Quote:
Originally posted by mbcrowder
If player B breaks the huddle with everyone else, I'm not flagging this unless we have coaches or players adding to the deception with "Hurry up, get off the field," or similar comments.
My reason - if he's really a 12th player and he breaks with the huddle, the flag goes right then. This rule is why the defense can and should assume that anyone breaking with the huddle is part of the next play.
However, if this guy leaves before the huddle breaks, and then acts as though he's leaving, and then doesn't leave, we have a flag. To me, this is what the deception rule was intended to prevent.
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I agree with this totally. If the team breaks a huddle and he goes over there, I've got no problem with that. If he breaks early and hides out near the sideline like he has been replaced, that is illegal.
BTW, can you find a rule that says a team cannot break the huddle with 12 players? (It isn't in the NF rulebook).
[Edited by mikesears on Sep 16th, 2003 at 01:43 PM]