What’s the reasoning behind “hands to the face” resulting in an automatic first down?

No penalty should be an automatic 1st down. If the yardage gives a first down, then so be it.

Automatic first down penalties are so stupid

Where the hell are the automatic 4th down penalties?

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To stop people from putting their hands into peoples faces

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Yeah that’s clearly what I’m asking

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Automatic first down penalties are so stupid Where the hell are the automatic 4th down penalties?

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Defensive holding I could at least somewhat understand to stop players from just grabbing when they get beat off the line. But if it’s 3rd and 20 defensive players aren’t going to just start saying frick it I’m going to blatantly put my hands in the lineman’s face and move them up 5 yards. I just don’t think the difference that an automatic first down creates in the game is necessary.

ETA: in regards to the hands to the face

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If this rule didn’t apply, DB’s would just grab WR’s off the line if they got beat


Yet somehow CFB works just fine..

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CFB PI is an automatic first down..

It’s a safety thing

I’m not questioning why it’s a flag, I’m wondering why it warrants an automatic first down? If it’s simply to deter players from committing the penalty I feel that it’s too drastic.

The other thing that baffles me is offsetting penalties when one is 15 yards and the other is 5 or 10.

Why not just give the difference and call it a day?

Why kill both?

Because safety matters

Are you arguing it doesn't?

But it doesn’t result in a loss of down. Which is basically the point of this thread and doesn’t really make the safety aspect a legit reason. Seems skewed towards the offense for the same penalty. Why not just make it a 10 yard penalty both ways?