Wasn't Thigpen inactive?

[The 12th Man]

I'm pretty sure that I read that QB Tyler Thigpen was declared 1 of the 8 inactives before the game. If that's the case, how can he play in the game? I am missing something or did the Fins sneak in an inactive player and played with 46 instead of 45 today? Second part of the question (assuming he was inactive) is what is the penalty/punishment for that since I have never seen it happen before?

 

[JohnVM]

qb3? 10char.

 

[Rob0729]

I think he was the emergency QB and he came in in the fourth quarter. He could have come in at any time, but Henne and Pennington would have been deactivated if he came in before the fourth.

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

I'm pretty sure that I read that QB Tyler Thigpen was declared 1 of the 8 inactives before the game. If that's the case, how can he play in the game? I am missing something or did the Fins sneak in an inactive player and played with 46 instead of 45 today? Second part of the question (assuming he was inactive) is what is the penalty/punishment for that since I have never seen it happen before?

If he was listed as the emergency QB, he can play. Not sure if he was officially announced as inactive though.

 

[PatsDeb]

I believe he can be inactive but designated as the 3rd QB, and if he comes in, then the 2nd QB (Pennington?) cannot come into the game.

 

[The 12th Man]

Ok that makes sense now guys. Thanks for the clarification. I guess I have never paid attention to the "emergency QB" rule. Kind of cheesy since you can technically play with 2 QBs all the time and have an "extra" roster spot in case one gets hurt. I know the Pats only carry 2 QBs anyway, but if I was a team with 3 QBs on the roster, I would never keep all 3 active if that's the case.

Anyway, thanks again for clearing that up for me.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Kind of cheesy since you can technically play with 2 QBs all the time and have an "extra" roster spot in case one gets hurt.

The rule came about after a game in which a team only had two QBs on the active roster, and both of them were injured in the same game.

Basically, the Competition Committee decided (correctly, IMO) that teams should be allowed to prepare for such an unlikely contingency without being heavily penalized for it (since, in general, you only play one QB at a time).

 

[Sciz]

Just some clarifications of the rules, for anybody who's wondering:
The third QB can enter the game at any time. If it's before the fourth quarter, then the two active QBs cannot play any more. In the fourth quarter, the third QB can enter the game at any position without penalty.