Quote
XXXIVwin
RFIP, help me out on this question, then.

How many times have we heard that ominous phrase, "During the return....".

By definition, when the fouls are "during the return,' they occur AFTER possession has been established by the receiving team.

Hypothetical example: Pharoh Cooper catches a kickoff at his own 6 yard line. He returns it to his own 38. However, during his return, one of his teammates commits an illegal block in the back at the 27 yard line. So, according to the rules, the Rams begin the drive on their own 17-- i.e., 10 yards behind the spot of the foul. Right?

I have never seen the case where a penalty "during the return" is assessed from the spot where the returner CAUGHT the ball.

According to your reasoning, RFIP, in my (above) hypothetical example, the Rams "block in the back" penalty would be enforced at the point Cooper CAUGHT the ball-- ie., enforced at the 6, so the Rams take over at the 3. But I have NEVER seen a penalty during a kick return enforced in this manner.

The "offsetting penalty" situation makes it a bit more complicated. But I just wanted to establish that everyone is in agreement about what would happen if just ONE penalty were called on the receiving team.

Again, something just fundamentally does not make sense, but I'm looking forward to clarity at least about what the NFL's mistake is! I'm just trying to establish whether it's (a) Boger's mistake or (b) a flawed rule, and I haven't heard a definitive answer yet.