Advertisement

NFL disallows Patriots 'trick' plays that stung Ravens in playoffs

The New England Patriots took advantage of the rules to beat the Baltimore Ravens in the postseason. On Wednesday, the NFL changed the rules.

The Patriots ran some four-man lines where running back Shane Vereen was on the line but ineligible and tight end Michael Hoomanawanui eligible despite lined up at what looked like a left tackle position. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh cried foul, and the league listened — now, but not then. (Harbaugh was assessed a 15-yard penalty for delay of game at the time.)

"It's not something that anybody has ever done before," Harbaugh said after the game in January. "They're an illegal type of a thing and I'm sure that [the NFL will] make some adjustments and things like that."

The rule has been changed as such: A player with an eligible receiver’s number (Nos. 1-49 and 80-89) must line up within the tackle box; if they line up incorrectly, a 5-yard penalty for illegal substitution will be levied.

Patriots team owner Robert Kraft was asked about the plays on Monday and denied that the team did anything shady or illegal, saying merely that Bill Belichick was coaching within the rules of the time.

"We didn’t take advantage of anything,” Kraft said. “We played by the rules. If you read the rulebook, you’d see that. We didn’t take advantage. We executed according to the rules, and we’ve always tried to do that.

“However you can get an edge within the rules, I compliment that.”

Now those rules have been changed. This often happens after the Patriots win big football games. They have kept winning games in the past, and we suspect they'll adjust accordingly and be fine going forward.

- - - - - - -

Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!