Every professional football team has 53 members, but only 45 are allowed to dress in uniform each week. Does anyone know why those eight players have to wear their own clothes on the sideline?
Kevin
I’m no expert on the NFL, but my guess would be that the difference in the team roster and the number of players that dress allows the team some flexibility when dealing with injuries, suspensions, and other similar issues. As for their wearing street clothes, I sure would rather stand around in street clothes than full pads.
The extra eight guys are around to fill in for problems like minor injuries, etc.
With the notable exception of baseball, if you’re not going to play in the game, you don’t wear your uniform.
But even if all of your team is healthy, you can still only activate 45 players, and have to report that to the NFL by the end of the day on Friday. I just don’t understand why. I’m a Broncos fan, and there have been times when Shanahan will activate a player he knows is not going to play (because of an injury) to keep the opposing team off-balance. Why do those 8 have to be deactivated?
Kevin
To keep things fair, maybe? If I’ve got eight guys on the disabled list, then I’ve lost some flexibility, come game day, in choosing who to put on the field. It wouldn’t be fair if my opponent could still swap out players in different situations.
It may be related to the fact that until ten years or so ago, NFL rosters were set at 45. Some years ago, they enlarged the rosters and also provided for the taxi squad, of five people, I believe.
I thought that NFL teams were required to give the league office detailed injury reports with the status of each player (questionable, doubtful, out). If you say someone is going to be “out” and that player suits up and plays, I believe the league will fine the team.