Rulebook question: Cribbs muffed punt

AndyJohnson said:

The rule does not limit in any way the defenses right to go after the ball, it just limits their right to interfere with interference with his opportunity to make the catch, which clearly was not something that happened on this play. The rule is there so you do not hit a fair catcher if he bobbles.

Click to expand...

Either:

1. You think that the defense has an equal right to the ball, ala' the case of pass defense/pass interference or ...

2. ... you were being a bit sloppy in your reasoning.

It's #1, isn't it?

Fencer said:

Either:

1. You think that the defense has an equal right to the ball, ala' the case of pass defense/pass interference or ...

2. ... you were being a bit sloppy in your reasoning.

It's #1, isn't it?

Click to expand...

The rule states that they may not interfere with his right to make the catch. It does not say they cannot touch the ball until it hits the ground, or in this case, catch it when it ricochets into their arms.
Fleming was not interfering with Cribbs catching the punt, he was catching the ball that bounced off his face.

AndyJohnson said:

The rule states that they may not interfere with his right to make the catch. It does not say they cannot touch the ball until it hits the ground, or in this case, catch it when it ricochets into their arms.
Fleming was not interfering with Cribbs catching the punt, he was catching the ball that bounced off his face.

Click to expand...

Do the pass interference rules use similar language, or are they more explicit about the defender's right to go for the ball?

Fencer said:

Do the pass interference rules use similar language, or are they more explicit about the defender's right to go for the ball?

Click to expand...

They are totally different. The defense can intercept a pass, or you know, defend it.
You cannot defend a fair catch or intercept a punt (well you can but that makes it a dead ball and you don't get possession) but you can recover a fumble.

AndyJohnson said:

They are totally different. The defense can intercept a pass, or you know, defend it.
You cannot defend a fair catch or intercept a punt (well you can but that makes it a dead ball and you don't get possession) but you can recover a fumble.

Click to expand...

In other words, you don't know whether you're interpreting the rulebook correctly. I don't know either.

Fencer said:

In other words, you don't know whether you're interpreting the rulebook correctly. I don't know either.

Click to expand...

No. I know I can read the rule and understand it correctly. Catching a ricochet off a fair catching punt returner is not interfering with his ability to catch the ball.

Still confused............