Ravens Hail NFL Rule Change That Bans Patriots’ Ineligible Receiver Formation
The NFL owners have changed the rule that got so much attention during a Patriots-Ravens playoff game this past season, one that will restrict ineligible receivers wearing eligible numbers to inside the tackle box.
What does that mean? When the Patriots declared Shane Vereen ineligible and sent him out in the slot against Baltimore in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, the Ravens were visibly confused and struggled to identify which players they were supposed to cover. Under the new rule, posted by NFL Communications, an ineligible Vereen would have to be lined up inside the tackle box because he wears the number of an eligible player (34).
The Ravens official twitter account couldn’t resist celebrating the rule change. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh complained after the playoff loss that what the Patriots did was “clearly deception.’’
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