The NFL has confirmed the Philadelphia Eagles are free to continue using a loophole in the rules called out by a rival coach. The Eagles used punter Braden Mann to hold the ball on kickoffs during their Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans, despite conditions not being windy.The holder was used instead of a kicking tee to place the ball at an angle that impacted the trajectory of the ball to make kicks harder for a returner to field.The loophole meant the Eagles having 12 players on the field for kicks with the holder an additional player permitted, traditionally when wind requires it.Before facing the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, Bears special teams coordinator called out the Eagles and claimed they were violating the ‘intent’ of the current rules.However, an NFL spokesperson has confirmed teams will be free to use a 12th man as holder like the Eagles did, with or without a tee and with or without a holder, per NBC. Nick Sirianni and the Eagles were called out by the Chicago Bears special teams coordinator The Eagles used punter Braden Mann as a holder on kickoffs despite it not being windyThat response from the league comes after Eagles coach Nick Sirianni stated they would not stop doing whatever they feel is best within the scope of the rulebook. ‘Obviously, with that, everything we’re doing is within the rules of the game, and we’ll continue to do the things that we need to do that give us the best chance to win each and every game,’ Sirianni said. ‘That’s how we’ll proceed as Philadelphia Eagles.’ Hightower revealed the issue was two years in the making before the Eagles used it as a loophole in a different scenario this year. ‘Initially, two years ago, we talked about it, right?’ the Bears special teams coordinator said on Friday.’It was where you could use a holder, a 12th guy. [Bears punter] Tory Taylor was actually the first guy to ever do it in the Hall of Fame game. They wanted to see what it would look like.’He was the first to do it, and then it evolved to weather-related only. This past year it changed to you can use it at any time…. ‘But the intent of the rule is the ball is supposed to be in a tee when you have a holder out there. It’s not to be used like you guys seen it used here lately.’