19 NFL rule changes were proposed at this week's Annual League Meeting. Nine were passed. Six were, three were withdrawn and one was tabled until May. Here are the nine new rule changes.
1) Elimination of chop blocks
Defensive players are happy. Offensive linemen are not.
2) Offensive and defensive play-callers are permitted to use the headset communication system whether they are on the field or in the booth.
If nothing else this will cut down on some stupid delay of game penalties.
3) Extra points will be permanently spotted at he 15-yard line.
Last year this was an experiment. It's now permanent.
4) Expanding the horse collar tackle rule to include when the defender grabs the jersey by the nameplate or above and pulls a runner to the ground.
5) A team will be flagged for delay of game if they attempt to call a timeout when they are not allowed to do so.
6) Eliminating the 5-yard penalty for an eligible receiver illegally touching a forward pass after being out of bounds and re-establishing himself in bounds and making it a loss of down.
7) Eliminating multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession.
The following two rule changes required two days of debate and will be implemented on a one-year experimental basis.
8) Any player flagged for two specific unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in one game will be automatically ejected.
The following infractions are included:
-throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent, even though no contact is made
-using abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials or representatives of the league
-using baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams
9) Change the spot from the 20-yard line to the 25-yard line following a kick that results in a touchback.
The last two rule changes have created the greatest debate. At the meetings, among the talking heads, and on the streets. If recent history holds few players will be ejected as a result of two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Few players have been so stupid as to do stupid things twice in a game. This rule has been incorrectly linked to the highly-publicized meltdowns of Odell Beckham Jr. and Vontaze Burfict. The penalties called in those instances didn't and don't fall in the unsportsmanlike conduct category. Just the purely stupid category. Beckham and Burfict should have been ejected simply for doing something way outside of rules. My only concern with this new rule is whether all officiating crews will view unsportsmanlike conduct penalties consistently but I suppose that's true of the enforcement of all rules.
I'll have to see the new 25-yard line spot following a touchback in action before I judge it. I enjoy kick returns but it's clear that it's one of the most dangerous plays in the game.
In addition to the nine rule changes, three bylaws were passed this week.
1) The period of time in which teams are prohibited from re-signing players with whom it has executed injury settlements will be shortened.
2) Expand the time period for a club to designate a player from the reserve/injured-designated to return list.
Teams will now be allowed to see how a player recovers/rehabs an injury before they have to designate him as a player to return.
3) Teams must terminate or request waivers for players who are placed on Injured Reserve with minor injuries.
No more hiding players on injured reserve with minor injuries.
A bylaw change proposal to allow players and coaches to review video on the sidelines with Surface tablets will be revisited by ownership at the meetings in May. Only the viewing of still photos are currently allowed. This proposed change approaches what the New England Patriots were penalized for doing several years ago.
There it is. The new NFL rules. None of which are truly earth-moving.
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