Question on last drive

[Razzy]

The Giants had 12 men on the field. Play started with 14 seconds and ended with nine seconds. Shouldn't the refs have put those five seconds back on the clock? I'm glad they didn't. Pats got enough freaking calls in that game.

The rule definitely needs to be changed. If the time doesn't go back on the clock and it's only 5yds and a loss of down, then what? Any time the opposing team is facing a long field with under 1 minute there no reason not to put 12 guys on the field.

I'll take the 5 yd penalty if it means 10 seconds off the clock and my 12th man was the one doubling their deep threat. Every time.

[AntiBuc]

I called WFNZ "The Drive" today and posed that question. They advised there's no penalty against too many men on the field except the 5 yards. They advocated a rule change such as restoring the clock to where it was at the snap. I agree, a rule change is needed.

[dos poptarts]

Yes, but if the QB is aware that the Giants have 12 men, then the signal from QB to WRs is go intermediate or long, we have a free play and may even get a DPI and get great field position. It's something you can sneak into a series once.

[tiger7_88]

I was wondering the same thing...it'd make sense to do that in such situations if you ate up the clock and only lost 5 yards for each flag....wonder if they'd call an unsportsmanlike penalty for doing that when it's so obvious?

I do believe at that point that referees have the ability to determine "unsportsmanlike conduct" if it is determined that a team is doing something like this intentionally and can penalize that kind of foul prior to the snap... so 15-yds and no time off of the clock.