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referee prior to the play. The referee then announces that the ineligible number "x" is reporting as an eligible receiver. This announcement is made using the referee's microphone so that spectators and the opposing team can hear. The eligibility is in effect for only one play; the report to the referee must be repeated before every play in which the offense plans to make the player eligible. Similarly, a player whose number is typically "eligible" must report himself ineligible to the referee, otherwise his team would be penalized for illegal formation. An example is when
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A similar play is allowed from a kicking formation, where the requirement that all five linemen wear 50 through 79 is waived. During a fake field goal or punt, a team may line up with extra tight ends and receivers, which can confuse the defense about which players are eligible and which are not.
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50 through 79 (the range of numbers that offensive linemen may wear in that league) may not line up as an eligible receiver, with a violation being penalized as an illegal substitution. However, the rules provide an exception where such a player may become eligible if he declares his intent to the
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cannot receive or touch forward passes, nor can they advance downfield in passing situations. To identify which receivers are eligible and which are not, football rules stipulate that ineligible receivers must wear a number between 50 and 79. However, in some leagues, normally ineligible receivers
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rules are less permissive than NFL rules and require that the five interior linemen, numbered 50 through 79, never line up as eligible receivers. If an offensive tackle wishes to line up as a tackle-eligible, he must physically change his jersey number to that of an eligible receiver (this, for
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all stated that Allen had reported
Skipper's number in error, which was supported by video evidence, as Decker was talking to the referee and Skipper was jogging to the line a few yards away. Allen's crew was later downgraded and did not participate that year's playoffs.
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switched from his usual number of 60 to 80 in order to perform the feat). A defensive lineman can line up as a tight end if his number is not between 50 and 79, as defensive players have no positional numbering restrictions in the NCAA.
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This exemption can only be taken when it is obvious that a kick may be attempted, for instance on fourth down, in the closing seconds of a half, or similar situations; it cannot be used on every down at the college level.
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and scored a two-point conversion to give the Lions a lead with 23 seconds left. However, Decker was penalized for being ineligible, as Allen had wrongly reported that another Lions offensive tackle,
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employed the formation as a base offense, the rules were modified in
February 2009. No player wearing between 50 and 79 is eligible to receive a pass, and all ineligible receivers (except a
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The tackle-eligible play typically goes unnoticed, but for one prominent exception: when the player reporting as an eligible receiver catches a forward pass (usually for a short touchdown).
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may align as an eligible receiver provided they inform the referee of such a change. Typically, a player must leave the field for a single play before returning to their original position.
357:, was the eligible lineman on the play. The Lions were unable to score a two-point conversion on two subsequent attempts and the Cowboys won, 20-19. Decker, Skipper, and Lions head coach
330:(a play on the "pick six" in which a defender returns an interception for a touchdown), to describe tackle-eligible plays in which the eligible tackle catches the ball for a touchdown.
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level; the rules of that level do not even allow declaration. The scrimmage kick formation was once exempt from all numbering requirements, but after the
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made a name for himself in 1992 by scoring three times in one season (twice on tackle-eligible plays), the best single season ever for an
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garnered attention for his frequent use as a hybrid tight end and extra blocker on tackle-eligible plays. During one 2019
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wears number 74, making him an ineligible receiver unless he declares himself eligible to the referee before a play.
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Watch Baylor's 390-pound lineman LaQuon McGowan catch TD pass in Cotton Bowl against
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play in which coaches will attempt to create mismatches against a defense by inserting an
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caught a three-yard touchdown pass to cap a 23-point comeback against the
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The name most commonly associated with the tackle-eligible play is
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A controversial play relating to the rule occurred during a
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Tackle-eligible plays saw an uptick in usage during the
497:"Seahawks MVP for game 12: The unsung hero George Fant"
445:"Patriots' receiver-eligibility tactic could catch on"
548:"Lions miffed as penalty nixes winning 2-point try"
274:A famous use of a tackle-eligible play came in the
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
530:The Thicc Six Episode: The Making of Big Man Plays
326:season, which also saw the coining of a new term,
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191:rules stipulate that an offensive player wearing
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395:Tackle-eligibles are effectively illegal at the
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407:) must wear between 50 and 79 in all cases.
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253:caught seven passes for 18 yards and four
597:"NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations"
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
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174:Under almost all versions of football,
14:
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424:"Rule 5 of Official NFL Playing Rules"
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616:Stephenson, Craig (January 2, 2015).
606:. 2011. Rule 7, Section 1, Article 4.
464:"Mike Vrabel NFL Football Statistics"
58:adding citations to reliable sources
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378:, when an offensive lineman for
349:reported as eligible to referee
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45:needs additional citations for
571:Podell, Garrett (2023-12-31).
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546:Woodyard, Eric (2023-12-31).
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624:. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
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661:American football strategy
453:Retrieved January 18, 2015
345:. Lions offensive lineman
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374:example, happened in the
245:Pro Football Hall of Fame
27:Play in gridiron football
472:Retrieved August 1, 2016
431:National Football League
257:in his 13-year career.
1366:American football plays
468:Pro Football Reference
182:
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69:"Tackle-eligible play"
312:Monday Night Football
135:
1327:Resting the starters
1221:Defensive formations
1118:Offensive formations
391:High school football
315:matchup against the
276:Monday Night Miracle
232:New England Patriots
230:—as a member of the
206:2014–15 NFL playoffs
198:New England Patriots
149:tackle-eligible play
54:improve this article
18:Tackle eligible play
536:. January 29, 2022.
242:Cincinnati Bengals'
1028:Defensive strategy
519:. 3 December 2019.
499:. 2 December 2019.
305:offensive lineman
236:Kansas City Chiefs
224:Super Bowl XXXVIII
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969:Statue of Liberty
337:game between the
317:Minnesota Vikings
269:offensive lineman
176:offensive linemen
161:eligible receiver
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16:(Redirected from
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1094:Icing the kicker
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899:Play-action pass
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157:offensive tackle
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65:Find sources:
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43:This article
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37:
32:
31:
19:
1311:8-in-the-box
1068:Bump and run
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954:Fumblerooski
949:Flea flicker
726:Buck-lateral
685:Play calling
621:
612:
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580:. Retrieved
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555:. Retrieved
551:
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516:Star Tribune
514:
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449:Boston Globe
439:
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405:long snapper
401:A-11 offense
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359:Dan Campbell
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202:Shane Vereen
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153:forward-pass
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52:Please help
47:verification
44:
1186:Pistol-Flex
1146:Single-wing
959:Hidden ball
909:Double pass
891:Trick plays
871:Stop-and-go
716:Air Coryell
680:Two-platoon
675:One-platoon
397:high school
355:Dan Skipper
307:George Fant
293:During the
220:Mike Vrabel
208:versus the
137:George Fant
1201:Jump shift
1151:Short punt
1042:Man-to-man
979:Hard count
939:Fake spike
914:End-around
778:West Coast
768:Smashmouth
694:Offensive
582:2024-01-23
557:2024-01-23
534:ESPN Radio
411:References
351:Brad Allen
255:touchdowns
80:newspapers
1239:Miami 4–3
1061:Coverages
934:Fake punt
758:Pro-style
328:thicc six
165:tight end
1360:Category
1345:Category
1176:Flexbone
1171:Wishbone
806:Crossing
736:Multiple
731:Hurry-up
721:Air raid
696:strategy
552:ESPN.com
282:lineman
169:fullback
167:or as a
145:football
1306:Prevent
1291:7–1–2–1
1229:2-level
1196:Wildcat
1161:Pro set
1156:Shotgun
1131:Split-T
1052:Tampa 2
984:Pyramid
924:Spinner
919:Reverse
668:Systems
433:. 2013.
94:scholar
1301:Nickel
1181:Pistol
1073:Double
1035:Scheme
866:Sluggo
851:Screen
801:Corner
788:Routes
773:Spread
741:Option
704:Scheme
622:AL.com
380:Baylor
147:, the
96:
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82:
75:
67:
1320:Other
1286:7–2–2
1256:3–3–5
1191:Trips
1099:Stunt
1087:Other
1003:Other
881:Wheel
876:Swing
861:Slant
796:Chair
600:(PDF)
427:(PDF)
278:when
151:is a
101:JSTOR
87:books
1296:Dime
1078:Zone
1047:Zone
904:Draw
856:Seam
846:Post
836:Jerk
821:Flat
816:Drag
811:Curl
711:A-11
604:NCAA
371:NCAA
341:and
335:2023
324:2021
297:and
295:2018
234:and
226:and
73:news
1281:6–2
1276:5–3
1271:5–2
1261:4–4
1251:3–4
1234:4–3
1104:Spy
841:Out
831:Hot
826:Fly
189:NFL
183:NFL
143:In
56:by
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