NBC camera catches officials patting down Baltimore Ravens players

As Baltimore Ravens players left their locker room to face the Denver Broncos this evening, the NBC cameras caught a rare behind-the-scenes occurrence most fans never see (you can watch video courtesy of Deadspin). NFL officials stood outside of the locker room like TSA agents and randomly began patting down players. Nobody had to take their shoes off, remove a belt, or place liquids in a plastic tray, but the officials were definitely looking for something. What was it? Officials were making sure no player applied anything to their uniform that would make it harder for an opponent to make a tackle. It is actually something that happens before every game, but it grabbed the attention of many people watching at home. Here is an explanation from Mike Pereira, former Vice President of Officiating and current Rules Analyst at FOX Sports Officials are checking random uniforms for any illegal substances They check random players on both teams before the game and at halftime. Foreign substances can be grease or silicon. This has been standard practice for years in the NFL Punishment would be confiscation of the uniform by NFL security and that player would be subject to discipline by the league. t least the Ravens' line moved faster than what we all experience at airports.