if the 3rd qb is put in the game, the 1st and 2nd can't come in again?

[OverAndBack]

Actually, no, it ain't 53.

An NFL roster has 53 players on it.

You can dress 45 + 1. See above:

Since 1991, NFL teams have been allowed to dress 45 +1

Four guys get deactivated prior to gameday. Four more guys get deactivated on gameday before kickoff. Then the 3rd QB is added.

That third QB can go into the game any time, but if he goes in prior to the 4th quarter, the other two QBs cannot return.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

Four guys get deactivated prior to gameday. Four more guys get deactivated on gameday before kickoff.

They brought back the taxi squads, sort of? I hadn't realized that.

Then the 3rd QB is added.

That third QB can go into the game any time, but if he goes in prior to the 4th quarter, the other two QBs cannot return.

Since they introduced this system, I've wondered whether clubs couldn't game it by being fuzzy about who counts as a "quarterback". But maybe it's no advantage to them to do this for players at any other position(s).

Robert

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

They brought back the taxi squads, sort of? I hadn't realized that.

Did it ages ago. Probably 1991 when they introduced the 45 + 1. But surely by 1992 or 1993, when I was covering the league.

Since they introduced this system, I've wondered whether clubs couldn't game it by being fuzzy about who counts as a "quarterback". But maybe it's no advantage to them to do this for players at any other position(s).

Probably not. Most teams have a third. I don't know that it's mandatory that you dress a third, but usually there's the young clipboard guy or the injured veteran who draws that duty.

And I believe the emergency quarterback does not have to follow the numbering requirement for the quarterback position? I think that's another "qualification" for an emergency quarterback. Just something I noticed in the past...maybe it's changed since.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

And I believe the emergency quarterback does not have to follow the numbering requirement for the quarterback position? I think that's another "qualification" for an emergency quarterback. Just something I noticed in the past...maybe it's changed since.

NFL rules say they have this numbering requirement by position, but there's no definition of the positions and no good way of defining them without constraining the game more than they want to. Other than observing the in/eligible receiver numbering for team A scrimmaging, there's no rule requiring players to line up in certain places depending on their uniform number. So really it's just an unenforced convenience for the audience. I think the league does say that if you've consistently played someone at a certain position, they can make you change his number to a more appropriate one if necessary for future games.

Could you imagine if linebacker 59 set to blitz inside, and they got an illegal formation call?!

Robert

[PackersFTW]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

Actually, no, it ain't 53.

An NFL roster has 53 players on it.

You can dress 45 + 1. See above:



Four guys get deactivated prior to gameday. Four more guys get deactivated on gameday before kickoff. Then the 3rd QB is added.

That third QB can go into the game any time, but if he goes in prior to the 4th quarter, the other two QBs cannot return.

i'll be damned.

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

And I believe the emergency quarterback does not have to follow the numbering requirement for the quarterback position? I think that's another "qualification" for an emergency quarterback. Just something I noticed in the past...maybe it's changed since.

they recently changed this to where receivers can have numbers 10-19 (something like this), so maybe they also messed with other positions like the qb's. you will see weird numbers on receivers, possibly others.

[OverAndBack]

They didn't mess with the numbering system for any other position in the most recent rules change.

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

NFL rules say they have this numbering requirement by position, but there's no definition of the positions and no good way of defining them without constraining the game more than they want to. Other than observing the in/eligible receiver numbering for team A scrimmaging, there's no rule requiring players to line up in certain places depending on their uniform number. So really it's just an unenforced convenience for the audience. I think the league does say that if you've consistently played someone at a certain position, they can make you change his number to a more appropriate one if necessary for future games.

Could you imagine if linebacker 59 set to blitz inside, and they got an illegal formation call?!

Robert

Thanks. One reason I asked was because I remember the controversy when Brian Bosworth was drafted by the Seahawks and wanted number 44, but the NFL said fine as long as you don't line up at linebacker. But then again, that was years ago. Other reason, I seem to remember a team having to use a wide receiver a few years ago as the quarterback because all their quarterbacks were on the bench being tended to by the training staff, and this receiver wore something in the 80's but was exempted from the rule because he was a declared emergency quarterback.

But your point, as well as a couple others that followed, makes more sense in what we're seeing in the NFL games now.

[OverAndBack]

Bosworth was also 20+ years ago.

You can find exceptions, obviously. Brad Van Pelt wore #10 for the Giants because he was, ostensibly, their backup kicker, but that was 30+ years ago and I don't think he ever kicked anything.

I don't think they'd let a linebacker wear 44 today, either.

Remember Freddie Solomon? He was the 49ers' "disaster" quarterback for years because he had been a QB in college at the University of Tampa.

If you have to put a guy in a position in an emergency, they're not going to make him put a different number on.

I'm curious how long they're going to let Devin Hester wear #23 when he's obviously not a cornerback, no matter how they list him on the roster.