Expert: Thom Brooks - 12/4/2008

Question
Is it legal for a team to line up for a kick off and instead of kicking, pick up the ball and retreat to their own endzone for a safety. Also would the play clock start at the time the kicker picks up the ball? Or let's say it was after a safety and he punted the ball backwards thru his own endzone.

Answer
Walter, my previous answer stands.

The clock would not start until the R team touches the ball.  It prevents the K team from running the clock before the R team gets a chance to touch the ball.

If the K team punted the ball backwards after a Safety (from the 20 yard line) it would be a penalty and the clock would not start.  The R team would have the option of taking the ball at K's 20 yard line, unless a penalty brought it closer.

That would be pretty neat to watch!


Thom Brooks