A team can announce a blockbuster signing in March, trade a veteran in October, and still be making salary-cap decisions months later. In the NFL, the cap is not a once-a-year limit checked only when free agency opens. It shapes roster moves throughout the league year, and the timing of a contract can matter almost … Read more

A quarterback is sacked in his own end zone, and the defense suddenly has two points. That play is called a safety—but the score can come from more than a sack. In American football, a safety is awarded when the offense is responsible for the ball becoming dead in its own end zone, or commits … Read more

A safety may be the last defender between a receiver and the end zone—or the extra body arriving near the line to stop a run. The position’s job changes with the formation, the call and the situation, which is why safeties often have to read the offense before reacting. When a safety is used In … Read more

A running back is not simply the player who gets the ball when a team wants to run. On one snap, the back may take a handoff; on the next, the same player might block a blitzing linebacker or catch a pass. Coaches use running backs whenever their skills fit the play and situation, so … Read more

A quarterback can release a pass, get hit a split second later and draw a flag—even if the defender was trying to make a routine tackle. Roughing the passer is meant to protect a player who is especially vulnerable while throwing and just after the ball leaves his hand. The key questions are usually when … Read more

A freshman quarterback may spend Saturdays in a ball cap while the starter takes every snap—and still have four seasons of college football ahead of him. That is the basic idea behind a redshirt: a player can train with the team and, under the applicable rules, preserve a season of playing eligibility by limiting or … Read more

A drive can look unstoppable between the 20-yard lines and suddenly stall near the goal. That stretch near the end zone is called the red zone, and it’s where play-calling, space and pressure all change quickly. What is the red zone in American football? The red zone is the area between the opponent’s 20-yard line … Read more

A quarterback is usually involved every time a team runs an offensive play—but that does not mean every play ends with a pass. The quarterback may hand the ball to a runner, keep it, throw it, or simply help manage the play before the snap. Here’s when the position comes into play and what the … Read more

When an offense reaches fourth down, it has three basic choices: run or pass for a first down, try a field goal, or punt. The punt is often the safest way to give up possession without giving the opponent the ball where the offense currently stands—but it also gives the other team a chance to … Read more

A defense that believes a handoff is coming may send linebackers toward the line of scrimmage and safeties closer to the box. That split-second reaction is what an offense wants from play action: the quarterback and running back sell a run, then the quarterback looks to pass while defenders hesitate or move out of position. … Read more