Officiating video addresses punters as defenseless players

By Bill Bradley, contributing editor

In the video officiating review following the Week 15 games, NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino looked at these plays Friday:

• The rule makes the punter a defenseless player from the Cincinnati Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers game.

"We're going to use common sense here," Blandino said. "If he's in the process of making a tackle, he's not going to get protection as a defenseless player. It's not going to be a foul on the opponent."

• When the center can be legally covered on punts from the New York Jets-Carolina Panthers game.

• When replay can be used on punts from the Atlanta Falcons-Washington Redskins game involving fair catch interference.

• And a fair catch signal from a kickoff during the Bengals-Steelers game.