Had this happen in a game last week and I am trying to find the rules support.

A came to the line with four players on the LOS to my side. The TE did not go down to a three point stance but was covered up by the SE. The TE then went in motion down the line of scrimmage away from me. He never was more than 5 yards off the LOS while in motion.

My question is, can the TE go in motion there? I've flipped through the rule book and I cannot seem to find anything on this. I'm sure it is there I'm just missing it. If the TE can go in motion, he would have to satisfy the 5 yards behind the LOS requirements, correct?

I can find nothing wither that would prevent him from going in motion, and yes... he would have to satisfy the 5-yard requirement as he did not clearly establish himself as a back prior to going in motion.

7-2-7

Was he still moving at the snap? If not, it's not motion, it's a shift and the 5 yard requirement wouldn't have to be satisfied.

I read this before and I just reread it and I think this is where I am at.

A TE may go in motion as long as he isn't in a three point stance. He must either a) go in motion and be at least 5 yards behind the LOS at the time of the snap, or b) pause for one second in the backfield, then go in motion.

What about a T or G? Could they do this assuming all other requirements are met? Numbering, pausing, etc.? Don't know why they would want to do that but just thought I would throw it out.

Yep. Nothing wrong with that if they still have 5 other guys numbered 50 to 79 on the line and that guy that goes in motion never placed his hand near the ground.

Would leave quite a hole for the defense to blow through, I'm guessing.

Just be careful about calling this guy a "tight end". He's covered up by the outside receiver so he's not an "end". He's an ineligible lineman with an eligible number.

Agree with Andrew, covered. What he didn't mention, if he is on the end of the line, he may go in motion from a three point stance.

Also consider 7-1-7c with this situation.

Nothing wrong with the tight end term on this. He is a tight end requardless if he is on the end of the line or not. It is the name of a position much as in a QB or RB. Shannon Sharpe was a tight end. He lined up in a number of positions but he was always a "tight end" and certainly not always on an end.

If we're talking rules here, he is not an "end." If we are talking NFL/fantasy football/fandom, you call him what you want.

Agree with Dumb and Andrew on him not being an end and being allowed to go in motion from the end of the line.

Gentlemen
Going back to the old days of unbalanced line offenses the third man from the center was called a tackle. The line was as follows: weak side end, weak side guard, center, guard, tackle, tackle and end. Remember the term “end” signifies that the player is on the end of the line. Any player inside of the end is a interior lineman.
One thing to consider, did team A have 7 men on the line at the snap?