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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
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