PromoTheRobot Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 (edited) High school team wins with little known rule. Apparently this rule applies in the NFL as well. Right after you fair catch a punt, you have the option of a free kick field goal, with a holder or off a tee. So basically it's like a kickoff but if you get it through the goal posts its 3 points. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kCBBUMnRqbo#! It didn't work so hot for the Cards but I hope Chan keeps this one in his back pocket. I could see Lindell nailing a 60+ yarder off a tee with the RWS late season wind at his back. PTR Edited October 25, 2011 by PromoTheRobot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincec Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Madden used to talk about this all the time during his broadcasts... about how he was always waiting for the right opportunity to do this at the end of a game or a half. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erynthered Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 A little different, but Flutie did a drop kick for a field goal..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Jsz-fSNd4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DANCOCK Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 i guess im slow, how is it a free kick??? do you retain possession if the kick is missed? then i can see why its a "free kick". but if you dont retain possession i dont see how its a free kick, its basically kicking a field goal on 1st and 10.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Miner Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 i guess im slow, how is it a free kick??? do you retain possession if the kick is missed? then i can see why its a "free kick". but if you dont retain possession i dont see how its a free kick, its basically kicking a field goal on 1st and 10.. Without a ton of knowledge on the rule, I'd guess the free part is it being your choice to kick it off the field or off a tee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincec Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 i guess im slow, how is it a free kick??? do you retain possession if the kick is missed? then i can see why its a "free kick". but if you dont retain possession i dont see how its a free kick, its basically kicking a field goal on 1st and 10.. I think it's free as in without somebody trying to block it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 High school team wins with little known rule. Apparently this rule applies in the NFL as well. Right after you fair catch a punt, you have the option of a free kick field goal, with a holder or off a tee. So basically it's like a kickoff but if you get it through the goal posts its 3 points. youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kCBBUMnRqbo#! It didn't work so hot for the Cards but I hope Chan keeps this one in his back pocket. I could see Lindell nailing a 60+ yarder off a tee with the RWS late season wind at his back. PTR 'Zackly. We're trailing by 2 and hold the opponent on 3rd down deep in their territory. They punt into the December winds with 2 seconds to play. Bills fair catch it inside the 50. On comes Lindell with his tee.. Victory in regulation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 Without a ton of knowledge on the rule, I'd guess the free part is it being your choice to kick it off the field or off a tee. The "free" part is that you kick with no defenders rushing you. Use a tee or a holder and take your time, run up as far as you like. Hit or miss, the other team gets the ball. In fact opposing teams often have a return man waiting just in case. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HalftimeAdjustment Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 If this link is correct, the last time it was successfully used in the NFL was against... the Buffalo Bills. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt in KC Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Wikipedia entry with more info on the free kick including every time it has been used in the NFL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick And more here: http://www.aolnews.com/2008/11/23/what-in-the-world-is-a-free-kick/ Basically, the difference between a free kick and a field goal is that it has to be after a fair catch, there is no snap, the defense has to be 10 yards back of the attempt, the kicker cannot use a tee, and the team can still kick it even if time expired on the fair catch (?). If that last rule is true, it seems like you would have seen one of these used since 1968, the last time someone knocked it in successfully. Rackers didn't. And video of Rackers trying it in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCBBUMnRqbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 If this link is correct, the last time it was successfully used in the NFL was against... the Buffalo Bills. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick I remember seeing the Niners try one. Must have been the one in 1989 referred to on the list. A kick like this is very improbable; it's rare that you would successfully fair catch a ball at a point on the field where you make a successful FG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cash Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Remember that you can only use a tee in high school. In the NFL, tees are only allowed on the kickoff. Free kicks (including kicks following safeties) can use a holder, or the player can punt or drop kick it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Well, we certainly have the personnel to do the fair catch part well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 It's free because no one can rush and attempt to block, I believe even if there's no time left on the clock, but you call for a fiar catch, you can still attempt the kick. So with three seconds left, the other team punts, you call a fair catch, the clock has run out, but you can still kick it. I seen it used one time maybe 35 years ago by the Giants. (don't recall if they made the kick) Typcially would only work if the other team punts from deep in their own territory and it's not a great punt. I think the othe rteam can run it back so that's the one down side of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justnzane Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 (edited) If this link is correct, the last time it was successfully used in the NFL was against... the Buffalo Bills. http://en.wikipedia....Fair_catch_kick Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons, September 20, 1999.[33]Wane McGarity fair caught a punt on the Atlanta 47 with no time left in the first half. Dallas coach Chan Gailey knew of the rule, and had specifically instructed McGarity to fair catch the punt if it was inside the 50, but Gailey forgot that he would be able to attempt the kick with no time left on the clock. Instead, the Cowboys went to the locker room. Edited October 25, 2011 by justnzane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 Dallas Cowboys vs. Atlanta Falcons, September 20, 1999.[33]Wane McGarity fair caught a punt on the Atlanta 47 with no time left in the first half. Dallas coach Chan Gailey knew of the rule, and had specifically instructed McGarity to fair catch the punt if it was inside the 50, but Gailey forgot that he would be able to attempt the kick with no time left on the clock. Instead, the Cowboys went to the locker room. I'm betting Chan doesn't make that mistake twice. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 If this link is correct, the last time it was successfully used in the NFL was against... the Buffalo Bills. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick It figures .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1B4IDie Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 The "free" part is that you kick with no defenders rushing you. Use a tee or a holder and take your time, run up as far as you like. Hit or miss, the other team gets the ball. In fact opposing teams often have a return man waiting just in case. PTR You can't use a Tee for a Free Kick in the NFL or College or you would see it much more often. Especially as I've seen many kicks through the uprights off a tee this year, since the kickoff was moved up 5 yards. Basically you need a perfect storm of less than 20 seconds no tiemouts and a short punt from behind the 10. Otherwise it makes more sense to take a couple offensive plays and see if you can get a TD. If you could use a tee, that would change the storm a LOT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Jose Bills Fan Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Free kick for 3 points… If it costs 3 points, why is it considered free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 (edited) Technically, I think a "free kick" is one where either team can recover it after it goes 10 yards - - i.e., after 10 yards, either team is free to grab it and try to advance it, resulting in offensive possession for the next play from scrimmage. In any event, the official 2010 NFL rulebook describes a "fair catch kick" as a type of field goal, and specifically states that it is not a "free kick." See Rule 11, Section 4, article 3 near the bottom of page 72 here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_uI2zLhGzaRMWMyZjkzYjUtZjRiYy00MTU5LWE5OWQtMjc1ZDEzNTFlM2E4&hl=en_US Among other things, it states: "Note: A fair-catch kick is not a free kick. The kicking team cannot get the ball unless it has first been touched or possessed by the receivers." Edited October 25, 2011 by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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