Change this damn rule!!!!

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Read an artcle in the paper this morning. Interview with John Mara (Giants owner) says that he fully expects to see this last-second timeout issue brought up to the Competition Committee this season for possible rule change.

The only reason I had the conversation with the assistant coach was he was right there in front of me while the head coach was still about 30 yards away. It was either deal with him right there, or run through him on my way to the head coach.

Also, I would like to add: As far as it becoming a technique to "stall" kickers, it's nice. As a former coach myself, I would have used it to that advantage. I just think the rule needs to be done away with because teams are getting into the mentality that once they yell timeout, it's supposed to be automatically given without regard to who yelled it.

[Warrenkicker]

I really don't see the issue and I was a kicker. The way I read the rule if the timeout is requested on any play by either team prior to the snap we are to shut it down. Working with the last 5 seconds of the play clock will never work at the high school level as whomever is to stop the clock must take his attention away from the play and first see who is calling the timeout, look at the play clock or the BJ, in states where they want BJ to signal the last 5 seconds, to determine if the call is allowable, then finally check back with the teams on the field to make sure the ball hasn't been snapped all the while hoping that there has not been any false starts or encroachments. And that is if the wing official in front of that sideline isn't under the goal posts.

One thing I saw in the Dallas/Buffalo game was after the timeout they showed a replay of the sideline and the Buffalo head coach was telling the wing official time out and then do it, do it, do it over and over before the official finally stopped the play. The official seem reluctant to stop things. At least the NFL will only allow the one timeout. At the college or high school level one team can call all of their timeouts one after another while trying to ice the kicker.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

The only reason I had the conversation with the assistant coach was he was right there in front of me while the head coach was still about 30 yards away. It was either deal with him right there, or run through him on my way to the head coach.

I would recommend in the future that you do exactly that. Walk around him and discuss the issue with the head coach. If he steps in your way on purpose, flag it.

[swkansasref33]

all you have to do as a wingman is act "deaf" on the play lol... should take care of all timeouts in this situation

That would be pretty easy for me. I can just turn off my hearing aid and be deaf! Shhhh!