Illegal?

[asdf]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

But that is what we've come to expect.

Indeed.....

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by asdf

[Feigning injury] was "legal" because the rules committee didn't foresee some coach using this as a way to teach his young men how to win.

It was done for many years, so it wasn't as if the first time it was known the rules committee decided to act against it. It was apparently broadly accepted for a good while. Don't imagine that if you were the first to see it, you'd've instantly "known" to penalize it, because many referees did, and didn't. Same with hiding the ball under a shirt.

[ump33]

9-6-4 ... It is illegal participation:
e. For a player to be lying on the ground to deceive opponents at or immediately before the snap or free kick.