Gimmick play question

[Fencer]

Actually, just answered my own question. Rule states that the gunner is allowed to be blocked by the defense all the way down the field. However, if any other player goes out into the pattern then that is a normal pass play and interference can be called.

How is that defined in the rules, given that there's no actual punt?

Do they just say that it appears to be a punt formation, or are they more precise?

 

[Fencer]

Why did the Pats stop running the halfback option w/ Faulk? Did they just stop using him on the kinds of rushing plays where the option would make sense? I certainly don't recall him being used on very many sweep/stretch types of plays recently.

Another possibility is that he has some lingering injury of a sort that messes up throwing mechanics a bit, but isn't serious enough to interfere with his rushing, blocking, or receiving tasks.