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Other players can, however, go out of bounds and return to the field of play to make a legal tackle on a ball carrier - so long as they have established themselves as being in bounds before making the tackle (at least two full steps in bounds). Why would a player deliberately run up the field out of bounds? Probably because it is illegal to tackle or block a player who is out of bounds so players who are covering a kickoff return can get upfield quickly without worrying about other players getting in the way. So long as they take at least two steps inbounds before making a tackle, they are good to go.

This rule has gotten out of hand on kicks.

Gunners are now deliberatly stepping out of bounds so they can have a clear run down the sidelines. Notice how many touching penalties you're seeing on kicks this year?

Personally, I think once a player steps out of bounds (forced or not) they should be out for the rest of the play. That would probably shift some advantage to the receiving team, but the NFL is built on exciting plays, and noting is more exciting than a long kick return.

I agree with you on this. I was just stating the rules as they appear to exist today. If I was running the NFL, I would consider any player deliberately running out of bounds to be disqualified from participating in the current play.

Obviously an exception need to be made for the player who is forced out of bounds.

How's this for an alternative approach? . . .

The NFL should adopt another set of hash marks outside the existing ones -- maybe 7-10 yards inside the sideline. No player should be permitted to line up outside those hash marks at the start of a play. This would drastically reduce both intentional and unintentional trips outside the field of play for these players who line up so wide on punts.