Offensive Linemen Pointing

[Spence]

I'm a basketball official but still get asked football questions for some reason.

Offense comes to the line and the offensive linemen start doing some sort of counting/pointing - all of them do this -very demonstrative - been doing it for decades for this team.

I was asked if :

a)it would be offsides if when pointing their hand actually extended past the LOS

and

b)if their hand did cross over and a defender reached out and made contact what would the call be.

[jemiller]

If the team is set on their LOS properly, they should be able to point without going over the neutral zone. If they are playing patty cake with the defensive lineman I would think that both are in the neutral zone, or they have arms like King Kong. First one in gets the violation. IMHO. We would of course be talking to them well before getting that close to the LOS.

[GoodwillRef]

How does pointing at a defender give the offense an advantage or put the defense at a disadvantage? Don't go looking for trouble!

[Welpe]

I have nothing in the first scenario and a possible "knock it off!" in the second.

[MRH]

I believe the 'ole saying "Don't sweat the small stuff" would be an appropriate answer!

[JugglingReferee]

Someone years ago on the basketball side said "don't go looking for mucous hanging off of someone's nose".

[bisonlj]

Don't go shooting skinny rabbits

Don't trouble trouble

[mbyron]

Don't be a plumber.

Don't be a pioneer.

[Welpe]

Don't pick fly poop out of pepper.

Don't stomp out a flaming bag on your front step.