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Football Officiating => National Football League => Topic started by: will27 on July 30, 2014, 07:27:35 PM

Title: Illegal Return
Post by: will27 on July 30, 2014, 07:27:35 PM

What the heck is this?

Title: Re: Illegal Return
Post by: Rulesman on July 30, 2014, 07:32:52 PM

Can you be just a tad bit more specific?

Title: Re: Illegal Return
Post by: will27 on July 30, 2014, 09:09:58 PM

I saw it referenced in The Illustrated NFL Playbook, in the Rules section which was written by Norm Schachter.
It was listed in the summary of (5 yard) penalties.

Couldn't figure it out.
A few brief mentions on the Web, but nothing more descriptive.

Title: Re: Illegal Return
Post by: Kalle on July 31, 2014, 01:43:38 AM

"For illegal return of a suspended player: Loss of five yards from the previous spot if discovery is made while the ball is in play, or five yards from the succeeding spot if discovered between downs, in which case the ball remains dead."

Title: Re: Illegal Return
Post by: Rulesman on July 31, 2014, 07:50:59 AM

Quote from: will27 on July 30, 2014, 09:09:58 PM

I saw it referenced in The Illustrated NFL Playbook, in the Rules section which was written by Norm Schachter.

Norm Schachter has been dead for 10 years come this October.

Title: Re: Illegal Return
Post by: will27 on August 01, 2014, 03:57:05 PM

Illustrated Playbook was a booklet published by the NFL throughout the 80's (I had the 1988 edition); Sid Gillman and Bill Walsh also
wrote chapters.

What I think he was referring to is when a player signals for a fair catch and then runs with the ball.
It's a 5 yard delay of game penalty.

Title: Re: Illegal Return
Post by: Rulesman on August 01, 2014, 04:22:51 PM

I would not put a whole lot of stock into a book that was written 20-25 years ago. Lots of rules have changed.