The Taylor Decker controversy: Here’s the NFL rule on reporting to an official about being an eligible receiver

Confused as heck over what happened at the end of the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys game that led to officials taking away a successful two-point conversion because the pass-catcher — offensive lineman Taylor Decker — didn’t report in properly?

We have you covered with a handy explainer about what exactly went down. But what’s the rule here exactly as people break down video after video to see if Decker reported in successfully to referee Brad Allen? Per the NFL rulebook, here’s what we’ve got about “Reporting change of position.”

If you’re an INELIGIBLE receiver (someone with a number between 50 and 79 or 90 to 99), you may be eligible if you do this:

[P]rovided that he immediately reports the change in his eligibility status to the Referee, who will inform the defensive team.

He must participate in such eligible or ineligible position as long as he is continuously in the game, but prior to each play he must again report his status to the Referee, who will inform the defensive team. The game clock shall not be stopped, and the ball shall not be put in play until the Referee takes his normal position.

That’s it. Nothing more than that. Whether the referee understood that Decker was reporting eligible or not is the question.