The grounds crew no longer can assist players in clearing snow for the kickers.
By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
Last season, the Buffalo Bills won a pivotal and memorable game against the Indianapolis Colts, 13-7. The game was played in nothing short of a blizzard.
If that game were played in 2018, or a similar one is played next season, a rule would be been broken.
According to FootballZebras.com, the NFL passed a new rule in regard to kicking during snow contests, such as the Bills versus the Colts.
Players and members of the Bills’ personnel helped kickers, such as Indy’s Adam Vinatieri, clear out spots in the snow-covered field so they were able to kick.
The new rule? Well, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott might need to add a new drill to December practices. Only players are allowed to clear out snow. No more help from grounds crews.
The rule change reads: “It is impermissible for the grounds crew or other team personnel to clear away snow for a Try, field goal, punt, or kickoff. Officials should try to prevent this as soon as they see someone coming out on the field, thus avoiding the need to call a penalty.”
As the video shows, non-players are on the field helping the Colts. That in itself is already a penalty, but there was nothing in writing to enforce it under such extreme conditions, per FootballZebras.
That being said, McDermott shouldn’t be overly concerned. For one, that was an extremely rare dumping of snow against Indianapolis.
Second, the Bills have plenty of players from non-snowbound homes, but also a couple who are right at home in the snow. Among them are new quarterback Josh Allen and defensive end Eddie Yarbrough, who both played college football at the University of Wyoming.
Yarbrough hilariously told a story about a time where his coaches at Wyoming cut the pockets out of their practice pants because he thought players needed to be more “mentally tough.”
Sounds like Allen and Yarbrough could be the Bills’ most valuable snow players in case of blizzard field goals.
Or we can just hope to avoid that altogether?
Nah, that was too much fun.