This might be useful for this thread. The equipment section of the rulebook complete:
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Rule 5
Number of
Players
PlayersNumbered byPosition
Number of
Players inHuddle
Substitute
Becomes
Player
LegalSubstitutions
IllegalSubstitutions
Offensive
Substitutions
Players, Substitutes, Equipment, GeneralRules
Section 1 Players
Article 1 The game is played by two teams of 11 players each. If a snap, free kick, or
fair-catch kick is made while a team has fewer than 11 players on the field of play or the
end zone, the ball is in play, and there is no penalty. If a team has more than 11 players
on the field of play or the end zone when a snap, free kick, or fair-catch kick is made,
the ball is in play, and it is a foul.
Penalty: For more than 11 players on the field of play or the end zone while the
ball is in play: Loss of five yards from the previous spot.
Article 2 All players must wear numerals on their jerseys in accordance with Rule 5,
Section 4, Article 3©. Such numerals must be by playing position, as follows:
(a) quarterbacks, punters, and placekickers: 1-19;
( running backs and defensive backs: 20-49;
© centers: 50-59 (60-79 if 50-59 are unavailable);
(d) offensive guards and tackles: 60-79;
(e) wide receivers: 10-19 and 80-89;
(f) tight ends: 80-89;
(g) defensive linemen: 60-79 (90-99 if 60-79 are unavailable); and
(h) linebackers: 50-59 (90-99 if 50-59 are unavailable).
If a player changes his position during his playing career in the NFL, and such change
moves him out of a category specified above, he must be issued an appropriate new
jersey numeral.
Any request to wear a numeral for a special position not specified above (e.g., H-back)
must be made to the Commissioner.
During the preseason period when playing rosters are larger, the League will allow duplication and other temporary deviations from the numbering scheme specified above,
but the rule must be adhered to for all players during the regular season and postseason. Clubs must make numerals available to adhere to the rule, even if it requires returning to circulation a numeral that has been retired or withheld for other reasons. See
5-3-1 for reporting a change of position.
Section 2 Substitutes and Withdrawn Players
Article 1 There can never be more than 11 players in the offensive huddle while the play
clock is running. If there is a foul, the whistle is blown immediately, and the ball remains
dead.
Article 2 A substitute becomes a player when:
(a) he participates in at least one play (including a play negated by penalty prior to the
snap or during the play); or
( he is on the field of play or the end zone when a snap, fair-catch kick, or free kick is
made, or when a snap, fair-catch kick, or free kick is imminent.
A player becomes a substitute when he is withdrawn from the game and does not participate in at least one play. A play negated by penalty prior to the snap or during the play
counts as a missed play.
Article 3 Any number of substitutes may enter the field of play or the end zone while the
ball is dead.
Article 4 If a substitute enters the field of play or the end zone while the ball is in play, it
is an illegal substitution. If an illegal substitute interferes with the play, it may be a palpably unfair act (see 12-3-3).
Article 5 The following are applicable to any offensive substitute who is entering the
game:
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Rule 5, Section 2, Article 6
Withdrawn
Players
Disqualifiedand
SuspendedPlayers
Penalties for
IllegalSubstitution or
Withdrawal
Procedure
FollowingTimeout or
Change ofPossession
(a) He must move onto the field of play or the end zone as far as the inside of the field
numerals prior to the snap to be a legal substitution. If he does not, and is on the
field of play or end zone at the time of a legal snap, he is an illegal substitute.
( If he approaches the huddle and communicates with a teammate(s), he is required
to participate in at least one play before being withdrawn. Violations of this rule may
be penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Note: The intent of the rule is to prevent teams from using simulated substitutions to confuse an opponent, while still permitting a player(s) to enter and leave without participating in a play in certain situations, such as a change in a coaching decision on fourth
down, even though he has approached the huddle and communicated with a teammate. Similarly, if a player who participated in the previous play leaves the playing field
by mistake, and returns to the playing field prior to the snap, he is not required to reach
the inside of the field numerals, provided that the defense has the opportunity to match
up with him. However, a substitute (i.e., someone who did not participate in the previous play) is required to reach the inside of the field numerals.
Article 6 A player or players who have been replaced must leave the playing field or end
zone on their own team’s side between the end lines prior to the next snap, free kick, or
fair-catch kick.
Article 7 A player must be withdrawn and substituted for when he is disqualified (see
12-2, 12-3) or suspended (see 5-4). A suspended player may re-enter after at least one
legal snap, provided that the reason for his suspension has been corrected. A disqualified player must leave the playing field enclosure and go to the team locker room within a reasonable time.
Article 8 Penalties for illegal substitution or withdrawal are:
(a) For 12 or more players in the offensive huddle (whistle blown immediately
and ball remains dead): Loss of five yards from the succeeding spot.
( For a substitute entering the field during a live ball: Loss of five yards.
© For interference with the play by a substitute who enters the field during a
live ball: Palpably unfair act (see 12-3-3)
(d) For an offensive substitute who does not move onto the field as far as the
inside of the field numerals: Loss of five yards from the previous spot.
(e) For an offensive substitute who moves onto the field inside the field numerals and leaves without participating in one play: Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
(f) For a withdrawn player on the field at the snap, free kick, or fair-catch kick:
Loss of five yards from the previous spot.
(g) For a withdrawn player clearing the field on the opponents’ side or across
an end line: Loss of five yards from the previous spot.
(h) For illegal return of a suspended player: Loss of five yards from the previous spot if discovery is made while the ball is in play, or five yards from the
succeeding spot if discovered between downs, in which case the ball remains dead.
(i) For return of a disqualified player: Loss of 15 yards from the previous spot
if discovery is made while the ball is in play, or 15 yards from the succeeding spot if discovered between downs, in which case the ball remains dead,
and, in either case, exclusion from the playing field enclosure.
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE:
If the illegal return of a player is not discovered until the end of a down, but prior to the start
of the next one, enforcement is from the previous spot when definitely known. Otherwise, enforcement is from the succeeding spot as a foul between downs (see 14-5).
Article 9 Following a timeout or change of possession, the ball will not be declared
ready for play until the offense has brought 11 players into its huddle inside the in-
bounds lines (hashmarks). If the offensive team refuses to leave the sideline prior to the
ball being declared ready for play, it will be warned once. Thereafter, the offense will be
penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct.
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Defensive
MatchupsFollowingSubstitutions
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
ReportingChange ofPosition
Returning toOriginalPosition
Rule 5, Section 2, Article 10
Penalty: For Unsportsmanlike Conduct after a warning: Loss of 15 yards from the
succeeding spot.
If there is an offensive substitution that occurs after the offensive team has broken its huddle, the play clock will be stopped, and the defense will be allowed an opportunity to
matchup.
Article 10 If a substitution is made by the offense, the offense shall not be permitted to
snap the ball until the defense has been permitted to respond with its substitutions.
While in the process of a substitution (or simulated substitution), the offense is prohibited from rushing quickly to the line of scrimmage and snapping the ball in an obvious
attempt to cause a defensive foul (i.e., too many men on the field). If, in the judgment
of the officials, this occurs, the following procedure will apply:
(a) The Umpire will stand over the ball until the Referee deems that the defense has had
a reasonable time to complete its substitutions.
( If a play takes place and a defensive foul for too many players on the field results, no
penalties will be enforced, except for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct,
and the down will be replayed. At this time, the Referee will notify the head coach that
any further use of this tactic will result in a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Note: The quick-snap rule does not apply after the two-minute warning of either half, or
if there is not a substitution by the offense.
© On a fourth down punting situation, the Referee and the Umpire will not allow a
quick snap that prevents the defense from having a reasonable time to complete its
substitutions. This applies throughout the entire game.
Article 11 Using entering substitutes, legally returning players, substitutes on sidelines,
or withdrawn players to confuse opponents, or lingering by players leaving the field
when being replaced by a substitute, is unsportsmanlike conduct. See 12-3-1-k. The offense is prevented from sending simulated substitutions onto the field toward its huddle and returning them to the sideline without completing the substitution in an attempt
to confuse the defense.
Penalty: For Unsportsmanlike Conduct after a warning: Loss of 15 yards from the
succeeding spot.
Section 3 Changes in Position
Article 1 An offensive player wearing the number of an ineligible pass receiver (50-79
and 90-99) is permitted to line up in the position of an eligible pass receiver (1-49 and
80-89), and an offensive player wearing the number of an eligible pass receiver is permitted to line up in the position of an ineligible pass receiver, provided that he immediately reports the change in his eligibility status to the Referee, who will inform the defensive team.
He must participate in such eligible or ineligible position as long as he is continuously in
the game, but prior to each play he must again report his status to the Referee, who will
inform the defensive team. The game clock shall not be stopped, and the ball shall not
be put in play until the Referee takes his normal position.
Article 2 A player who has reported a change in his eligibility status to the Referee is
permitted to return to a position indicated by the eligibility status of his number if the
change in eligibility is followed by:
(a) a team timeout;
( the end of a quarter;
© the two-minute warning;
(d) a foul;
(e) a replay challenge;
(f) a touchdown;
(g) a completed kick from scrimmage;
(h) a change of possession; or
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Rule 5, Section 3, Article 3
(i) if the player has been withdrawn for one legal snap. A player withdrawn for one legal
snap may re-enter at a position indicated by the eligibility status of his number, unless he again reports to the Referee that he is assuming a position other than that
designated by the eligibility status of his number.
General Policy
Article 3 Each offensive and defensive team is permitted to have one player on
the field with a speaker in his helmet. There must be a visual indicator on the player’s helmet to identify him. Each player listed as a quarterback on the pregame
deactivation report and two defensive players, designated by their teams as a primary and backup user, are permitted to have speakers in their helmets.
When the backup quarterback enters the game for the first time, or re-enters the game
if he has previously been in the game and removed, he must report to the Referee.
Whenever the backup defensive user enters the game wearing a helmet with a speak-
e r, he must report to the Umpire. If the primary defensive user subsequently reenters the game wearing a helmet with a speaker, he must report to the Umpire.
A team may not have two players in the game at the same time with speakers in their
helmets.
Penalty: If a player fails to notify the Referee of a change in his status when required:
Loss of five yards for illegal substitution.
Section 4 Equipment, Uniforms, Player Appearance
Article 1 Throughout the game-day period while in view of the stadium and television
audience, including during pregame warm-ups, all players must dress in a professional manner under the uniform standards specified in this Section 4. They must wear
equipment offering reasonable protection to themselves while reasonably avoiding risk
of injury to other players. And they generally must present an appearance that is appropriate to representing their individual clubs and the National Football League. The
term uniform, as used in this policy, applies to every piece of equipment worn by a player, including helmet, shoulder pads, thigh pads, knee pads, and any other item of protective gear, and to every visible item of apparel, including but not limited to pants, jerseys, wristbands, gloves, stockings, shoes, visible undergarments, and accessories
such as headwear coverings, worn under helmets and hand towels. All visible items
worn on game-day by players must be issued by the club or the League, or, if from outside sources, must have approval in advance by the League office.
Team Colors
Article 2 Pursuant to the official colors established for each NFL club in the League
Constitution and Bylaws, playing squads are permitted to wear only those colors or a
combination of those colors for helmets, jerseys, pants, and stockings; provided that
white is also an available color for jerseys and mandatory color for the lower portion of
stockings [see 5-3-3-(i), “Stockings,” below]. Each player on a given team must wear
the same colors on his uniform as all other players on his team in the same game. Before July 1 each year, home clubs are required to report to the League office their choice
of jersey color (either white or official team color) for their home games of that forthcoming season (including postseason, in the event that the club should become a host
for such a game), and visiting clubs must wear the opposite. For preseason, regular
season, or postseason games, the two competing teams may wear jerseys in their official colors (non-white), provided the Commissioner determines that such colors are of
sufficient contrast.
Mandatory Equipment, Apparel
Article 3 All players must wear the equipment and uniform apparel listed below, which
must be of a suitably protective nature, must be designed and produced by a professional manufacturer, and must not be cut, reduced in size, or otherwise altered unless
for medical reasons approved in advance by the Commissioner; provided, however,
that during pregame warm-ups players may omit certain protective equipment at their
option, except that helmets must be worn. Where additional rules are applicable to specific categories of mandatory equipment or apparel, or where related equipment is optional, such provisions are also spelled out below.
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Rule 5, Section 4, Article 3
Helmets, Face Protectors
(a) Helmet with chin strap (white only) fastened and facemask attached. Facemasks
must not be more than 5/8-inch in diameter and must be made of rounded material;
transparent materials are prohibited.
Clear (transparent) plastic face shields for eye protection are optional. Tinted eye
shields may be worn only after the League office is supplied with appropriate medical documentation and approval is subsequently granted. The League office has
final approval. League office is supplied in advance with appropriate medical documentation that the shield is needed.
No visible identification of a manufacturer’s name or logo on the exterior of a helmet
or on any attachment to a helmet is permitted unless provided for under a commercial arrangement between the League and manufacturer; in no event is identification of any helmet manufacturer permitted on the visible surface of a rear cervical
pad. All helmets must carry a small NFL shield logo on the rear lower-left exterior,
which logo will be provided in quantity by the League. All helmets must carry on the
rear lower-right exterior, an approved warning label (such labels will be supplied in
quantity by the League).
Jerseys
( Jersey must cover all pads and other protective equipment worn on the torso and
upper arms, and must be appropriately tailored to remain tucked into the uniform
pants throughout the game. Tearaway jerseys are prohibited. Mesh jerseys with
large fish-net material (commonly referred to as “bullet-hole” or “port-hole” mesh)
are also prohibited. Surnames of players in letters a minimum of 21/2-inches high
must be affixed to the exterior of jerseys across the upper back above the numerals; nicknames are prohibited. All jerseys must carry a small NFL Equipment logo
at the middle of the yoke of the neck on the front of the garment. All fabrics must be
approved by the League office prior to production.
Numerals
© Numerals on the back and front of jerseys in accordance with Rule 5, Section 1, Article 4. Such numerals must be a minimum of 8 inches high and 4 inches wide, and
their color must be in sharp contrast with the color of the jersey. Smaller numerals
should be worn on the tops of the shoulders or upper arms of the jersey. Small numerals on the back of the helmet or on the uniform pants are optional.
Pants
(d) Pants must be worn over the entire knee area; pants shortened or rolled up to meet
the stockings above the knee are prohibited. No part of the pants may be cut away
unless an appropriate gusset or other device is used to replace the removed material. All pants must carry a small NFL Equipment logo on the front left groin area of
the pants, midway between the fly opening and side seam, and 1/2-inch below the
belt.
Shoulder Pads
(e) Shoulder pads must be completely covered by the uniform jersey.
Stockings
(f) Stockings must cover the entire area from the shoe to the bottom of the pants, and
must meet the pants below the knee. Players are permitted to wear as many layers
of stockings and tape on the lower leg as they prefer, provided the exterior is a one-
piece stocking that includes solid white from the top of the shoe to the mid-point of
the lower leg, and approved team color or colors (non-white) from that point to the
top of the stocking. Uniform stockings may not be altered (e.g. over-stretched, cut
at the toes, or sewn short) in order to bring the line between solid white and team
colors lower or higher than the mid-point of the lower leg. No other stockings and/or
opaque tape may be worn over the one-piece, two-color uniform stocking. Barefoot
punters and placekickers may omit the stocking of the kicking foot in preparation
for and during kicking plays.
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Rule 5, Section 4, Article 4
Other
Prohibited
Equipment,
Apparel
Shoes
(g) Shoes must be of standard football design, including “sneaker” type shoes such as
basketball shoes, cross-training shoes, etc. League-approved tri-colored shoes are
permitted with black, white, and one team color. Each team must select a dominant
color for its shoes, either black or white (with shoelace color conforming to the dominant color of the tongue area of the manufacturer’s shoe). The selection of dominant color must be reported by each team to the League Office no later than July 1
each year. Each player may select among shoe styles previously approved by the
League Office. All players on the same team must wear shoes with the same dominant color. Approved shoe styles will contain one team color which must be the
same for all players on a given team. A player may wear an unapproved standard
football shoe style as long as the player tapes over the entire shoe to conform to his
team’s selected dominant color. Logos, names, or other commercial identification
on shoes are not permitted to be visible unless advance approval is granted by the
League Office (see Article 7). Size and location of logos and names on shoes must
be approved by the NFL. When a shoe logo or a name approved by the League
Office is covered with an appropriate use of tape (see Article 4(f)), players will be
allowed to cut out the tape covering the original logo or name, provided the cut is
clean and is the exact size of the logo or name. The logo or name of the shoe manufacturer must not be reapplied to the exterior of taped shoes unless advance approval is granted by the League Office. Kicking shoes must not be modified (including using a shoelace wrapped around toe and/or bottom of the shoe), and any
shoe that is worn by a player with an artificial limb on his kicking leg must have a
kicking surface that conforms to that of a normal kicking shoe. Punters and placekickers may omit the shoe from the kicking foot in preparation for and during kicking plays. Punters and placekickers may wear any combination of tri-colored shoes
provided that the colors are consistent with those selected by the team and with the
policy listed above.
Article 4 In addition to the several prohibited items of equipment and apparel specified
in Article 4 above, the following are also prohibited:
Projecting Objects
(a) Metal or other hard objects that project from a player’s person or uniform, including
from his shoes.
Uncovered Hard Objects, Substances
( Hard objects and substances, including but not limited to casts, guards or braces
for hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, hip, thigh, knee, shin, unless such items are appropriately covered on all edges and surfaces by a minimum of 3/8-inch foam rubber or
similar soft material. Any such item worn to protect an injury must be reported by
the applicable coaching staff to the Umpire in advance of the game, and a description of the injury must be provided. If the Umpire determines that an item in
question, including tape or bandages on hands or forearms, may present undue
risk to other players, he may prevent its use at a time before or during a game until
the item is removed or appropriately corrected.
Detachable Toe
© Detachable kicking toe.
Torn Items
(d) Torn or improperly fitting equipment creating a risk of injury to other players, e.g. the
hard surfaces of shoulder pads exposed by a damaged jersey.
Improper Cleats
(e) Shoe cleats made of aluminum or other material that may chip, fracture, or develop
a cutting edge. Conical cleats with concave sides or points which measure less
than 3/8-inch in diameter at the tips, or cleats with oblong ends which measure less
than 1/4- by 3/4-inch at the end tips are also prohibited. Nylon cleats with flat steel tips
are permitted.
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Rule 5, Section 4, Article 5
Improper Tape
(f) Opaque, contrasting-color tape that covers any part of the helmet, jersey, pants,
stockings, or shoes; transparent tape or tape of the same color as the background
material is permissible for use on these items of apparel. Players may use opaque,
white, black, or one dominant club color tape on hands and arms, provided it conforms to 5-4-4( above (“Uncovered Hard Objects, Substances”) and 5-4-4(h) below (“Approved Glove Color on Linemen”). Opaque tape on shoes is permitted, provided it is the same color as the shoe, and provided it does not carry up into the
stocking area.
Items Colored Like Football
(g) Headgear or any other equipment or apparel which, in the opinion of the Referee,
may confuse an opponent because of its similarity in color to that of the game football. If such color is worn, it must be broken by stripes or other patterns of sharply
contrasting color or colors.
Approved Glove Color
(h) Gloves, wrappings, elbow pads, and other items worn on the arms below or over
the jersey sleeves by interior offensive linemen (excluding tight ends) which are of
a color different from that which is mandatorily reported to the League office by the
club before July 1 each year. Such reported color must be white or other official color of the applicable team, and, once reported, must not be changed throughout that
same season. Players at other positions (non-interior linemen) also may wear
gloves provided they are a solid white, solid black, or a solid color that is an official
color of the applicable club. Gloves may also be a tri-color combination of black,
white, and one (1) official color of the applicable club. Gloves may also be a bi-color combination of black or white with one (1) official color of the applicable team.
Clubs are not required to designate to the League office by July 1, the color of
gloves that will be worn by their non-interior linemen.
Adhesive, Slippery Substances
(i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player;
provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such
tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players.
Garments Under Jerseys
(j) Quarterbacks will be allowed to wear under the game jersey a solid-color T-shirt,
turtleneck, or sweatshirt (consistent with team undergarment color) with sleeves cut
to any length, as long as both sleeves are evenly trimmed and the edges are sewn
and hemmed. All other players may wear garments under game jerseys only if the
undergarment sleeves either (a) do not extend below the sleeves of the jersey; or
( are full length to the wrist. No other sleeve lengths for garments under jerseys
are permitted for players other than quarterbacks. Players may not wear long-
sleeved undergarments that include pebble-grip sleeves. Any garments under jerseys that are exposed at the neck or sleeve area and that carry an exposed logo or
commercial name must be licensed by and approved by the League Office for wear
on the field (see Article 7). All members of the same team who wear approved undergarments with exposed necks or sleeves must wear the same color on a given
day, which color must be white or a solid color that is an official team color (solid
means that sleeves must not carry stripes, designs, or team names).
Prohibited Headwear Coverings
(k) Players are not permitted to wear bandannas, stockings, or other unapproved
headwear anywhere on the field during the pregame, game, or postgame periods,
even if such items are worn under their helmet.
Recommended Article 5 It is recommended that all players wear hip pads, thigh pads, and knee pads
Equipment which reasonably avoid the risk of injury. Unless otherwise provided by individual team
policy, it is the players’ responsibility and decision whether to follow this recommendation and use such pads. If worn, all three forms of pads listed above must be covered
by the outer uniform. Basketball-type knee pads are permitted but must also be covered by the outer uniform.
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Rule 5, Section 4, Article 6
OptionalEquipment
Logos andCommercial
Identification
Personal
Messages
General
Appearance
Article 6 Among the types of optional equipment that are permitted to be worn by players are the following:
Rib Protectors
(a) Rib protectors (“flak jackets”) under the jersey.
Wrist Bands
( Wrist bands, provided they are white or black only.
Towels
© Towels, provided they are white licensed towels approved by the League office for
use on the playing field. Players are prohibited from adding to these towels personal
messages, logos, names, symbols, or illustrations. Such towels also must be attached to or tucked into the front waist of the pants, and must be no larger than 6 x
8 inches (slightly larger size may be issued to quarterbacks, or may be folded to
these limits for wearing in games). A player may wear no more than one towel. Players are prohibited from discarding on the playing field any loose towels or other materials used for wiping hands and the football. Streamers or ribbons, regardless of
length, hanging from any part of the uniform, including the helmet, are prohibited.
Headwear Coverings
(d) When players are on the field, as defined in Article 1, during the pregame, game and
postgame periods, they may wear approved caps, approved cold weather gear, or
other approved headwear coverings for medical purposes only, as determined by
the Commissioner. Any permissible head coverings must be approved by the
League office, and if worn under the helmet, no portion may hang from or otherwise
be visible outside the helmet.
Article 7 Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and
television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during
postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from
wearing, displaying, or orally promoting equipment, apparel, or other items that carry
commercial names or logos of companies, unless such commercial identification has
been approved in advance by the League office. The size of any approved logo or other commercial identification involved in an agreement between a manufacturer and the
League will be modest and unobtrusive, and there is no assurance that it will be visible
to the television audience. Subject to any future approved arrangements with a manufacturer and subject to any decision by the Commissioner to suspend enforcement
temporarily of this provision governing shoes, visible logos and names of shoes are
prohibited, including on the sole of the shoe that may be seen from time to time during
the game.
Article 8 Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and
television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during
postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from
wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.
Items to celebrate anniversaries or memorable events, or to honor or commemorate individuals, such as helmet decals, and arm bands and jersey patches on players’ uniforms, are prohibited unless approved in advance by the League office. All such items
must relate to team or League events or personages. The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through
helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, or other items affixed to game uniforms or
equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, such armbands and jersey patches must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and non-controversial;
must not be worn for more than one football season; and if approved for use by a specific team, must not be worn by players on other teams in the League.
Article 9 Consistent with the equipment and uniform rules of this Section 4, players
must otherwise present a professional and appropriate appearance while before the
public on game-day. Among the types of activities that are prohibited are use of tobacco products (smokeless included) while in the bench area and use of facial makeup.
The Referee is authorized to use his judgment in determining whether any other unusual
appearance or behavior is in violation of this Article 9.
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Rule 5, Section 4, Article 9
Penalties:
(a) For violation of this Section 4 discovered during pregame warmups or at
other times prior to the game, player will be advised to make appropriate
correction; if violation is not corrected, player will not be permitted to enter
the game.
( For violation of this Section 4 discovered while player is in game, player will
be advised to make appropriate correction at the next change of possession; if violation is not corrected, player will not be permitted to enter the
game. Provided, however, if the violation involves the competitive aspects
of the game (e.g. illegal kicking toe of shoe, an adhesive or slippery substance), player will be suspended immediately upon discovery.
© For repeat violation: Disqualification from game.
(d) For illegal entry or return of a player suspended under this Section 4: Loss
of five yards from succeeding spot and removal until properly equipped after one down.
(e) For violation of this Section 4 detected in the bench area: Player and head
coach will be asked to remove the objectionable item, properly equip the
player, or otherwise correct the violation. The involved player or players will
be disqualified from the game if correction is not made promptly.
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES
Note 1: In addition to the game-day penalties specified above, the Commissioner may
subsequently impose independent disciplinary action on the involved player, up to and
including suspension from the team’s next succeeding game—preseason, regular
season, or postseason, whichever is applicable.
Note 2: If a player is suspended for having adhesive or slippery substances on his body,
equipment, or uniform, he must remain out of the game for one play, independent if
there is a team timeout, the two-minute warning, or the end of a period.
Note 3: If a player (kicker) is suspended for having an illegal kicking shoe, he must remain out of the game for one play, unless there is a team timeout, the two-minute
warning, or the end of the period.
OFFICIAL NFL PLAYING RULES 33
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