Cryptic Scrambler?

[Otis]

Gridiron player close to career lead (6)

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[Otis]

Spoiler: 1st hint

Direct on the left

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[Otis]

Spoiler: 2nd hint

close to = indicator phrase

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[Otis]

Spoiler: Last hint

Here's a list of some gridiron positions:

CENTER
GUNNER
HOLDER
JAMMER
KICKER
PUNTER
RUSHER
SAFETY
TACKLE
UPBACK

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[Romsek]

corner ??

 

[Harry_the_cat]

 

[Otis]

[Guess]

Nope.

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[Otis]

[?WHAT?]

Gridiron is a name for an American football field. A team's players assume different positions, depending on their skills. For example, the center is the offensive player in the middle of the line of scrimmage who snaps the ball between their legs to the quarterback, to begin a play.

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[Dr.Peterson]

Spoiler

Gridiron player = close to [= end of] career lead [=usher]

I don't do football.

 

[Romsek]

I do a lot of cryptics and never see the devices you use.

close to means the end of? first time I've ever seen that in thousands of puzzles.

 

[Otis]

[Answer]

That's the one. ?

I don't do football.

I enjoy watching it (and the yelling part) but pay no attention to strategies or standings; I've learned enough vocabulary to fake it, at the watering hole.

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[Otis]

… I've ever seen that …

I have. I'm pretty sure it's in one of those references I posted, too.

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[Harry_the_cat]

To Romsek, "close" as in finish, not "close" as in near is what I"'m thinking.