Proposed Rule Changes

The NFL owners will meet next week in Phoenix. They will undoubtedly discuss many things and do those things that owners do when they get together. Among those things will be be discussions on the expansion of the playoffs. The NFL is always looking at ways to make more money. Adding a couple more playoff games will certainly do that. The owners will also discuss the "catch-or-no-catch" rule. It sounds like they are more interested in making the rule more understandable than doing the right thing and changing it. The owners should not be allowed to leave Phoenix until they have fixed this ridiculous rule. The owners will also hear the competition committee present 23 proposed changes to rules and procedures. 19 were proposed by teams teams and four were proposed by the competition committee. These proposed changes will be discussed and voted on by the owners. They will also consider four bylaw changes and one resolution at the meetings. Here are those proposed changes:

Rule, Bylaw, Resolution Changes To Be Discussed At Owners Meetings

RULE PROPOSALS

1. Allow a coach to challenge any officials' decision, except scoring plays and turnovers.

2. Subject all fouls to review.

3. Subject personal foul penalties to Instant Replay review pursuant to a coach's challenge.

4. Subject personal foul penalties to instant replay review.

5. Subject to instant replay review any penalty that results in an automatic first down.

6. A foul against a defenseless receiver may be enforced when a reversal results in an incomplete pass.

7. Reviewable plays will include fouls against defenseless players, and an unsuccessful challenge will not cost a team a timeout.

8. Eliminate the requirement that a team be successful on each of its first two Instant Reply challenges in order to be awarded a third challenge.

9. Expand plays for which reviews will be initiated by the Replay Official to include those that would result in a score or change of possession if the on-field ruling is reversed.

10. Add review of game clock on the final play of a half or overtime to Instant Replay system.

11. Add review of play clock to the Instant Replay system.

12. Put fixed cameras on all boundary lines.

13. Stadium-produced video may be used for an Instant Replay review.

14. Move the line of scrimmage for Try Kicks to the defensive team's 15-yard line.

15. Add a bonus field goal for one additional point after a successful two-point attempt.

16. Prohibit Team B players from pushing teammates on the line of scrimmage into the offensive formation when Team A presents a punt formation.

17. Both teams will have a possession in overtime.

18. Extend the prohibition for an illegal "peel back" block to all offensive players.

19. Give the intended receiver of a pass defenseless player protection in the immediate continuing action following an interception.

20. Allow for the enforcement of an Unsportsmanlike Conduct foul at the end of a half to be applied to the ensuing kickoff.

21. Make it illegal for a back to chop a defensive player engaged above the waist by another offensive player outside the area originally occupied by the tight end.

22. Permit clubs to assign additional jersey numbers to linebackers. Add 40-49 as eligible numbers for linebackers, in addition to 50-59 and 90-99.

23. Make it illegal for an offensive player with an eligible number to report as ineligible and line up outside the core of the formation.

BYLAW PROPOSALS

1. Eliminate the cutdown to 75 players on the Active List.

2. Prohibit timing and on-field testing at a club's facility of any players who attended the League-wide Combine.

3. Permit clubs to designate after 4 p.m. ET on the day after the final roster reduction the one player eligible to return to their Active List from Reserve/Injured.

4. Change the date for the beginning of the window during which players on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform may begin practice.

RESOLUTION

1. Allow teams with retractable roofs to open them during halftime shows.

The majority of the rules changes involve instant replay in some fashion. There will always be some tinkering to the replay process. #15 was proposed by the Indianapolis Colts and the Colts should face immediate expulsion from the league for wasting everybody's time. Basically, the Colts clowns want to create a 9-point play. I guess that they want to make comebacks a little bit easier for Andrew Luck. He doesn't need the help. The extra-extra point field goal would be from 50 yards so there is some degree of difficulty in completing the 9-point play. #23 is a direct result of the confusion that the New England Patriots inflicted upon the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs. The Patriots used eligible players in ineligible positions to confuse defenses during the playoffs. It has always been the responsibility of defenses to diagnose the intentions of the offense based on situation and formation. It's basic football strategy. Defenses try to disguise their coverage. Offenses try to disguise their intentions. Now some teams (Ravens) want the officials/rules to help them. It's actually kind of sad. Bylaw Proposal #1 simply means that teams will reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 in one clean chop. There would no longer be the intermediate cut down to 75. That means that 1,184 players will suddenly no longer be part of  NFL teams. Well, I guess that it gives 480 players a few more days in the league.

The meetings are scheduled to run from March 22-25.