Monday, December 3rd, 2007...1:19 am by Lee Gibbons
The Timeout Rule
For those curious - here is the actual rule regarding consecutive timeouts:
Section 5 Timeouts
Item 4: Unsportsmanlike Conduct. An attempt to call an excess team timeout or to
call a second timeout in the same dead-ball period by Team B in an attempt to “freeze”
a kicker, will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct and will subject the offending
team to a 15-yard penalty (See 12-3). This will apply to field goal or Try attempts.
Note: If an attempt is made to call a timeout in such situations, the officials shall not grant a
timeout; instead, play will continue, and a penalty will be called, with customary enforcement.
If a timeout is inadvertently granted, the penalty shall also be enforced. See 12-3-1-v.
And 12-3-1 discusses when unsportsmanlike penalties would be called:
Freezing the Kicker
( v) An attempt to call an excess or illegal time out to freeze a kicker prior to a field-goal
attempt or a Try attempt, when:
( i) a team has already been charged a time out during the same dead ball period;
or
( ii) a team has exhausted the three charged team time outs that are permitted in a
half.
If an attempt is made to call a time out in these situations, the officials shall not grant a time
out, play will continue, and a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be enforced. If a
time out is inadvertently granted, the penalty shall also be enforced.
Note: The Referee (or another official) will notify the Head Coach (i) that two charged time outs
by the same team in the same dead ball period are not permitted, and (ii) when he has
exhausted his three charged team time outs in a half.
So as well know it was a correct call. In fact, the Redskins caught a mini-break in that the play where the penalty was called should have been allowed to run (a free play). Either way its listed twice in the rule book so you’d expect the coach to know the rule.
5 Comments
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:05 am
An unfortunate ending to a tuff game/week. In a way things seem to be kind of falling apart around gibbs.
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:49 am
Seem? They have been falling apart since he is letting others do his job. Sorry the ole’ ball coach job rating is poor. He can’t get people ready to play, and he can’t keep the game in control. Whether Al Saunder’s or William’s fault for on field work, if its broke, Gibbs is paid to fix it.
Other thing. Clinton Portis should be suspended a game for the cheap shot he put on a play. I’ve lost all respect for that guy.
December 4th, 2007 at 1:53 am
If Gibbs messed up like that in Japan, they’d call for seppuku. Time for Joe to hang up the whistle for good.
December 4th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I need to know what year this timeout / unsportsman like conduct freezing the kicker rule was initiated. Is there a web site out there that has that info? I can’t seem to find it. There is a bet riding on this one!
GOD BLESS SEAN TAYLOR!
December 8th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
I don’t know, but I remember one time a team was down like 29-28, with the PAT coming up. They attempted two, but let the play clock run out so they got a 5 yard penalty (this was to see if they could draw the other team offsides). Then they attempted this again. And got 2 penalties. Mind you, that the ball was at the 7. So in addition to the 5 yard delay, they got a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for trying to draw the other team offsides again! So now the ball was at the 27, and it would be a 45 yd EXTRA POINT ATTEMPT. And the PAT was no good. The coach was red hot furious at this one!
I’m not sure, but I think this was the same team and same coach!
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