Like so many NFL fans, Seahawks punter Michael Dickson had no idea he could legally double-punt
What a play either way!
It was the play that blew the minds of NFL fans everywhere: The DOUBLE PUNT, in which the Seattle Seahawks’ Michael Dickson had a kick blocked and then had the awareness to scoop it up and punt again.
It was initially ruled an illegal move … but the refs picked up their flags when they realized it was legal to punt a second time if the player was behind the line of scrimmage.
But here’s the, er, kicker: Dickson also had no idea that double-kicking was legal!
Here’s what the former Aussie Rules player told the News Tribune after one of the greatest punts in NFL history:
“I didn’t know the rules about double-kicking,” Dickson said, echoing just about everyone who was watching and not believing what they were seeing. “I just had always thought if it even gets blocked behind the line of scrimmage and I can’t advance it, I was going to do some Aussie Rules stuff and try to hit it, punt it down the field and do whatever I can.
“That was always in the back of my mind. And then I had the opportunity. And I just did it.”
The brilliance here is Dickson thought that if it WAS illegal, it would have been better than dealing with a blocked kick that would have given the Los Angeles Rams terrific field position. So either way, it was the perfect play and kudos to Dickson for having that kind of awareness.
Michael Dickson told me: "It was just bodies everywhere. I was like, ‘I’m just going to re-kick it, and then if they make by re-kick it that’s better than getting a block.
"I cut back and was ready to get, like, smoked. But no one was around, so I got the kick off pretty clean.” https://t.co/3i6t8ogiPU
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) October 8, 2021