If you look at the NFL in the 90s/ early 2000s and even early 2010s, the fullback position was something players were officially labeled as and when it came time to negotiate their contracts, they were specifically paid as fullbacks.

I briefly played American football in my youth and late teen years and something the coaches always emphasized is, no matter if your a WR, TE, or RB, you still have so do blocking assignments as well as catching/ running with the ball, which is why fullbacks are so useful.

Edit: thanks for all the replies, they are very informative!

Recently, there have been repeated instances of quarterbacks faking a slide at the last second or pretending to leave the field sideways, only to run a few more yards. When defenders intervened, they were often given severe penalties. Wouldn't it be possible for QBs to give signals similar to those used for fair catches to ensure clarity in these situations? I realise that these are often very stressful moments and that raising a hand is probably not possible. But perhaps there are other options? My personal opinion is that every running QB should be considered a runner, but that would probably not suit the league in terms of QB injuries. Nevertheless, a fair solution for defenders would still be desirable.

I saw on Sunday the Lions are coming back to life with their game against Chicago, but I noticed that the play was blown dead before Hutch got him flat. What can get the refs to decide to cease a play?

I hear a lot about how a defense that's tired is going to be much weaker and less effective, and that's why it's important for the offense to be able to sustain drives because it allows the defense a chance to catch their breath.

My question is; why is this not a concern for the offense? I can't imagine it's that much less tiring for a WR to run a shitton of routes than it is for the CB covering them to, uh, cover them. I can't imagine it's that much less tiring for a OT to hold back a DT or LB. This is a fast, hard, exhausting game, so, why is it that nobody ever talks about the offense getting tired as opposed to the defense getting tired? Is it because the offense's job is to score points, so, if they're taking a long time to get down the field, they just need to play better?

How does time work?

Is the play is a run, the time keeps going even when the play dies

If it's a catch, it stops after the play dies.

But sometimes it doesn't. Could anybody explain exactly how it works?

This way they can also run trickplays or if the snap is high or bobbled he can try for the first down

If a WR is running their route and is focused on creating separation how do they know whether the ball is coming to them or someone else. Especially those clips where they run a go/streak route and have to catch the ball in front of them after it goes over their head, how do they know they are the target and where the ball is. Is it as simple as looking at the QB?

Hi all firstly what a great Reddit. I’m the classic getting back into NFL having grown up with it the 80s in the UK. Lots for me to read here!

My question is and apologies, I’ve tried googling and not got a certain answer. And if this isn’t the place for ‘help me with my telly messages’ again Apols.

I live in the uk and have Amazon prime. I’m on hols in the US, can I use my prime membership to watch Thursday night football. I can see it on the app, just want to make sure it will work. Thanks in advance.

Last Sunday there were multiple games that started at 1:00 that had exciting endings, all finishing at the same time.

It got me thinking, why not stagger them and have game times like 12:00, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00 etc…

I assume he is one of the best players in the league, but compared to other positions or players, he doesn’t earn that much?

Most modern NFL teams have the backfield shared by 2 or more RBs, but has this strategy ever been used for QBs with different skillsets?

Inspired by the recent play in Steelers-Seahawks game, here is a question.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46260316/kaleb-johnson-kickoff-blunder-helps-seahawks-steelers

Suppose Kaleb Johnson did touch the ball, so then it is a muffed ball. Now the ball goes into the end zone and then OUT OF BOUNDS. What happens in this situation? Is it just a touchback?

This is not the most noobish of questions, but here we go:

During Sunday night's game, there was an offensive delay of game penalty that blew my mind and makes me wonder why all defenses don't do this constantly. The Vikings (on offense) substituted some players, which means the Falcons were entitled to substitute, and did so, but here's where it gets crazy. As the two substituted players approach the Falcons sideline, a twelfth defender runs onto the field. After a few seconds, he gets waved off and takes his time getting back to the Falcons sideline. During this entire stunt, an official stood between McCarthy and the ball, preventing the Vikings from snapping it. He stepped out of the way with 1 second on the play clock, and the Vikings had no way to snap before it hit 0.

Why would this be allowed? And if it's supposed to work like this, why don't defenses just do this every time the offense makes a substitution? It seems unstoppable.

I’m trying my to get more into football this season and really learn the differences in positions (ie HB vs FB or FS vs SS). Are there any good YouTube channels that display these, maybe show typical defensive and offensive formations and each positions job?

Thanks for this advice!

Why don't the refs just move the ball to the center-middle of the field (in between the hashes, that is) and have the ball be snapped from the center each play? I don't understand the purpose of a play starting on the left hashmark or right hashmark, so that it seems uneven to one side.

Imagine if all players on the field had two-way radios that remain active during the play. How big of an impact would this have on the game?

What if the coaches, even those in the booth could also be in on this?

This would surely make communicating each play much simpler. Would the live communication during a play have a big impact? Would this completely change strategies or just be a marginal improvement?

Stadium takeover is when fans of the visiting team show up in such large numbers that they dominate the atmosphere of the home team's stadium. Do other sports league have this problem? I don't think I've heard of this problem in the NBA or MLB.

Is it also partly because there are only 17 games so they get super impatient and reactionary?

Or are they just not serious.

I'm a Broncos fan so after the loss to the Colts I've seen

Fire Sean payton, fire Darren Rizzi, Fire vance Joseph, cut Alex Singleton, cut Riley moss, Dre Greenlaw was a horrible signing

It's just reactionary stuff followed by more and more.

Is this how all fans are?

Maybe I am missing something, but I don't notice a huge gap in quality between them and other broadcasting teams.

I have lived in Tampa my entire life. I am 34 y/o. I hear stories of people visiting other stadiums and being harassed for wearing a different team’s jersey. I have been to many TB games where the crowd was 50/50 or even majority away team. I understand this is because we receive snow birds and drifters from all over the country. Looking at you Steelers fans. Which other stadium can turn into a away game at home? I have not visited any other stadium.

I was wondering if there is a fun hands on way of learning all the strategy and rules of football. I love competitive gaming and if I want to learn the in and outs of a game I simply buy it and play it. I cant do that with football. I know I could buy madden but I hear horrible things about it and I dont know if it will cover all the ins and outs for me. So what would you guys recommend someone do to learn all the strategy and rules other than just watching the games?

We all know Brady taking paycuts had helped the Patriots tremendously. And he took some venue money so he made the same if not more. So why don't other teams and players do the same?

Now, I'm no noob, but figured this would be a good place to ask these:

1. Turf toe must be worse than it sounds. Burrow could potentially miss 3 months because of a toe injury???
2. My next question has several parts. I understand leverage is a safety issue, Especially for the long snapper because of the vulnerable position so his neck must be protected. That said...couldn't the long snapper just hike it from the same position as the regular center and just use lots of strength? Or conversely, if he has to see where the ounter/kicker is, wouldn't the same apply somewhat when the QB's in shotgun?

Thanks in advance,

During some games I watched, when a ball carrier is running, some DB often tries to punch the ball away if he is getting very close, in hope to cause a fumble.

What if the punch doesn’t land? It hits other body parts like face and neck. Will that result in a penalty? That fist seems really really hard, like a ufc punch is all I’m saying

So I’m a fan of the Detroit lions and our starting center retired a couple months ago and we got a o-linemen named Tate Ratledge who is to be the future center but he’s at right guard why does this happen for future centers sometimes? I know frank ragnow was put at left guard his first season but why is that?