Dan Skipper, an offensive lineman with the Detroit Lions, still finds it difficult to express gratitude for what transpired at AT&T Stadium during the team’s 20-19 defeat.
“I still don’t have a lot of positive thoughts. I really don’t have a lot of positive words,” Skipper told a small group of reporters after practice Wednesday. “I appreciate the shot across the bow (from the NFL with their released video). But at the same time, if we’re getting paid to play, paid to report or anything, we ought to know the difference between reporting as eligible and personnel.
“So, we can sit here and argue the semantics over that. But it’s ultimately it’s up to me as the player to make sure it’s done properly. And we’ll leave it there.”
When questioned, the 29-year-old mentioned the hand gesture that was captured on camera designating 12-jumbo staff.
“Pretty standard is jumbo,” Skipper explained. “And then, you know, various hand signals depending on what jumbo — if it’s 11, 12, 13, 23, like those all have have different signals. Obviously when you’re on the road, you can’t hear. And you also couldn’t hear — like you can’t hear over the intercom when they say that. So, every freaking guy on the Cowboys was pointing at Penei, that he’s eligible, because no one heard anything. I think the media, I think were the only people that heard it through the intercom.”
Skipper indicated he understood pretty clearly how to report or not report as eligible. “Typically, you have to go up to the official. You can watch it all year. You can watch first quarter, play four. Granted I only did it once during the game this week, so the multiple times throughout the game, also not true. But we’ll leave that there,” Skipper noted. “When you walk up, you say, ‘Sir, I am reporting as eligible.’ It’s not like a five-yard, take a left turn thing.
“I’ve gotten that penalty before, y’all can find that one. But that was a similar situation where you’re reporting and don’t get, ‘I am reporting as eligible.’ That’s how it is, that’s how it goes. Y’all can watch it all season, like it’s clear as (expletive). You walk up.”
The support in Detroit has been overwhelmingly positive. Skipper has probably received some hurtful remarks online, either directly or through direct messages from Cowboys fans.
“Just a bunch of keyboard warriors. It’s a good thing there’s a delete button on Twitter,” said Skipper. “The city of Detroit has been great. Driving to work, it’s fun. I don’t know who paid for all that, but it’s good to see (the local billboards). At some point, everyone has to move forward from this.” Like the rest of the players on the roster and the coaching staff, Skipper is ready to move forward from what transpired in Dalls. “Let’s move this thing along — like s**t happens, it is what it is.”
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