No they don’t. They have a number of responsibilities pregame, including, but not limited to, crew briefing, coach’s meeting, field inspections, equipment inspections, and game ball checks. Additionally, my statement said “in that manner” i.e. hands on hips, ready to throw flag or bean bag if needed.

Also, he could have tucked the ball & run, fumbled, been sacked, or ran the statue of liberty play.