Not really true, I think anyone on the offense can do a pooch punt. Both Brady and Roethlisberger have done it and neither has the punter position. If a non-punter punts, it’s usually a QB because it’s supposed to be a surprise and the defense is less likely to suspect hijinx when a ball’s being snapped to the QB but really anyone behind the line of scrimmage can do it.
That’s an aspect of gridiron football rarely seen and often forgotten.
Good point, and the “quick kick” used to be a staple of Randall Cunningham’s game, too. But, as you note, it’s still a play that’s a punt, just executed by a player who isn’t the team’s normal punter, and not from the traditional punting formation.
So, I should clarify: in American football, the only times that a player can legally kick the ball are:
In the NFL, those plays are almost always handled by specialists (the kicker and the punter), but there is no rule disallowing other players from acting in those roles.
That’s very true, and I’d forgotten that there are now a couple Australians playing other positions in the NFL, including Jordan Mailata, who’s an offensive tackle for the Eagles, and was their first round draft choice this year, despite never having played American football. There’s also Broncos defensive end Adam Gotsis, who played American football in Australia as well as collegiately at Georgia Tech.
Also, there was Jarryd Hayne, a rugby player who played as a running back and punt returner for the 49ers in 2015, before returning to rugby.
Oh, and it’s doing pretty well in London/UK, especially the Jacksonville Jaguars (someone has to like them).
The Jaguars were great last year.
That was an anomaly.