Touchy-Touchy
 

Receiver makes a great catch, plus 40 yard gain. After the D was off of him he jumped up off the ground in excitement (1 jump) and hit the D back field Ref (sorry I don't know correct position names). The Ref threw his flag for (I think) celebration. IMO this was a bad call. The Ref was coming in to spot the ball, the players back was to the Ref, and it was 1 jump. Any opinions?

Hard to say if this was the right call or not. Perhaps the receiver said something or did something extra that earned him the flag. Perhaps the BJ, D backfield ref, just got his nose in too far and after being hit decided that deserved a flag.

Officials should not get themselves too close to players during or just after plays. It cuts down on what we can see and increases the likelihood of being contacted inadvertently by the players.

If you are looking for agreement that this was a bad call this is not the place.

Your description however well intended is not the description of the official on the field and only he can tell us why he made the call.

To that let me add this, sometimes officials will silently warn a player, not a truly recommended procedure as it is fraught with gotchas, but it can be used effectively to control players. We do not know if that preceded this flag. Nor, do we know hoe controlled or uncontrolled the player's action was.

Bottom line, the call is the call.