MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins special teams coordinator Chris Tabor was asked about the Philadelphia Eagles'
controversial use of a 12th player by the kickoff team, which give kickers wider options on how the strike the ball. Critics say the rule enabling the use of a 12th man was intended only for when the ball is repeatedly knocked off the tee by wind and that extra player would be on the field to hold the ball.Apparently, now teams can use that 12th man to hold the ball for kickoffs whether it's windy or not. In their Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans, the Eagles sent out punter Braden Mann to serve as the holder for a kickoff for Jake Elliott. The Atlanta Falcons also used a 12th man on kickoffs during their Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh
Steelers.
"There was just a little bit of a loophole in the way the rule is written that I think, hopefully ... I'm sure will be addressed and looked at," Tabor said. "I don't believe that the holder comes in the game right out of the gate and to manipulate the football. I think that's a competitive advantage."
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It has been reported that there was a conference call with many NFL special teams coordinators to address the controversy, so Tabor's optimism for a rule change likely isn't just speculation. Tabor would welcome the NFL stepping in to close the loophole.
Chicago Bears special-teams coordinator Richard Hightower recently complained that the Eagles’ use of a 12th man to hold the ball without a tee in order to better position it for a “dirty” kick violates the intent of the rules. A league spokesperson has confirmed that teams are free to use a 12th man for that purpose. The kick can happen with or without a tee — and with or without a holder.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni also has addressed the situation of using the 12th man on kickoffs.
“Obviously, with that, everything we’re doing is within the rules of the game, and we’ll continue to do the things that we need to do that give us the best chance to win each and every game,” Sirianni said. “That’s how we’ll proceed as Philadelphia Eagles.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NFL's new kickoff rule has 'little bit of a loophole' says Dolphins coach
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