NFL Teams now allowed to carry third QB without using an extra roster spot
The NFL has just approved a bylaw that allows teams to carry a third quarterback on their roster without it taking up an extra roster spot, the news was first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport Monday.
It’s a rule I am dubbing the 49er rule, since you know basically all of their quarterbacks got hurt last season, leaving them to rely on Josh Johnson in the NFC Championship game. It was an unfortunate situation but I guess enough Niners fans were vocal enough to create some change.
But in all seriousness, I don’t think this is a bad move, but I also don’t think it’s some game-changing rule either. What happened with the 49ers was an extreme anomaly in the NFL. Yes, starters do often get hurt, but realistically how much do you see a third and fourth-string QB get playing time?
This seems like a rule put in place so that teams can’t complain about this in the future. It also gives every team a little bit of extra insurance in their QB room, but no longer at the expense of another position.
Overall, I would say I’m pretty neutral on this rule change. I don’t see it really changing or affecting the game in any way but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Especially given the NFL’s recent history of changing rules.
San Francisco fans, I know you have to be happy, so I hope that means I don’t have to hear the complaints anymore from you guys about the NFC Championship. But as it goes with the NFL and fans, there will always be something to be mad about.
While I expect this rule to be largely insignificant in most cases, I’m sure some teams will try and figure out how to cheat the new system. Someone always does and I’m interested to see what that will look like. So enjoy your third-string QBs, everybody. Let’s just pray to God we don’t end up having to use them.
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