On a punted ball, as long as you do not step into the end zone, the ball can be batted out. But, on a touchdown only the ball has to cross the line to be a touchdown. This is a counterdiction in rules of crossing the line.
2006-12-11 13:51:51 · 4 answers · asked by Don T 1 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
No, it is not a contradiction, for the difference pertains to ball POSSESSION. When batting a punt, you're surrendering possession of the ball and merely trying to pin the opponent deep. On scoring a touchdown, one merely has to be in POSSESSION of the ball when it breaks the plane for it to be a TD. If a punted ball crosses the line, you're STILL surrendering possession by TOUCHBACK, so batting the ball gives the kicking team an opportunity to at least salvage field position. If a body part had to break the plane of the goal line for a TD, then the field couldn't be said to be 100 yards long, could it? Of course not!
2006-12-12 03:32:04 · answer #1 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, first of all, it cant be a contradiction to the rules if those are the nfl rules. secondly as nfl rules go, the benifit of the doubt is pretty much always given to the team with the ball, in the case of scoring touchdowns, it makes it easier to score if u odnt have to touch. for punting it gives the punting team an extra weapon on the punt. btw, the bears are still winning
2006-12-11 22:06:34 · answer #2 · answered by Kyle F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The NFL has different rules for different situations, and the rules after the ball has been punted but before it has been caught by a member of either team are different from the rules for normal offensive plays. The rules change when a team establishes possession of the football, either by catching it and running with it or downing it.
2006-12-11 22:44:51 · answer #3 · answered by Keiron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On a punt the player can go into the end zone to keep the ball from going in there.
2006-12-12 04:37:07 · answer #4 · answered by Louis K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋