bookofjoe Football Clinic: How to get away with holding

The penny dropped at 5:17 p.m. ET yesterday while I was watching the Penn State–Michigan State game.

Mike Gottfried, the ESPN analyst who talks rather slowly but whom I've developed a real liking for, what with his rather monotone, droll delivery of some awfully funny remarks, noted that a tight end who'd just been penalized for holding made it obvious because he'd extended his arms and hands away from his body and the official will usually see that.

It occurred to me that it would be much harder for the official to see that if the tight end wore gloves and arm coverings (under his uniform) that matched the color of the opponents' jerseys.

Much harder to see green on green than white on green.

Obviously, if a whole team did it the opposing coaches would soon figure it out and then everyone would start doing it and the advantage would be lost.

So if there's one joehead out there who plays football as a day job — this post's for you.