Should refs help prevent penalties?

[Mr. Scot]

Last night, one of the refs helped Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower avoid a penalty on the final game-deciding kick by telling him he was lined up too close to the long snapper.

Jets-Pats finish includes another controversial field goal try

In response to questions, the NFL says this is 'standard procedure'.

NFL calls official moving Hightower standard procedure

As mentioned in the first article, the Patriots lost a game last year because of this very penalty, so apparently it wasn't 'standard' back then.

I'd add that I can't ever remember a case of a ref walking up to a Panthers player and saying something like "You're lined up offsides. You might wanna back up a little bit."

So is this something you think the refs ought to do, or if they see someone about to screw up should they just let it happen a and throw the flag?

[JccOldTime23]

I wonder if any team besides New England has this happen...

[thefuzz]

Not their job.

 

Should have let the play happen, and throw the flag.

[Jangler]

I'm still wondering how penalties get called on the Pats at all. pretty sure the NFL shield is really nothing but Pats spl00ge.

[SZ James (banned)]

Yes, this happens all the time. Watch football more.

[Panthers8969]

Fug the pats. Fug the biased ass refs

[*FreeFua*]

Meh, yes and no. As a WR you typically check with the ref if you're on the line. I don't really see the big deal. Would just like this type of thing to be consistent though.

[Lumps]

If the player asks, I see no issue with it but otherwise I don't think they should. That is a part of the game; that's what coaching is for. That's what penalties are for. I think the most disciplined team should be a big factor in who wins.

[mbarbour21]

I'm still wondering how penalties get called on the Pats at all. pretty sure the NFL shield is really nothing but Pats spl00ge.

They actually let a surprising one (roughing the passer/unnecessary roughness) go last night against the Jets. Of course a Pats o-line retaliated and that got called instead. It wasnt a huge hit, but something that normally would be called. IMO.

And no, I dont think they should if they wont do it for everyone on every play, offense and defense. Seems unfair and can look like favoritism. Not a good look for a ref.

[WUnderhill]

No problem as long as it is consistent and doesn't favor specific players or teams. The problem is that, in practice, it doesn't work like that.

[caatfan]

No problem as long as it is consistent ...

 

That's not gonna happen.

 

Refs shouldn't be instructing players. That's the job of the coaching staff. 

[ThPantherFan]

No, the referee should not give out warnings.  A million plus dollar player should know.

[Darth Biscuit]

Yeah I'm pretty sure I've seen that exact thing happen in other games.

[ThPantherFan]

If the player asks, I see no issue with it but otherwise I don't think they should. That is a part of the game; that's what coaching is for. That's what penalties are for. I think the most disciplined team should be a big factor in who wins.

 

The refs and players should not interact prior to the snap.  Players know the rules.