In Washington.
December 03, 2007 12:00 AM
Joe Gibbs made the proper move, calling time just before the 51-yard kick, wiping out what would have been a game-winner. The crowd celebrated this apparent good fortune.
Then they sat stunned by what happened next.
Gibbs called a second consecutive timeout, thereby earning an automatic 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ryan Lindell then booted a 36-yarder for the game-winning points.
Referee Tony Corrente told a pool reporter after the game that if the kicker is on the field and in position to kick the ball, then a second consecutive timeout is an automatic penalty. If the kicker is not on the field, officials would ignore an attempt to call a second straight timeout.