Quote:
Originally Posted by HPF Bob
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.
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Hey I was screaming interference before the muff. JJ has a the right to the ball and a 2 yd cushion, the defended was in his face as the ball was coming down, the flag should have been thrown at that moment.
I was not aware of the ball hitting the ground is the trigger for the cover team, I just knew the cover guy did not allow JJ the chance to field the punt.