Quite an interesting ruling. The Linesman may have been a newer official and may not have understood that silly restrictions are placed on the offense, but even then it's possible to enter a man after the huddle breaks.
Today I had a game where I was the umpire and a number of times one of the teams place too few players on the field. Once I counted 9, and at least 4 times I counted 10. They always got their 11th man in though. The catch to the defensive side of the ball is that the player has to meet two requirements to be considered eligible: At the snap, the player must (1) be on the field, and (2) be on his team's side of the neutral zone. If he meets requirement #1, but fails to meet #2 by the snap, then we've got encroachment. If two men step on the field (on their own side) just before the snap and participate (provided it doesn't put them over 11), it's perfectly legal and play shall continue.
-Craig
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Sun Sep 19, 2004, 03:47am
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