Automatic First Down?

[Goose Liver]

Lifted from another board, "No automatic first downs for pass interference or personal fouls. Seems very unsafe. Just hold or yank a face mask every play. 4 downs from the 10 with no down consequences for penalties, just yardage is a bit rudimentary. "  What is the group's take on this statement?

[Irishman]

26 minutes ago, Goose Liver said:

Lifted from another board, "No automatic first downs for pass interference or personal fouls. Seems very unsafe. Just hold or yank a face mask every play. 4 downs from the 10 with no down consequences for penalties, just yardage is a bit rudimentary. "  What is the group's take on this statement?

Problem is, if I remember right, a live ball penalty like those 2 keeps the down the same. So, one of those on 1st down and the penalty is half the distance, but still 1st down. The other risk you run is if it appears in anyway to be intentional, there could be additional consequences, like the ejection of a player or even a coach. 

[Irishman]

Another consideration is the offense could still score even with the penalty, so then the penalty is marked off on the next timed play. 

[Impartial_Observer]

God Rule. 

[Irishman]

The previously referenced God rule

 

[foxbat]

8 minutes ago, Irishman said:

The previously referenced God rule

 

I love that line about making a travesty of the game.

Have to be careful playing God though ...

 

[gonzoron]

2 minutes ago, foxbat said:

I love that line about making a travesty of the game.

 

[JustRules]

As ridiculous and I think these rules are they've been in place for probably 10 years and you never see that repeated PIs. Your best option is to actually play the ball and get an INT or incomplete pass. You'll occasionally see an obvious DPI inside the 10 if someone is beat, but you can get that on a long pass as well where the defender knows if he doesn't interfere he's giving up a TD. 15-yards is better than 6.

[Goose Liver]

Please define God Rule for the group.

[Bobref]

The “God Rule” is actually a collection of several rules which, taken together, basically give the Referee the right to do whatever needs to be done to make sure one team does not obtain an unfair advantage over the other. Possible actions include everything from starting or stopping the clock, to awarding a TD, to forfeiting the game. Whatever it takes.