Rule? - PR1 signals FC -PR2 catches ??

[Gumby]

In first half, KC had one guy call fair catch and a second Punt Returner catch and take off (trick killed by penalty though). WAS IT LEGAL?

Listening to the German (Ran football) guys and they raised the issue, but they didn't know the answer. Did Michaels / Collinsworth cover this of does someone else know the rule:

Does the fair catch signal count for the whole team or only the guy who waves his arm??

 

[Pats2000]

The whole team, you can't catch and run after someone signals fair catch

 

[QuantumMechanic]

The announcers specifically mentioned it. Once anyone on the receiving team signals a fair catch, the ball is dead once it is caught by the receiving team, no matter who catches it.

You could hear the whistles blowing the play dead as Thomas was running upfield.

 

[bigcountry75]

Anyone on the receiving team can signal for a fair catch and once the ball is caught it is dead. Only the player giving the fair catch signal is afforded protection though. You still can't interfere with the opportunity to catch the ball but for example last night when Thomas, since Hill signaled for the fair catch, caught the ball if he got hit right after he caught it then there would be no penalty.

 

[everlong]

It's too bad this is a rule. Bill could have used it against the Ravens and Harbaugh might not have made it.

 

[maineman209]

No "trick" there at all. Thomas - the guy who caught the punt and ran with it - was just being an idiot. No flag for that, either. If he'd continued to run the ball all the way back and spiked it in the EZ, he might've been flagged for delay of game or "unsportsmanlike", but that's about it.

 

[Gumby]

Thanks all. As i said i was watching with german audio and they raised the ?, then went on to something else. Couldnt hear the whistles either.