Football question re: kickoffs

5thScaleRacer

I haver a question:

What is the point of "fair catching" a kickoff in the endzone?

I do not see the benefit of it to the catching team. Why not just let the ball drop or let it roll out of bounds or out of the endzone? Either way, the ball will be brought out to the 20 yard line right?

However, if you try to fair catch it, but accidently let it drop out of your hands, then the kicking team now has a chance to recover the ball and score a touchdown!

Am I missing something here?

yawie99

If the ball were to take a funny hop, the kicking team could recover it as if it were just a really long onside kick. I'd rather take my chances with a sure-handed return man than with the possibly funky bounce of the pigskin.

5thScaleRacer

You mean the kicking team can recover the ball in the endzone (our in the case of a funny hop, outside the endzone) even if nobody on the receiving team touches the ball?

yawie99

Yeah, unlike a punt, it's a live ball even if the receiving team doesn't touch it.

5thScaleRacer

oh...never knew that, thanks

yawie99

I'm pretty sure I've seen return men at at least the college level fail to realize that too. Surely they know the rule, but I guess brain farts can happen under such circumstances.