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| Dead Ball |
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A ball becomes dead when a play is over and becomes live as soon as it is snapped for the next play.
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| Dime Package |
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When the defense replaces two linebackers with defensive backs to increase pass protection or to get a special blitz package.
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| Division |
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In the NFL, sub-groups within conferences, such as the Eastern, Central and Western Divisions; also, a grouping of teams in college football, where Division I contains the most competitive teams and Division III the least.
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| Down |
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One of 4 chances a team on offense has to gain 10 yards; also, the state of a player who has just been tackled; also, a ball that a player touches to the ground in the end zone to get a touchback.
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| Draft Choice |
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A player chosen by a professional sports team from a pool of college players in an annual draft.
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| Drive |
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The series of plays a team puts together in an attempt to score.
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| Drop Back |
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When a quarterback, after taking the snap, takes a few steps backward into the pocket (area of maximum pass protection) to get ready to pass.
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| Drop Kick |
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A type of free kick where a player drops the ball and kicks it right after it hits the ground; rarely used today.
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| Dying Quail |
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A deflected or poorly thrown ball that resembles a shot waterfowl in flight.
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