re: So was Lewis Neal supposed to lay down and play dead?

I get the rule -don't like it, but I get it.

Here's the problem I have:

1. 15 yds. is too much. They are trying to protect the player and they call a personal foul on the player; in essence they are saying the player fouls himself. Cognitive dissonance!
2. It's a double penalty. I haven't seen/heard anyone talk about it but he probably had to sit out the next out the next play, too. That's the fundamental rule for losing your helmet during a play.

So, if it's a double penalty, why not make it a 5 yd and sit out the next play? That seems pretty reasonable to me.

You can still call it illegal participation/continuation or whatever the hell but don't screw they guy/team with such a harsh result.

This really isn't a hard penalty to understand. I haven't seen this much rable since Brad wing got a TD called back for celebrating.

I get that people don't like him being penalized for his effort, but the rule is about player safety. Helmets sometimes come off from legal contact, especially if the straps aren't snapped. The refs can't just assume hands to the face, and can only make the call if they see it.

However, since the play potentially keeps a player off the field for 1 play the replay booth should automatically review to see how the infraction occurred. I would like to see this at least inside of two minutes when key personel are most important on every play.