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NFL reminds players to ‘clearly’ report as eligible receiver after controversial officiating decision ends Lions-Cowboys game

NFL reminds players to ‘clearly’ report as eligible receiver after controversial officiating decision ends Lions-Cowboys game | CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/03/sport/nfl-lions-cowboys-eligible-receiver-reminder-spt-intl/index.html

The NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams on Tuesday to remind players to “clearly” report as eligible receivers after a controversial officiating decision ended Saturday’s Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys game.

NFL reminds players to ‘clearly’ report as eligible receiver after controversial officiating decision ends Lions-Cowboys game | CNN

18 comments

DestroyerOfWorlds

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that was NBA ref level fixing.

rug_burn

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Rubbing your jersey number and walking up to the ref isn't clear enough, you need a giant flashing sign now.

radix

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Players are now permitted to just grab Brad Allen's mic and announce themselves over the PA system.

dhork

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They should embed LEDs in helmets, and light up all the eligible receivers so we can all see them

quaddo

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Have them write a note to the ref.

Good penmanship will be important. To make things interesting, offence gets a quill, but needs to get past defence to get to the ink well.

dishpanman

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So "clearly reporting" is now going to be subjective, just like snapping the ball after the play clock reads 0, completing the process of a catch, roughing the passer, pass interference, moving before the snap. Is there anything else that I'm missing? The NFL is literally just making shit up instead of fixing rules to make them less subjective.

maryjayjay

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The FIA would like to welcome you to Formula 1

Banzai51

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Not only is the process of the catch a thing, it took the owners 2.5 years AFTER the ref made up some bullshit on Calvin's catch to make it a rule. Because it broke the whole passing game. They needed over 2 years to come up with some rule to fit the nonsense without killing modern football.

THAT is the length the NFL will go to cover up referee mistakes.

sanguinepar

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Would it maybe be simpler just to have everyone be an eligible receiver, and not have people reporting at all?

There's maybe a good reason not to do this, but I can't think of one.

derf82

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It’s one of the few advantages the defense gets. They only have to worry about 5 potential pass catchers, and also those 5 ineligible receivers are not allowed to block downfield before a completion.

jayemar

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Thank you for this explanation, I was always confused by the need to report as eligible

sanguinepar

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Ah ok, thanks. That makes sense, even if it does create other problems! :-)

TigerCR1200

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Maybe to put this a way that won’t make everyone mad.

“NFL tells teams players to not try and confuse things when reporting eligible.”

They tried to get cute and send 3 people for 1 person reporting. They succeeded in causing confusion just as they planned it just happened to be the ref that ended up confused.

rug_burn

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To be fair, this isn't a new thing. Generally teams do their best to not telegraph their plays.

conciselyverbose

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You're not allowed to try to be deceptive with who's eligible any more. They made it a point after teams abused it too many times in too many ways.

The deception is supposed to be about the fact that usually you do that to block, not hiding who's eligible from the defense. The defense is entitled to know before you align.

rug_burn

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It was called out over the PA... incorrectly. That's on Allen. Refs F'd up. Also on that tripping call, and holding by Dallas would have offset it. That crew is trash and should be relegated to non stop Cardinals- Panthers games.

Banzai51

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Yeah, but a lot of that goes out the window when you realize coaches tell refs they are going to do that in the pre-game. Detroit did have two guys report, and they were right next to the ref. The guy the ref thought reported was running towards them, but wasn't close. The guy that wasn't reporting, and played tackle, is the one the ref deemed reported eligible.

There isn't any way around it, either the ref screwed up on a monumental level or it was intentional.

edgemaster72

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We got flags lying around from the Pro Bowl not being used during the regular season? Bam, tie one on, you're eligible.