big deal for me either. HH do you really see a defensive player getting to and stopping close enough to a punt returrner calling fair catch in enough time to wave their hands in the returners face in the brief second between them muffing the catch and the ball hitting the ground?
So, if the returner hecks up the fair catch, he's allowed a free opportunity to retain as long as it doesn't hit the ground. Screw sake.
The only rule that needs changed is the going to the ground possession catch rule that the Raiders and Louis Murphy first got robbed on in which the NFL felt the need to cover its butt and call it every damn game. Dumbest rule ever....
