NFL sends out memo to teams regarding reporting players as eligible receivers

The NFL wants to make sure its teams, coaches and players understand the process for reporting players as eligible receivers following the Dallas Cowboys' 20-19 win over the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.

The Cowboys were able to hold on for the win after a potential game-winning two-point conversion attempt by the Lions was called back by an illegal touching penalty. 

The penalty happened after referee Brad Allen announcing No. 70 Dan Skipper as eligible instead of No. 68 Taylor Decker, as the Lions had wanted. 

Decker ended up catching the two-point conversion play only to have it called back because he was not announced as the eligible receiver. 

In the NFL's view, the Lions were attempting to confuse the Cowboys defense — as head coach Dan Campbell admitted — and instead ended up confusing the officials. 

ProFootballTalk saw the video sent out by teams where the league said the following: 

“As a reminder to clubs and players, an offensive player numbered 50 through 79, or 90 through 99, is permitted to line up as an eligible pass receiver,” NFL V.P. of officiating Walt Anderson explains in the 1:45 clip, a copy of which PFT has seen. 

“To allow the defense an opportunity to match personnel to avoid deception, and to ensure fairness, the player must immediately report the change in his eligibility status to the referee, who will inform the defensive team and will make an announcement to the stadium before that play. 

“It is the responsibility of the player to be sure that change in status is clearly communicated to the referee by both a physical signal with his hands, up and down in front of his chest, and to report to the referee his intention to report as an eligible receiver.

... “This process has been in place for many years, and is intended to provide proper notification to the defense when players are lined up in positions that their number would not allow.”

Campbell and the Lions were enraged after the game, while the penalty dominated discussion around the NFL over the weekend. 

Allen's crew will be officiating Saturday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. His crew has been at the center of a handful of controversial calls and games this season, including a non-call on a blatant pass interference at the end of the Green Bay Packers-Kansas City Chiefs game, as well as the Miami Dolphins-Philadelphia Eagles game where the Dolphins were penalized 10 times to the Eagles' zero penalties.

The main takeaway from the Cowboys-Lions game from the league, however, is that if you try to confuse the other team you might end up confusing the referees as well. At that point it is your fault. Not the referee.