#bitterirony Don't get me wrong. I think the play is lame but I believe lame rules banning lame plays are worse. I am decidedly libertarian that way...
I understand the sentiment, but if you don't have lame rules, everyone would deflate footballs to gain an advantage. There are no gentlemen's agreements when winning is all that matters.
I don't know if this is true or not, but as a kid, someone told me that on goal line plays, the offensive team would bring in a midget, hand him the ball, and then someone would throw the midget over the scrum into the endzone for a TD. In retelling the story, I embellished it by saying that the defensive team would bring in their own midget and then toss the defensive midget towards the airborne offensive midget to try and deflect the offensive midget before he crossed over the goal line. One thing I miss about living in the south is how a good "fish tale" is appreciated and the more exaggerated and false it is, the more it is loved.
I agree with GDF that it's a bush league play, but I didn't know it was a penalty. I thought someone else did it not too long ago. That may be why it's illegal now.