So Why Were the Refs Frisking the Baltimore Ravens?

Football fans across the country tuned in for the for the first regular season game of the 2013 NFL season Thursday night. Along with watching Peyton Manning throw seven touchdown passed fans got to see something else that was interesting--the refs frisking some of the Ravens like they were going through a security check point.

@SBNationGif/Twitter

What the heck, right?

As it turns out scenes like this occur with both teams before the game and at half time. Mike Pereira, former Vice President of Officiating and current Rules Analyst at FOX Sports tweeted an explanation:

Officials are checking random uniforms for any illegal substances
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) September 6, 2013

They check random players on both teams before the game and at halftime.
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) September 6, 2013

This has been standard practice for years in the NFL
— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) September 6, 2013

Oh. Okay. Well, I guess that makes sense.