[VRWCmember]

That does Not however answer the question of what was the dolphins player doing that far out of bounds on a play like that.

He was breaking the rules and committing what should have been a 15 yard penalty, that's what he was doing.

[rollo tomasi]

When opening lanes on punt/kick-off coverages, DB's are trained to push/force the gunners out of bounds and protect the boundary (I.E. keep them outside since the gunners get to the returner first). Punt/Return coverages are usually a 2-on-1 affair with the gunners, who are usually pushed/forced out-of-bounds, getting tag teamed. There is only a penalty when the person who is pushed/forced out touches the ball first.

Any offensive/defensive player can go out of bounds (Without the ball), but once back on the playing field cannot be the first player to touch the ball.



On the play, the Dolphins' gunner was forced out-of-bounds and tried to accelerated ahead of the double team (Which is legal) thus being tripped by the Jets' coached (Who admitted it).