I would consider him behind the line of scrimmage. Consider this response similar to your asinine "it's never been done in the NFL comment".
I would not argue the fact that Gronk is behind the line of scrimmage, about 1 yd. The offense you see in the third picture with Vereen "ineligible" (now playing RT) and Gronk standing in a receiver's position (hardly the "backfield") has never been done before in the NFL. You basically have a receiver lined up inside the RT and yet still in the slot. Where Gronk is standing is not the backfield, you must be joking.
I don't think many ppl in football would call that the backfield. I would think the majority of football fans would call that a receiver slot position.
Well, that would be an entirely different case to debate what constitutes as the "backfield" and what constitutes as a "wide receiver in the slot" To me where Gronk is standing would be considered a wide receiver in the slot; a wide receiver in the slot and somehow still inside the RT; truly incredible stuff.
would you quit your bitching? you look like such a fool in this argument.. its cringeworthy. Never been done before in the NFL is called ingenuity and innovation, not cheating.
Do you also have a problem when a RB comes out of the backfield, runs a route up the middle and catches the ball?
haha thanks pal not at all, why would I? There is no deceit in the running back catching a pass out of the backfield. The deceit lies in an uncovered LT that catches the football. The formation as you see it, and how everyone is declared in it, is brand new to the NFL; Saturday night was the first time it has ever happened in the NFL.
So your problem is with the deception? You do realize that deception is one of the main aspects of football, right? Do you have a problem with the play action fake as well?
Nope, not my problem at all. No problems here mon, ya mon! The situation I take note to is that it has never been done in the NFL before, a new precedent. Yes, within the terms of 7 on the line of scrimmage and players were declared to the referee, all within the rules. I have seen tackle eligible on the goal line and with receivers in the backfield. I have never seen a receiver in the slot and still inside a RT, Saturday is the first time it has ever happened in the NFL. This is the way the game was meant to be played.
Well now you have and I agree with your sentiment. Know the rules and know where to bend (not break) them.
I remember once a million years ago the Giants scored a TD on a fake field goal where their tight end lined up way over on the sideline facing the play with his arms crossed, with a bunch of guys on the bench standing around him (out of the field of play) to blend him in so he was uncovered.
I don't remember this play, but did the guy declare ineligible? Was he playing RT or LT. IMO, no receiver should be lined up inside a tackle unless they are in the backfield (behind or adjacent to the QB).
He was eligible, he caught the TD pass. If I recall correctly, he wasn't on the field when they broke the huddle, he just stepped onto it from the sideline. No one was near him.
So, he was outside the tackle. That is not the same formation we saw on Saturday. Gronk was lined up in the slot and yet still inside the RT, with under 10 seconds to go on the play clock. It was a honest play.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcat_formation#National_Football_League At what point does it become "honest", "the way the game was meant to be played", or "truly incredible stuff"?