Here's a scenario that makes absolutely no sense for the NFL... Let's take James Harrison's interception in Super Bowl XLIII as an example: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAIcUyg50TU]James Harrison's Super Bowl Interception TD!! - YouTube[/ame] Now everyone knows how close Larry Fitzgerald was to catching Harrison and probably would have if his own teammate hadn't blocked him. So here's the deal: On a defensive return, if an offensive player is shoved out of bounds, he's absolutely allowed to come back in bounds to make a play (unlike a kick or punt return.) So on a return, any player with speed can theoretically sprint the sideline out of bounds on the white line (that should be clear of opposing players and coaches by rule) without being touched to try to make the play. If he is hit by a "defender," it's a personal foul hit out of bounds. If he's tripped up by an opposing player on the sideline, penalty. But he's allowed to run out of bounds and return in bounds to make a play.
It says if the player is shoved out of bounds, this is no different than rules on offense or ST. You can't purposefully run out of bounds and stay out of bounds while chasing a player. On ST you're still allowed to make the play, you're just not allowed to touch the ball first.
If I remember correctly the player has to make an effort to come back in bounds as quickly as possible.
That's the thing...it is different on a defensive return. A player can stay out of bounds and run the sideline to chase a player without being touched and without making an effort to return to the playing field ASAP.
Why the penalty for hitting him while he's out of bounds? I would think just the opposite, otherwise out of bounds is actually affording him protection.