NEW YORK (AP)—A murmur rippled across the room as the NFL revealed the nature of requests by the Philadelphia Eagles for the league to recognize “Taint” as an official position.

The tittering was caused by the recognition that this is the first time since Najeh Davenport was officially designated as a “Scatback” that the league had declared a new official position.

After consultation with budinksy Senator Arlen Specter, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell approved the request by the Philadelphia Eagles that Chris Gocong and Andy Studebaker be listed at the “Taint” position. 

“The performance of Gocong and the anticipated performance of Studebaker have convinced the league that these men ‘Taint’ linebackers and they definately ‘Taint’ defensive ends….and therefore shouldn’t be referred to as such”, noted the commissioner.  

Goodell continued, saying, “Moving forward, these two players, and each similar player drafted on an annual basis by the Eagles will be slotted in the ‘Taint’ position.  I’ve conferred with Gene Upshaw of the player’s union and he agrees that, should the Eagles put the franchise tag on either man, they will receive a salary equal to the top-five ‘Taint’ in the league.  Whatever that is.”

No new fireworks came from Specter, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who has criticized the league’s handling of the recognition of new positions. “It is clear that Andy Reid will be drafting a ‘Taint’ every year.  This being the case it was absolutely necessary for the NFL to recognize these players as such.”

Specter, from Pennsylvania, met with Goodell in February after raising the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn’t satisfied with the commissioner’s answers about the handling of the recognition of “Taint”. Specter has also criticized the NFL’s decision not to recognize Cowboy’s player Tony Romo as “Whipped”.

AP Sports Writers Joseph White in Washington and Dennis Waszak contributed to this story.