If teams want to use a 12th man to hold the ball for the kickoff, they can. To a tee, if they choose. Regardless of whether the wind calls for it.
Although Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower recently complained that the Eagles’ use of a 12th man to hold the ball shirtless in order to better position him for a “dirty” hit violates the intent of the rules, the rules clearly allow it.
A league spokesman has confirmed that teams are free to use a 12th player for this purpose. Hitting can happen with or without a mallet – and with or without a brace.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni addressed the situation in a news conference Saturday.
“Obviously, with that, everything we’re doing is within the rules of the game and we’re going to continue to do the things we need to do that give us the best chance to win every game,” Sirianni said. “So we will continue as the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Hightower has said he hopes the rules will change. Which means the rules, as written, really do allow teams to take advantage of the only circumstance in which 12 players are allowed on the field.
If the rules don’t change (and they rarely do during a given season), the message to all teams is clear. If you want to do it, you can. And if it makes it harder for the receiving team to field the ball, so be it.
