A WARNING FOR THE DETROIT LIONS: I refuse to play because…

Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions made it very evident two days after the team’s contentious loss to the Dallas Cowboys that he was moving on from the setback.

Even so, it’s still a topic of conversation because Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper responded to an NFL memo received on Tuesday by saying on Wednesday that he was not reporting as an eligible receiver.

Personnel, please signal in, urged Skipper, as reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “This is not who I was (swiping my numbers). That’s not what I was doing. I was gesturing the number twelve with one arm raised and the other by my tummy while extending two fingers. I’m confident that all of you who have competed at this level are aware that you signal in personnel.

Taylor Decker, an offensive tackle for the Lions, attempted a 2-point conversion, but it was deemed that Decker was not an eligible receiver; as a result, the Lions fell against the Cowboys, 20-19. There were two unsuccessful tries (a final official incompletion and an incompletion that was overturned by a Dallas penalty).

According to the game’s pool report, referee Brad Allen stated that Skipper, not Decker, had been listed as an eligible receiver.

A player must ensure that his status change “is clearly communicated to the referee by both a physical signal up and down his chest and to report to the referee his intention to report as an eligible receiver,” according to the video memo that was delivered on Tuesday.

In the video, Skipper is seen and circled, indicating that he is making similar gestures and raising his hand when reporting for the game’s final 2-point try as he did in the first quarter.
Each NFL team received the memo as a reminder that any offensive player with the numbers 50–79 or 90–99 is allowed to line up as an eligible pass receiver; however, the player must to notify the referee right once of the change in his status. As a result, the referee will notify the defense and issue a statement. It’s a procedure that has been in place for years, as the video notes.

Skipper maintained that he could not have been the one reporting because he did not approach the official.

“Typically you have to go up to the official and very (directly tell him you are reporting),” he stated. “You have a year to view it. You can watch Play 4’s first quarter. Granted, I only did that once this week during the game, so the claim that I watched it several times is also untrue, but we’ll leave it at that. However, you declare, “Sir, I am reporting as eligible,” as you approach.”

On Sunday, Detroit, which has secured the NFC North, will play the Minnesota Vikings to end the regular season.

Despite talking extensively about the situation on Wednesday, Skipper stated he was prepared to move on.

“I mean, (expletive), you can’t sit here and wallow in the past,” he replied.