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So, 1st and 10 on the 20. Defense jumps across the neutral zone and makes contact. You signal the foul.
Then you waste time finding a captain (they've already rehuddled and are more interested in getting the new play from the sideline, so you have to holler a couple of times before you get one). "Captain - you can accept the penalty and have 1st and 5 on the 25, or decline and have 1st and 10 from the 20. Which would you like?" (And yes, this is EXACTLY what the guy I was mentioning above would do, and I couldn't break him of the habit)
Do you flag the captain for USC after he gives you the "You're an idiot" look? This is not just silly, it's a waste of time for EVERYONE at the game.
I agree with asking the captain when there is an actual decision to be made (1st and 5 vs 2nd and 1... or 2nd and 20 vs 3rd and 10, etc). But when one option is clearly the "only" real option, don't ask. Signal it, walk it, signal it, start the clock.
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"Many baseball fans look upon an umpire as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile." - Hall of Fame Pitcher Christy Mathewson
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