[gusmahler]

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So a coach can say "I want a timeout, but I want to wait for the ball to be snapped and then have it retroactively applied to the second before the snap" ?

[/ QUOTE ]It seems like it... that's really the dumb part.

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No he can't, a coach (or player for that matter, watch the QB as the clock nears the 2 min. warning) has to say "timeout" or something else to notify the official of exactly when he wants the timeout to be taken.

Cody

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Yep. If you watch the replays of the Denver/OAK game or BUF/DAL games in question, you'll see that the coach goes to the lineman and says that he will call a timeout. But the actual timeout isn't called until the coach says so.

Basically, the coach knows the kicker's pre-snap routine and knows approximately when the snap will happen. (If you watch your team's kicker and you'll see the kicker does the same thing every kick. It's easy to guess when the snap will occur. E.g., Neil Rackers will take his steps back. Then to the side, do a small step with his left foot, then move his arms out, then back in. Then he will nod his head to the holder. Call a timeout then.)