Kicks/Fair Catch/Neutral Zone

[Curious]

Can any one tell me (or surmise) the reasoning behind the rulesmakers' decision to differentiate between a free kick and a scrimmage kick as to where a fair catch can be made?

6-5-2 reads: "It is a fair catch and the ball is dead if any receiver gives a valid fair catch signal...and he catches a free kick IN OR BEYOND THE NZ to R's goal line, or a scrimmage kick BEYOND THE NZ to R's goal line."

A subtle but significant difference....

[Ralph Damren]

The neutral zone is 10 yards wide for a free kick but only a football length for a scrimmage kick. The receiver should be afforded protection if he's signalling for a fair catch even if it is a "popup" in the neutral zone on a free kick.

[Curious]

The neutral zone is 10 yards wide for a free kick but only a football length for a scrimmage kick. The receiver should be afforded protection if he's signalling for a fair catch even if it is a "popup" in the neutral zone on a free kick.

What about 6.2.6?  Isn't the NZ on a scrimmage kick really 2yds plus the length of the football?  We certainly can have a "pop up" in that space...

[maven]

Ralph's got it.

Also, it's hard to officiate "in the neutral zone" when it's only 10 7/8 - 11 7/16 inches wide.

What about 6.2.6?  Isn't the NZ on a scrimmage kick really 2yds plus the length of the football?  We certainly can have a "pop up" in that space...

That's the expanded NZ, which 6-5-2 does not mention. The ENZ is relevant to blocking, not kicks or fair catches.

For example, K can recover and advance a kick if they recover it behind the NZ, not the ENZ. 6-2-3