FIRST Rule Changes

[EricH]

Let me get this straight for a minute.

You're saying that you didn't use this design "category" because you think 1) it's unfair, 2) it might be disallowed, 3) it's not the GDC's intention of how the game is to be played, and 4) it's not within the spirit of the rules. Am I correct, so far?

I'll start out with 3) to answer. The correct answer to that is that you don't know the GDC's intention except as they choose to reveal it. All teams operate under that same constraint. I haven't seen anything from the GDC, officially or not, saying that this is or is not how the game is supposed to be played. (Any GDC members that see this, feel free to chime in...)

2) is a moot point. It's been held legal by the GDC (and as the GDC holds it legal, so do the inspectors and refs) on multiple occasions. The loophole, if loophole there is, could have been closed at any time between Kickoff and Ship Day without too many complaints (other than 469, 51, and 125, at least one of whom also has a kicker, and few of whom would actually come out and complain loudly). Changing it now would of course generate massive complaints from Weeks 1, 2, and 3, not a lot of cheering from Week 4, and a "What did they do that for?" from Week 5. Not gonna be changed at this point in time.

1) That's your opinion, and I'm not going to try to change it. I think you've already figured out that you're in the minority on this.

4) See 3) for my response.