Browns vs Ravens Offsetting fouls

[Aussie-Zebra]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/the-browns-get-hosed-on-a-ridiculous-taunting-penalty-against-terrelle-pryor/

In NFL rules does a live ball foul and a dead ball foul offsett ?

Pereira said "Pryor dropped the ball on the opponent, but I don't like that call as taunting.
Technically it is, but I don't really like it."

I disagree that "technically it is" It's only taunting if it's a deliberate act. That was a really bad call.

[APG]

Yes, a live ball foul and dead ball foul that is part of the continuing action do offset. There are a few exceptions to this (15 vs simple 5, clean hands score, spiked ball DOG, etc) but for the most part, they will offset.

[refjimb]

This is also interesting because the Ravens essentially benefitted by fouling on this play, since Live/Dead offset in the NFL.

If the Ravens hadn't fouled, the Browns would have been penalized 15 yards from the dead ball spot (which was about the 5 I believe) and the next play would have been 1st and 10 from the 20.  Instead the penalties offset and they replayed the down from the 30, basically penalizing the Browns an extra 10 yards due to a Ravens penalty.

More quirky than anything, but it does make me wonder why the NFL would have these penalties offset in the first place?  (regardless of how awful of a call the Taunting penalty was).

[refjimb]

Which also makes me wonder, could the Browns have declined the defensive holding penalty on the Ravens, and just had the Taunting penalty enforced from the end of the play?  This would have netted them about 10 yards in the process.

[APG]

Which also makes me wonder, could the Browns have declined the defensive holding penalty on the Ravens, and just had the Taunting penalty enforced from the end of the play?  This would have netted them about 10 yards in the process.

No, the Browns could not decline the defensive holding. Under NFL rules, there are only a few situations on double fouls where a team decline a penalty.

[refjimb]

No, the Browns could not decline the defensive holding. Under NFL rules, there are only a few situations on double fouls where a team decline a penalty.

Oh wow, that is interesting.  I read somewhere that combining enforcement for live and dead ball fouls was made to simplify enforcement, but it seems like it can create some quirky situations like this one. If this had been an even longer pass play, it would have costed the offended team even more yardage, which just seems odd.