The Chargers were flagged 15 yards Sunday for what referee Jeff Triplette announced as a “choreographed demonstration” between safeties Dwight Lowery and Jahleel Addae.
They did indeed celebrate.
Just one problem.
“It wasn’t choreographed,” Lowery said Monday. “I don’t understand where that came from. And honestly, I didn’t know there was a penalty until they started announcing the penalty. I don’t feel like we did anything wrong. We made the play. We were excited for each other.”
NFL officiating crews have a complex job. Along with making, in real time, such determinations as what is or isn’t a catch, what is or isn’t a holding or pass interference, they must watch men celebrate and decide when fun goes too far.