As PFT explained on Monday, the N.F.L. No changes to the procedure For ineligible players who report being eligible to catch as a pass. However, the league issued a reminder to all teams on Tuesday about the current rules.
The memo to all coaches and general managers included a link to a video of the situation that unfolded in Dallas on Saturday night.
“As a reminder to clubs and players, offensive players numbered 50 through 79 or 90 through 99 are permitted to line up as eligible pass receivers,” NFL Deputy Officiating Officer said. President Walt Anderson explains in a 1 minute and 45 second clip of the copy. PFT confirmed it. “In order to avoid deception and to give the defenders the opportunity to adjust their personnel to ensure fairness, players must immediately report any changes to their eligibility to the referee. The referee will notify the defending team and We will make an announcement to the stadium before we play.
“It is the player’s responsibility to ensure that the change in status is clearly communicated to the referee by a physical signal using his hands up and down in front of his chest and to inform the referee of his intention to: “Eligible Recipients.” . . .
“This process has been in place for many years and is intended to properly notify defenses when a player is lining up in a position that is not allowed with that number.”
This video shows the Lions tackling Dan Skipper and reporting him for eligibility in the first quarter of Saturday night’s game. He is also shown entering the field before the two-point play, as if reporting as eligible.Lions coach Dan Campbell admitted to the violation. I was hoping to confuse the Dallas defense. Regarding the identity of the targeted player. That’s why he ran towards umpire Brad Allen as if Skipper had reported that he was eligible, even though he hadn’t.
This note is not surprising. The NFL’s position is that the Lions attempted to engage in deceptive gamesmanship by concealing the identity of eligible players. The Lions wanted the Cowboys to think it was Dan Skipper when it was actually Taylor Decker. The Lions expected Allen to figure that out and announce to the stadium that 68-year-olds are eligible, not 70-year-olds. Amidst the noise and confusion, the Lions were hoping the Cowboys would focus on the wrong players.
As long as it doesn’t go so well as to fool the referee, that’s fine. As explained in the league’s video, it’s about giving defensemen fair notice of who’s eligible and who’s not. The Lions deliberately tried to avoid that request in order to gain an advantage against the Cowboys.
It would have worked if the Lions had made it abundantly clear to Allen that Decker, not Skipper, was eligible. But if the Lions had done that, the Cowboys might have figured it out and could have covered Decker better.