Quote:
Originally posted by Ed Hickland
My ruling is an interpretation of the rules. The logic is quite circular. A player must be on the field. If a player leaves or withdraws during a dead ball interval, he cannot return. He also cannot be a player since he is not on the field, nor can he be a substitute since he is forbidden, by rule. His status for the entire dead ball interval is replaced player. It will change once the down occurs or any of the caveats in 3-7-4 occurs from replaced player to substitute. Then he can re-enter.
If a player withdraws, that is, leaves the field, and returns, he is then subject to illegal participation (9-6-4c) for pretending to be a substitute.
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Ed, I'm playing devil's advocate to some extent. Quite honestly, I think there's validity to both arguments. I guess we just need a good old fashioned case play to help us with this one.
Thanks for the discussion.
