NFL announces more rule changes

[cowboyjoe]

NFL announces more rule changes
Posted Wednesday, Mar. 24, 2010 Comments (0) Recommend (0) Print
The Sports Network

The NFL approved eight rule proposals Wednesday on the final day of the league's annual three-day conference, with a focus on how to better protect its players.

Key among the adopted changes was an expansion to the rule in place aimed at eliminating hits on defenseless receivers. The rule will now apply to all players.

In the same spirit, a play will be whistled dead when a player loses his helmet during the course of play and will be treated similar to a forward progress rule as to where to place the ball.

"We tried to keep ownership focused...on the future of the game, how do we keep improving the game, keep innovating and how do we make sure that the fans become more and more engaged with our game," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The changes included other minor details involving the subtle nuances brought on by an evolving game, but the buzz created by Tuesday's 28-4 vote in favor of an overhaul to the playoff overtime system continued to dominate the landscape.

Chief among the questions was whether the change to allow an opposing team a chance to tie or win after an initial field goal is kicked in overtime will be adopted for the regular season. Goodell said Wednesday there was a strong consensus for doing just that.

"I think it will be. I think what we'd like to do is continue to analyze it and go back and talk to our players about it also and we'll discuss it again," Goodell said

Goodell also hinted something may be done through scheduling which would potentially eliminate teams resting their star players at the end of the regular season having already qualified for the playoffs. The league will attempt to schedule all division opponents in Week 17 and to a larger extent in Week 16 games as well.

Other reported rule changes set in motion Wednesday include: placing the umpire behind the offensive backfield as opposed to in the linebackers area following a rash of umpires being knocked down last season; a defensive player can no longer line up directly across from the snapper on field goal and extra point attempts; a dead ball personal foul on the final play of either half will garner a 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff; punt returners will now be given an opportunity free of interference to handle a muffed punt following his signaling for a fair catch before it hits the ground; plays will be whistled dead and replayed should the ball come into contact with a videoboard, guide wire or sky cam.

Finally, if the clock is stopped in the final minute of either half for a replay review, but would not have stopped without the review, officials will initiate a 10-second runoff.

One rule proposal was not approved, which involves the end-of-the-game play clock with regard to the appropriateness of putting time back on the clock.

Also approved were three bylaw proposals, including giving clubs more "leeway" on injury settlements and the elimination of the three-day waiver period to be replaced by a one-day waiver period in June. Finally, the league standardized a policy for stadiums with retractable roofs.


Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/03/24/2064510/nfl-announces-more-rule-changes.html#ixzz0j9Se4F3o

 

[Kevinicus]

In the same spirit, a play will be whistled dead when a player loses his helmet during the course of play and will be treated similar to a forward progress rule as to where to place the ball.

"We tried to keep ownership focused...on the future of the game, how do we keep improving the game, keep innovating and how do we make sure that the fans become more and more engaged with our game," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Two contradictary statements IMO. I'm sure the fans will be super excited and engaged if a player makes a great effort to fight for yardage and his helmet comes off shortly before he crosses the marker. That won't piss anyone off at all.

Also, the 10 second runoff thing, I hope there are limits to that. If a team sets up for a game tying/winning FG with time running down and then with 7 seconds left the refs stop the clock for a review, are they going to take the 10 seconds off even if the team would have had no trouble getting the ball off in those 7 seconds?

If the review indicates the clock should have been stopped sooner (incomplete pass, etc.), I assume they won't still take the 10 seconds off?

There are other situations where it could get iffy too, so I'm wary of this, at least until I get more info.

 

[rkell87]

i see alot of problems with the muffed punt thing, players flying all around and now have to stop and think 'ok when can i make a play for this ball?'
seems like they are making rules just to make rules and not to improve the quaility of the game

 

[JonJon]

In the same spirit, a play will be whistled dead when a player loses his helmet during the course of play and will be treated similar to a forward progress rule as to where to place the ball.

Ummm....Anyone else notice a serious flaw in this? Suppose a player, Miles Austin for example, was to break free with daylight ahead of him. Up ahead, Roy Williams is engaged blocking a defender. Said defender realizes that he doesn't have a chance to break out and tackle Austin...then all of a sudden, "Oops!" off flies the helmet, whistle blows the play dead...How lame would that be? There has to be more to this rule, otherwise players will take advantage of this rule.

 

[Jay]

Finally, if the clock is stopped in the final minute of either half for a replay review, but would not have stopped without the review, officials will initiate a 10-second runoff.

Wait.. so let's say that there's 15 seconds left in the half, you have no timeouts, you're at the 10 yard line, you run a little pass play that picks up 3 yards and your WR fumbled the ball at the end but the refs said his knee was down first. Your team is running up to the line to spike the ball and then there's a review. It's determined that your player's knee wasn't down. 10 second runoff in this case would mean the half/game would be over?

 

[JonJon]

Wait.. so let's say that there's 15 seconds left in the half, you have no timeouts, you're at the 10 yard line, you run a little pass play that picks up 3 yards and your WR fumbled the ball at the end but the refs said his knee was down first. Your team is running up to the line to spike the ball and then there's a review. It's determined that your player's knee wasn't down. 10 second runoff in this case would mean the half/game would be over?

Something tells me these rules where not thoroughly thought through.

 

[rkell87]

Something tells me these rules where not thoroughly thought through.

yeah really they get paid millions to come up with this stuff and think of the scenarios and a half hour after its posted on an internet forum its clear they have no clue what they are doing lol

 

[JonJon]

yeah really they get paid millions to come up with this stuff and think of the scenarios and a half hour after its posted on an internet forum its clear they have no clue what they are doing lol

Well why are there so many holes in the rules then? I'm not the only one that notices the flaws.

 

[RainMan]

Ummm....Anyone else notice a serious flaw in this? Suppose a player, Miles Austin for example, was to break free with daylight ahead of him. Up ahead, Roy Williams is engaged blocking a defender. Said defender realizes that he doesn't have a chance to break out and tackle Austin...then all of a sudden, "Oops!" off flies the helmet, whistle blows the play dead...How lame would that be? There has to be more to this rule, otherwise players will take advantage of this rule.

Not knowing the full extent of the rule they're passing, what you mention does raise a good point.

My retort -- and again, I haven't really read this thing through all that much -- but does the no-helmet thing apply to the ball carrier only? That would seem to make sense given that it's the ball carrier who has bodies flying all over him. A helmetless lineman five yards back engaged with one player, for instance, wouldn't be as likely to take a blow to the head as would a helmetless running back with defenders trying to wrestle him to the ground.

 

[rkell87]

Well why are there so many holes in the rules then? I'm not the only one that notices the flaws.

i was being serious, they should post the proposed rule changes on these forums first before they put them into effect

 

[JonJon]

i was being serious, they should post the proposed rule changes on these forums first before they put them into effect

Oh ok...I misinterpreted your reply. you would think that would come up somewhere in the meetings...That's the first thing I thought of when I read it.

 

[Jay]

Not knowing the full extent of the rule they're passing, what you mention does raise a good point.

My retort -- and again, I haven't really read this thing through all that much -- but does the no-helmet thing apply to the ball carrier only? That would seem to make sense given that it's the ball carrier who has bodies flying all over him. A helmetless lineman five yards back engaged with one player, for instance, wouldn't be as likely to take a blow to the head as would a helmetless running back with defenders trying to wrestle him to the ground.

I agree, I think it should be for the ball carrier only since it's definitely more dangerous for them. What about my previous post in this thread?

 

[CATCH17]

To me this looks like to many smart people thinking way to hard to come up with ideas that sound good but hurt the quality of the game.

We like our football the way it is and if anything needs to be changed it is just common sense stuff.

 

[DWhite Fan]

i see alot of problems with the muffed punt thing, players flying all around and now have to stop and think 'ok when can i make a play for this ball?'
seems like they are making rules just to make rules and not to improve the quaility of the game

I agree with you. This new punt rule has the potential to be a major disaster