How many times have you seen it, a late game field goal is blocked or a 4th and long completed, the crowd goes crazy, and then the officials come running out on the field arms flailing, waving off the play because some idiot on the sidelines called a time out.

The New York Jets were driving late in the game against the Packers on Sunday, it was fourth down with 4 yards to go on the packers 36 yard line with the Jets trailing by 7 points.

The ball was snapped and Geno Smith faded back and threw a pass into the end zone that was caught by the Jets receiver Jeremy Kerley, the officials arms went up signaling a touchdown. AND then the official came running out on the field arms flailing, waving off the play because some idiot on the sidelines called a time out.

Do we see a pattern here? I don’t have the stats on this, but it seems that more harm has been done to teams that call time out from the sidelines than good.

The old rules would only allow a player on the filed to call time out, if Geno Smith got the signal to call time out from the side lines, but then saw that the play had been corrected and it was ok to proceed (which is what happened) The Jets would have scored that touchdown and would have had a chance to win the game.

I’ve never liked that rule, especially since the coaches can communicate via wireless receivers to the players.

I don’t like it in basketball either, but I don’t think it’s had as adverse an effect on that sport.

NFL go back to making it an on the field decision to call time outs.

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