A few years ago, the NFL added a new rule in regards to QB substitutions. It's mentioned from time to time in the game telecasts, but I've never heard it explained cleary. Also, I've never heard anyoen explain the purpose of the rule. Why are QBs treated differently than other positions. Before each game, you name a first, second, and third QB. My understanding is that once the thrid QB enters the game, the other 2 can not re-enter the game until the fourth quarter. Why? Also, what counts as being a QB? Lets say the Steelers start Kordell Stewart. He goes down to an injury, so Maddux comes in. Then they run a trick play where Randall-El lines up in the shot gun and takes a snap. Does that count as using a third QB? Why not? Does that mean Randall-El has to take all the snaps for the rest of the game?
I think it's not until the last five minutes that the rule applies. Once that comes to, the 3rd QB can go in, and if something happens, another QB can go in.
The no-return untill the 4th Qtr. rule applies only to the 1st string QB. Why? Hell if I know that. But in your scenario Maddox being the 2nd QB could take the next snap after Randall-El. He's still considered the 2nd QB for the remainder of that game, Randall-EL the 3rd QB, regardless if Stewart can come back or not.
The rule, from the NFL: "Teams will be permitted an Active List of 45 players and an Inactive List of eight players for each regular-season and postseason game. Provided that a club has two quarterbacks on its 45-player Active List, a third quarterback from its Inactive List is permitted to dress for the game, but if he enters the game during the first three quarters, the other two quarterbacks are thereafter prohibited from playing." The third quarterback is the 46th player, so you don't have to waste a 45th spot on a guy who will, in all likelihood, never play. It used to be if the third guy went in anytime, the other two couldn't play, but they changed it a few years back. Basically, the third guy is for an emergency. And keeping the other two guys from playing makes sure you keep his use to emergency situations. The Randle El situation would have no effect. He wouldn't be listed as one of the three quarterbacks on the Active List, nor would anyone else who happened to take a snap in a trick situation.
Thanks. That explanation at least gives the intent of the rule. And if QB #3 happens to be a good WR and he goes in at that position, then what? Is that an illegal substitution? If so, what if the defense declines the penalty? Can he not play at the same time as QB #1 or 2?
Besides the unlikelihood (since Mark Malone retired a while back and Slash hasn't played receiver in a while), no. The third quarterback is technically on the Inactive List (along with 7 other guys off the 53-man roster), which means he's inactive and can't play. He's allowed to dress just in case he's needed, but he's inactive. And the rule says "if he enters the game", not "if he plays quarterback". If you try to put the third quarterback into the game at whatever position, the Referee will inform the Head Coach that, if we're not in the fourth quarter, the other two quarterbacks listed on the Active List ain't coming back into the game, no way, no how. Then it's up to the coach, and that's why there's a pretty stiff penalty for just jacking around and trying to skirt the rule. If they tried to put QB#1 or QB#2 back into the game after that, I would imagine the Referee would not allow a play to be run.
If the team wants to use its #3 QB as a wide receiver, they put him on the 45-man active roster, and then he can be used at any time, as a QB or any other position. A team doesn't have to use the extra #3 QB roster slot. If someone is in that slot, they aren't going to use him unless the first 2 QB's both get injured.
Jon Gruden actually almost did it a few weeks ago (in the Packers game?). Brad Johnson got poked in the eye, and Rob Johnson was #2 (which pretty much could be a euphemism for his abilities anyway). Shaun King was #3. Rob went in and did his typical stink-up-the-place job, and King was told to put his helmet on and was on the sideline ready to go in. When it was explained to him that if King came in, he was going to have to finish the game, Gruden left Rob in and paid for emergency radical eye surgery for Brad out of his own pocket to get him back in the game.
Randall-El is listed officially as a WR. The fact that he could probably play QB is convenient to the Steelers, but irrelevant. He might be the third person Cowher would play at QB, but he is not their "third QB", officially. (that's Charlie Batch.)
Sort of realted to the topic, but I remember 2 or 3 years ago, the Dolphins took Jay Fiedler out for a play and put Bert Emmanuel (usually WR) under center. The officials stopped play because Emmanuel was not listed as the 1st or 2nd QB and he could not play QB if Fielder wasn't on the field. I don't remember if Emmanuel was listed as the emergency QB, however. So the 3rd-string QB rule doesn't take effect if the 1st string is on the field?
Not sure. But in the Falcons game last week, Vick and Warrick Dunn switched spots in the shotgun formation and the snap went to Dunn, and nobody seemed to think it was a problem...
Well, that's not the same situation. Vick was still on the field, in Skipshady's example Fiedler wasn't. Therefore noone listed as a QB on the roster was on the field. I guess that's against the rules? Anyways, to answer Skipshady's question, the 3rd QB can ONLY come in for another QB. He is an inactive player and this is an exception to the inactive rules, to allow for the 3rd QB to not waste an active roster spot. As someone else pointed out before, if a team chooses to put 3 QBs on the ACTIVE roster this probably doesn't apply.
This makes sense, I think. Now that I think about it, I remember when the Steelers were using Kordell Stewart as "Slash", they kept Neil O'Donnell on the field even when Stewart was under center.