# NFL green dot??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145 "2007-10-01T14:07:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/1 "2007-10-01T14:07:25Z")
Mrs. Flex occasionally watches football with me on Sundays and noticed that the quarterback’s helmet in all 3 games we saw had a 1 inch diameter green dot on the back. She assumed I should know what that was all about, but I am mystified. Anyone have the answer? ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/2 "2007-10-01T14:16:12Z")
> [@](#): > > The green dots allow game officials to identify QBs who have coach-to-quarterback radio communication devices in their helmets. Only one quarterback with the device can be on the field at a time. All NFL teams use the communication devices. From the Detroit Free-Press. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/3 "2007-10-01T14:24:29Z")
Silly question regarding the above quote: I thought a team could field only one quarterback at a time anyway. What does the above mean? ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/4 "2007-10-01T14:27:33Z")
WAG: you can’t field your second string quarterback at halfback or at any other position unless they wear another helmet. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/5 "2007-10-01T14:29:33Z")
[QUOTE=Rhythmdvl] Silly question regarding the above quote: I thought a team could field only one quarterback at a time anyway. What does the above mean? [/QUOTE] Antwaan Randle-El, for instance, was/is quite capable of playing both receiver and quarterback (see, e.g. Superbowl XL), and did line up as QB at times, IIRC. Anyway, there are a number of teams that could claim to have multiple people who could play quarterback at any given time during a game. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/6 "2007-10-01T14:34:24Z")
[QUOTE=Rhythmdvl] Silly question regarding the above quote: I thought a team could field only one quarterback at a time anyway. What does the above mean? [/QUOTE] Once in a while a team will have a QB on the roster who can also play running back or wide receiver ([Kordell “Slash” Stewart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kordell_Stewart#Slash) was a notable example). The rule prevents a player from being able to line up as a wide out or a back with a mic in his hemet. ---
**Author:** ![Goblinboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3be4f8/32.png) [@Goblinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goblinboy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/7 "2007-10-01T15:54:53Z")
The green dot means that the helmet has a radio in it. It doesn’t necessarily mean anything about the player, although usually only quarterbacks wear them. Only one helmet with a green dot/radio is allowed on the field per team at a time. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/8 "2007-10-01T16:35:37Z")
There have also been kicker/QBs. George Blanda being my all time favorite. He would do placekicks and another QB would be the holder. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/9 "2007-10-01T16:52:45Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] Antwaan Randle-El [/QUOTE] I think it’s abominable that they’re letting Kryptonians play football these days. It is so unfair to the other players. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/10 "2007-10-01T16:55:38Z")
Like **Goblinboy** said. But every time I see it, I imagine the player buying the helmet at Wal-Mart, and the cashier sticking the sticker on it, so he can wear it out of the store instead of bagging it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/11 "2007-10-01T17:03:49Z")
Inside the green dot, in little, bitty letters it says “Kick me.” ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/12 "2007-10-01T18:22:56Z")
> [@](#): > > The green dots allow game officials to identify QBs who have coach-to-quarterback radio communication devices in their helmets. **Only one quarterback with the device** can be on the field at a time. All NFL teams use the communication devices. (my bold) **Hentor the Barbarian** , not one per QB, only one device on the field at a time. Only one team may have direct com with the coach at a time. My guess is, only the offensive team gets the head set. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/13 "2007-10-01T18:59:29Z")
[QUOTE=picunurse] My guess is, only the offensive team gets the head set. [/QUOTE] To continue with that, there was a proposal this summer to allow the defense to have such a system, but it was voted down. Then this thing with the Pats and stealing defensive signals happened, so expect that next year the proposal will get revisited. ---
**Author:** ![BlakeTyner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@BlakeTyner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlakeTyner)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/14 "2007-10-01T20:00:47Z")
Yeah, most everyone I’ve talked to (myself included) figures the defense should be allowed one comm link, too - probably the middle linebacker, but anyone really. I doubt it’ll be too many more years before they allow one per side. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/15 "2007-10-01T20:12:05Z")
Heck, why is it limited? I don’t see why letting everyone on a team have a comm would be a problem. It could allow for some very interesting coordinated plays. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/16 "2007-10-01T21:51:50Z")
[QUOTE=Pleonast] Heck, why is it limited? I don’t see why letting everyone on a team have a comm would be a problem. It could allow for some very interesting coordinated plays. [/QUOTE] It could be slaved to a joystick controller so that it would give instructions to the player, like “turn left - run - stop - throw” etc. Then the coaches could control the game by playing Madden on the sidelines. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/17 "2007-10-01T22:00:22Z")
[QUOTE=flex727] a 1 inch diameter green dot on the back [/QUOTE] It means “this member is currently online.” ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/18 "2007-10-01T22:00:57Z")
Why green, though? I hate seeing my Cowboys wearing Iggles colors. The rule should be that the helmet must bear a dot with high contrast against the underlying color. Light helmet = dark dot (black, dark blue, dark green, red) Dark helmet = light dot (white, yella, light green, light blue, pink) ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/19 "2007-10-01T22:28:27Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] Why green, though? I hate seeing my Cowboys wearing Iggles colors. The rule should be that the helmet must bear a dot with high contrast against the underlying color. Light helmet = dark dot (black, dark blue, dark green, red) \*\* Dark helmet \*\*= light dot (white, yella, light green, light blue, pink) [/QUOTE] Now, that’s not fair. His mastery of the schwartz gives him a ridiculous advantage. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145/20 "2007-10-02T13:43:44Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] Why green, though? I hate seeing my Cowboys wearing Iggles colors. [/QUOTE] Aren’t the Eagles powder blue and yellow? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-green-dot/421145.md?page=2)