The sideline at Lucas Oil Stadium is all sorts of crooked
The NFL has very strict rules when it comes to the layout and painting of playing fields. This is not shocking. For all the talk about the integrity of the game now, there are basic rules that need to be followed in order to ensure a fair game.
Straight lines, in particular, are vastly important in a literal game of inches. It’s why the field is called a “gridiron” in the first place.
[Enter the $100K Baller football contest. $10 to enter and $10K to 1st place]
The Indianapolis Colts‘ grounds crew, bless their hearts, tried to best to follow those rules with the San Francisco 49ers coming to town.
They were very unsuccessful.
Not sure this sideline is up to code here in Indy. https://t.co/0pDNEO6Dxh pic.twitter.com/lQO2Laq442
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 8, 2017
From the NFL rulebook: “All line work is to be laid out to dimensions shown on the plan with a tolerance of plus one-fourth inch. All lines are straight.”
This is most definitely not a straight line.
Let’s hope there are no controversial sideline plays in this game. Sure, it’s just Colts and 49ers, and it may not impact the playoff race too much, but could you imagine a controversial play along that sideline robbing one of these teams of a top pick in the draft?
If that’s the case, the employee who painted those lines is definitely getting fired … or a raise.
– – – – – –
Blake Schuster is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at blakeschuster@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Schustee
Read more from Yahoo Sports:
• Dodgers pitcher puts up illegal sign in dugout
• UFC interim lightweight champ calls out McGregor after win
• Week 6 NCAA football surprisingly over-delivers
• CBS clarifies report on Kaepernick standing for anthem