New York Giants mailbag: Kickoff rule, Rasul Douglas interception, more

Lou Catalano asks: Could you please explain the rule concerning kickoffs going out of bounds? In the Giants/Washington game, the ball bounced in bounds, the returner stepped out of bounds, then caught the ball while his knee was touching the ground in bounds. What ever happpened to the old John Madden maxim that one knee equals two feet?

Ed says: Lou, you weren’t the only confused by this. The rulebook says:

“A ball that is in player possession is out of bounds when the runner is out of bounds.”

On kickoffs, this is a bit of a loophole. Credit Luke McCaffrey of the Commanders for knowing the rule and making a great play. If you plant your feet out of bounds, then touch a ball that is inbounds,…