Okay - I finally remembered to post this question which hit me any time I watched a game this season.
Why did the QB’s of each NFL team have a lime-green dot on the back of their helmets? It was maybe the size of a nickel or quarter, right in the center, usually over the center color-stripe about 4 - 5 inches up from the base of the helmet in the back.
I had never noticed them before this season
Once I noticed, I looked, but only saw them on QB’s - but there was one on EVERY QB’s helmet
They look to be just a sticker, not anything thicker or electronic or anything.
Any clues?
I first remembered to post this in MPSIMS in the “confess your ignorance” thread but realized that that thread appears to be looking for something different.
Those stickers mark the helmets that have radios installed. Only QB’s are allowed to wear those helmets, and only one can be in use on the field at one time; the stickers prevent mixups by the players and allow the referees to call appropriate penalties if the rule is broken.
a 3-minute turnaround time - Dopers are da’ best; thanks!
judging by the simul-post responses - I wonder if the radio in their helmets was playing Rio by Duran Duran?*
*for those not in the know regarding Doper lore, there was a thread where someone wanted a CD identified and about 50 people replied at once with the same answer…
If I’m not mistaken, there’s also a time element on radio use. I believe they must be turned off when the 45 second clock gets down to what… 15 seconds?
I assume they want to allow defensive blitzes to occur without last second warnings from the sidelines, don’t want notification a receiver’s become open, etc.
If 45 seconds is the rule, there might be a definite advantage to No-Huddle. A QB could get a play off well before that time limit and get messages from the sidelines like blitzes and open receivers.
But maybe another rule takes over - radio shutdown when the ball is snapped.
Yes, but since the QB will be at the line long before the 45 second limit is over, he’s still giving his coaches time to pick up a blitz, interesting defensive formation, etc. and tell him about it.
Just to be clear, it is a one-way system. The sideline coach talks, the QB listens. He cannot reply. The backup QB also has a reciever in his helmet, and sometimes you’ll see him holding his helmet up to his ear.
