I have two questions for how this was handled by referees this weekend. The first is a coach calling a timeout with no timeouts left. The referee blew the whistle before realizing they had zero left. It interrupted a 2 point conversion play. The referee said it was an inadvertent whistle and there was no penalty. I figured calling a timeout you don't have would be a penalty like a technical in basketball.
Second, there was a first down conversion late in a game on 4th down. It was close, so there was a measurement. The offense celebrated excessively and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The stands were arguing that it should be 1st and 25 since it is a deadball penalty, the play results in a first down and then is penalized 15 yards from that spot for 1st and 25. The referees gave the first down, back them up 15 yards and reset the chains. So it was 1st and ten further back then the original chains.
I'm not an official, but both of these seemed strange to me. Does anyone know the rules?
Second, there was a first down conversion late in a game on 4th down. It was close, so there was a measurement. The offense celebrated excessively and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The stands were arguing that it should be 1st and 25 since it is a deadball penalty, the play results in a first down and then is penalized 15 yards from that spot for 1st and 25. The referees gave the first down, back them up 15 yards and reset the chains. So it was 1st and ten further back then the original chains.
I'm not an official, but both of these seemed strange to me. Does anyone know the rules?