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The ATC spotter charged with scanning the field for evidence of players in distress now has unprecedented power: The ability to stop the game and direct the officials to remove a player for further evaluation.
Given the potential for that power to be abused through, for example, the erroneous perception that a quarterback needs to be removed from the game for evaluation on a key play late in the game, the NFL has decided to ensure that the ATC spotters have the appearance of independence.
According to the league office, any ATC spotter who has worked as an athletic trainer at any time for a team or who has been employed by any NFL team within the prior 20 years was relieved of their duties on Friday.