Fair Catch Protection

[camoref]

Still learning fair catch protection so I've got 2 Scenarios....

1st scenario. K punts and R1 has signaled fair catch. The ball hits a K player (not a KCI situation because R1 is now backing away to let the ball roll) and R1 picks it up and runs. Is R1 still protected therefore can't advance the ball and the play becomes dead once R1 gains possession?

2nd scenario
K punts and R1 has signaled fair catch.  Now R1 muffs the ball and R2 picks it up. The play is dead when R2 picks it up correct?

Question:
Once R signals fair catch is there ever a situation where they are not awarded fair catch protection?

Thanks for the input and great site.

[bossman72]

You are correct on both counts.  R may not advance once a legal or illegal FC signal has been given.  They may take the ball at the spot of first touching in your first example.

The only way if R signals for FC and is not given protection is if he is behind the neutral zone.  I remember reading a case book play, but I believe the FC signal is ignored all together in that case and treated as if he had never signaled in the first place.

[FBUmp]

The ball becomes dead in both situations when R recovers the ball.

A receiver is provided fair catch protection when he signals and catches the ball.  If he were to muff it or fumble it, he can be contacted by K in their effort to get the ball.

In other situations where a signal is given and the ball not caught, the ball is dead when R recovers it so that K is not placed at a disadvantage by the signal.

[bama_stripes]

If he were to muff it or fumble it, he can be contacted by K in their effort to get the ball.

Not on a fumble, since the ball becomes dead immediately on possession by either team.

[FBUmp]

Not on a fumble, since the ball becomes dead immediately on possession by either team.

Understood...a poor choice of words on my part.

[AFSST]

You are correct on both counts.  R may not advance once a legal or illegal FC signal has been given. 

R may not advance once a legal or invalid fair catch has been given by any R player (6-5-5)

R may still advance after an illegal fair catch signal has been given by the runner, but that foul can be enforced under all-but-one.  Any FC signal given by an R player other than the runner after the catch has ended is disregarded and is not a foul.

[bossman72]

R may not advance once a legal or invalid fair catch has been given by any R player (6-5-5)

R may still advance after an illegal fair catch signal has been given by the runner, but that foul can be enforced under all-but-one.  Any FC signal given by an R player other than the runner after the catch has ended is disregarded and is not a foul.

Thanks for the verbiage correction.  I should have said "valid or invalid" instead of "legal or illegal"