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Originally Posted by punch it in
I agree Sproles went low, but he beat the ball to Sproles in a big way. A punt returner looking up in the air is about as defenseless as it gets. You absolutely have to slow up once you realize the ball is not in his hands, and he did not even try. I know it is bang bang but you normally do not see that because guys realize that they have not fielded the punt a good 3 or 4 steps away. Everette never even thought about letting up.
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I don't agree. It's just as much the returnees responsibility to protect himself by calling fair catch.
Brian Mitchell and Crowder both said the same thing. They have pretty good resume as returners.
Mitchell said if you are running UP to catch a punt, you have to protect yourself. He said if this would of been a routine punt with hang time, then he would shoulder more blame on Everett, but Everett was just playing football and did what he's supposed to.
He also said you are not totally defenseless as a returner because the league gives you a get out of jail free card with fair catching.
Bottom Line. It was a penalty by the book, but Sproles running up to field the punt in traffic and kneeling to receive it. He should of called fair catch.