knownone":3nmgiygj said:
Random question. If Fant changed his number to a receiving number and he came into the game to be a lineman... would have to report as a lineman?
No, he can't the NFL numbers mean something. Once he changes his number he can only play as a TE and report as an eligible receiver.
NFL rules dictate that there will be seven players on the line at all times. There is the TIGHTend who is a receiver tight to the blocking line. His number can be 40-49 or 80-89.
The next player on the line is the SPLITend we call them wide receivers so much we have forgotten that one of them is an End split wide. If you look at old pictures from the 19-teens split ends were in a three-point stance 10 yards away from the line. Split ends can have numbers 10-19 or 80-89.
Olinemen can only have the numbers 50-79 and they are not eligible receivers on a play unless they report in as one. Teams still need to have 7 players on the line even with a reported eligible receiver.
So Fant will keep his linemen number and play as this blocking player swiss army knife. Because he can report in as eligible then lineup as an Olinmen not go out for a pass and screw teams up. The Patriots did this to the Ravens in the playoffs in 2014.
