Double fouls

[sj]

This may have been brought up at some time but...

Should a coach have the option of declining a penalty in a live ball/double foul/offsetting situation?

Here's a play....

A's ball 3rd and 5 from the A-15 yard line (85 yards to go). A1 takes of on a long run and is at the B-15 yard line when A2 commits a block in the back at the B-20 yard line. Almost immediately after this B1 commits a facemask foul on A2. A1 scores.

So we have two live ball fouls on opposing teams. They offset and replay the down. By rule it will be 3rd and 5 for A on the B-15 yard line again.

But if coach A could decline the facemask penalty on B you are left with only one penalty to enforce and it would be Team A's ball, 1st and 10 from the B-30 yard line. In this case that is a difference of 55 yards of field position as well as the getting a new series of downs.

Team B has gained a huge advantage as a result of their foul. Should a coach have the option to decline a penalty in this type of situation? NF and NCAA.

[grantsrc]

I see your point but both books specifically states that the down is replayed and the penalties offset.

[sj]

I understand. To put the question another way.... should a rule be changed so the coaches have the options of declining penalties in these situations?

[Theisey]

As an official, I could care less. But if I were a coach, I could go for a change to support my teams yardage gain prior to committing a foul.

We already have the clean hands exception to the double foul rule, so one could say a coach might have an argument for another exception if of course if benefits his team.

[MJT]

The NFL has a 5 vs 15 rule which I really like. If one team has one 15 yard penalty, and the other has one or more penalties that are only 5 yarders, ONLY the 15 yard penalty is enforced. A little different than what you are saying, but somewhat similar.