Yo, LJ - There's a referendum on the upcoming ballot in Maine to outlaw bear traps. So I'll go easy....
2-28-1 : "For a free kick down , the neutral zone is 10 yards wide......"
2-28-2 : "The neutral zone may be expanded following the snap up to a maximum of 2 yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage, IN THE FIELD OF PLAY, during any scrimmage down."
2-26-3 : "The goal line is the vertical plane which separates THE FIELD OF PLAY from the end zone."
Several years ago ,a rule was passed stating the neutral zone on a free-kick couldn't extend into the end zone.
Shortly after it's passage, the notorious "What If
Gang" went to work with this "what if":
.......... Mere seconds to go in the game with K leading by 2... ball is at K's 1, 4th & whatever....K's punt goes straight up and is fair caught by R @ K's 2....R's crafty ole' coach, Iron Nuts McGill, sends in Hans, a Yugoslavian soccer star, to free kick the winning field goal.......K's just as crafty coach, Mellon Head Smith, had suited up 7'2" Kangaroo Jones for just such an occasion.....Hans tees the ball up directly in front of the goal post at the 2 .........Kangaroo Jones lines up directly in front of the ball AT THE GOAL LINE... as Hans approached the ball, Kangaroo began to jump (his long arms and vertical leap brought his hands to 12' above the field....the story would not have had a happy ending for Hans
.....
We of the rules committee, quickly realized that had not been a good change
The change was quickly reciended
....And now you know the rest of the story
...................