Punt Return Options (coaches, fan, man, ball)

[Monsieur Boston]

Hey there...not a football fan here, not that I don't like it I just don't watch enough to know "everything".

So on the Giant's last punt, the ball hit the knee of a 49'er, was picked up by the Giants and became Giant's ball.

My question is, what was the reason for the 49'ers not trying to catch and return the ball?

What are the other punt return options and what is the benefit?

Thanks (sorry if it's a basic question...I'm a baseball fan and don't watch a lot of football)

[McGowdog]

Well... if the guy thought he could fair catch it and be standing on the 20 yard line or further up the field, then it's a good fair catch. If he gets pinned in at the 10 yard line and fair catches it... it's better than being stuck on the 2 yard line to start a drive.

But if he lets the ball go and bounce into the endzone, it's a touchback and the 9ers get the ball out at the 20. Sometimes, a player will be standing on the 10 or so and fake like they are going to fair catch the ball and that it's coming to them... when in fact the ball isn't even close to them and they are hoping the defenders don't go after the ball and down it deep before it crosses the goal line for the touchback.

[mco65]

He was simply inexperienced. The ball actually bounced around the 40 or so.. once it bounced, coaches say, let it go, get away, don't let it touch you. He started to pick it up off the bounce then remember what the coaches said.. and tried to let it go.. unfortunately for him, it took a bad hop and brushed against his leg.. Giants ball. That was not as bad as the fumble in OT which happens but for both of those things to happen to that one guy makes him the goat..

[Trackwatch]

Once it touched to 49ers player it became the 49er's ball, since he didn't retain possession it was a "fumble" and available to either team.

This is why any time the receiving team can't make a clear catch they will avoid it like it was infected with the plague.

[manderly6]

He almost certaily should have made a fair catch. Even if it didn't hit him they would have lost a lot of field position. I don't know if he out of position or what, but I would imagine a more experienced return man would have made that play.

[IXCell]

Do you think Ted Ginn, Jr has ever been missed more in his life?