Posted: August 17 2005 at 11:25pm | IP Logged

Here's the scenario and it has happened twice in different games.

I punt the ball for a sky punt and place it inside the 10.  The returner calls fair catch and then bails out of the area obviously hoping the ball rolls into the end zone. Both times I've managed to get a guy into the area that shows where the ball will hit turf first.  Both times a receiving team's blocker has entered the area as well.  I successfully down the ball before the endzone, but there has been a pile of bodies around.  The first time I'm not sure if the original punt return, fair catch caller was in the mix.  The second time I watched the replay and he was yards away from the area.  Both times I was called for fair catch interference.  Logically, I would think that once he abandons the area I'm free to go for the down.  And another part of me thinks that if he calls fair catch and bails that now I should be able to take possession of the ball like a fumble, otherwise what would prevent a team from calling fair catch all the time to prevent a team from downing the ball?

Any insight into the real life rule?

Thanks,

Ted

Posted: August 18 2005 at 9:06am | IP Logged

An update.  It may be because of the contact with one of the receiving team's blockers near the ball.  I had the scenario again, this time downing the ball without touching anyone (at least there wasn't any of the grunts and pads crunching sounds) and didn't get the penalty.

Ted