NFL Week 17 -- Are We There Yet?

[Scout]

So if everyone is an eligible receiver…

It will be a lot harder to illegally ground the ball.
Downfield blocking flag is gone.
There are pretty much no more formation penalties.
Pass interference on an engaged center?

Or, it's one play in a long game.

 

[I Should Coco]

I presume asking for high school rules. Pretty sure it's the same for the NFL, but high school and college, offensive teams must have five players numbered 50 to 79 on the offensive line.

In high school, there is an exception on fourth down when the offense lines up in scrimmage kick formation (punt or field goal). In this case, any player numbers 0 to 49 or 80 to 99 can line up on the LOS, but they must line up between the ends but they are ineligible to receive a forward pass because of where they are lined up, even though they have the proper number.

I assume this applies only for 11-player football. Eight and (yikes) six player HS football is much more of a free for all.

 

[MileHigh]

I assume this applies only for 11-player football. Eight and (yikes) six player HS football is much more of a free for all.

Correct. No numbering issues in eight-man and six-man. In eight man, only the ends and up to three players in the backfield are eligible to catch the ball. In essence, the center and two guards are not.

 

[BTExpress]

So if everyone is an eligible receiver…

It will be a lot harder to illegally ground the ball.
Downfield blocking flag is gone.
There are pretty much no more formation penalties.
Pass interference on an engaged center?

Or, it's one play in a long game.

Make everyone eligible, and you have to bring back 1968 defense rules just to give the defense a fighting chance.

Would be fun to watch at least once.