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In Appreciation of the Double Punt
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Seems like every Seattle Seahawks game features at least one crazy sequence. Or multiple crazy sequences. Last night we had Geno Smith looking like the 2012 Orange Bowl version of Geno Smith.
And in the third quarter, we had one of the most random things you will ever see. A double punt:
As long as the ball never passes the line of scrimmage, multiple punt attempts are allowed.
There is no penalty on this play 🙅🏼♂️ #DoublePunt #Wtf #NFLRefs pic.twitter.com/Cm0uGuPpV8
— Referees (@TweetingRefs) October 8, 2021
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman obviously got that one wrong. You are, indeed, allowed to kick the ball again as long as it doesn’t cross the line of scrimmage.
From rule 9, section 1 of the NFL’s 2021 Rulebook:
“A second kick from behind the line of scrimmage is legal provided the ball has not crossed the line.”
You’re only penalized if the ball crosses over the line of scrimmage, then it bounces BACK TO YOU and you kick it again. That’s a 10-yard penalty and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that called in my 37 years on the Planet Earth. It’s uber-rare.
But yeah, in this case, the punt is blocked, Michael Dickson impressively pulls off the one-hand scoop, and then boots the ball all the way down to the ten yard line.
All hail the double punt.
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com