Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Joe
The refs didn't bail him out unless they completely whiffed on the rule. The rule bailed him out that gives him the right to catch the ball till it hits the ground unless the rule was explained wrong in the telecast. If the Titans would have respected his right to catch the ball until it hits the ground, he probably would have caught it on the bounce, but then again he is Jacoby.
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Allow me to clarify. 90% of the time when a punt is muffed an a defender is standing right there in front of the return man, the kick team winds up with the football. One could argue the defender, not the refs, bailed Jones out by catching the ball in the air but the refs did take a rather obscure rule out of the rule book to give the ball back to the Texans (and tack on a 15-yard interference penalty on the defender).
Tasker, being a kick returner and gunner much of his NFL career, probably knew that rule but I'm betting most of the players and coaches didn't. It's a good thing at least one of the refs knew the rule and was also in a position to see that the ball didn't hit the ground.
The defender was simply reacting as just about any player would if a muffed catch hopped into their lap.