The penalty NEVER called.

[Azrael]

Sure you've seen the "offensive interference" called here or there and even the infamous "leaping" penalty but I have never heard of or seen "Aiding the Runner" called.

This is a real penalty in which another teammate helps the player with the ball advance the ball by pulling or pushing him to make forward progress. I've seen this called on my HS team one time.

This is a blatant penalty that happens probably in every game every week. You'll see the running back striving for a first down with several defenders trying to push him backwards and he'll have 1 or 2 of his own lineman pushing him the other way.

I saw this happen today when Kevin Jones was being held up by a GB defender and one of his lineman came up behind him and shoved him forward for about 5 yards.

[Mercer Boy]

Ah, I didn't know that was illegal! I do see that a lot. That is perfectly legal in rugby, but I guess it's not in football. They should definitely call that a penalty then.

[KingGhidra]

I notice this all the team and wonder why refs don't call this. Maybe they can make it a point of emphasis in the off-season and we can debate how it will affect fantasy scoring incessantly.

[Turnip]

Remember Willie McGinest and Gay for the Pats last week? I would guess that would be the penalty

[Free Bagel]

Are you sure this is a rule in the NFL too and not just high school? I get mixed up sometimes with some college rules that I think translate to the NFL and vice versa.

[Go Blue]

I believe it is an NFL rule but it is called very loosely. Basically, it would apply to blatant carrying or pulling of a player. If there is a pile and the blocker pushes the runner forward through the pile it would never be called. The blocker would basically have to pick him up and carry him for it to be a penalty.

[CC]

I remember watching a college game a few years ago where the RB got stood up and stunned at the goal-line, the FB ran up and just bowled him into the endzone and they called this penalty.

[eaglesrule]

it is a penalty. I think they call it less when there is a defender between the two. so if the ballcarrier has a defender on him, and someone pushes the defender, it seems like they won't call it.