01-01-2016, 07:25 PM
(12-31-2015, 05:45 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Eligibility is number based. That's why they changed his number to 44. Now he doesn't have to tell the ref every time he lines up as eligible.
(12-31-2015, 05:58 PM)bengal kitten uk Wrote: The real question is what happens if we need him to play some tackle. After the Pats and Ravens game last year I think there are new rules regarding eligible positions reporting as ineligible?
Anyone knows what the deal is?
Eligibility is both number- and position-based. See Rule 8, Section 2, Articles 5-6 of the NFL rulebook: http://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2015-nfl-rulebook/
Basically, there are rules saying eligible positions are the two players on the ends of the line of scrimmage (who may be split wide) and any player lined up at least a yard behind the line. Also, any player in an eligible position must either be wearing an eligible jersey number or report as eligible to the officials before the play, and any player in an ineligible position must be wearing an ineligible jersey number or report as ineligible to the officials before the play.
Rule 5, Section 1, Article 2 requires a player who changes positions during his career to update his jersey number (with some exceptions), which is why the Bengals had to change Fisher's jersey number for as long as he's an H-back rather than a lineman.
I believe if Fisher had to go in for an injured offensive lineman, he could do it wearing 44 as long as he reported ineligible to the referees before every single play. But somebody else can scour the rulebook to either confirm or refute that statement.
