Potential rule changes

[dead_poet]

Kevin Seifert discusses the NFL's competition committee getting ready to present a list of potential rule changes at the league meetings in Orlando Florida.

The potential rules changes, many of which were submitted by either the Washington Redskins or New England Patriots, are:

• Move the kickoff to 40-yard line.

• Expand instant replay to include personal fouls.

• Eliminate overtime in preseason.

• Extend goal posts five additional feet above crossbar.

• Move line of scrimmage on an extra point to 25-yard line.

• Install fixed cameras on all boundary lines to improve instant replay.

• Allow coach to use replay challenges on bigger variety of plays.

• Tweak rules on blocks to defenders' legs to include penalties for blockers who roll up on the side of defenders' legs.

• Allow game official to contact central command center during replay challenges.

• Change rule to allow a clear fumble recovery even if play was blown dead on field.

• Take away stopping of clock on sack.

• Make pass interference line the line of scrimmage, instead of 1-yard beyond line of scrimmage to address contact on rub or pick plays.

• Change where defensive fouls behind the line of scrimmage are enforced.

The by-law changes to be considered are:

• Increase gameday roster from 46 to 49 for regular-season games played on days other than Sunday, Monday or on the season-opening weekend.

• Increase practice squad to 10 players.

• Allow trades prior to start of league year.

• Eliminate cut to 75 players in preseason, only make one roster cut, to 53 just before start of regular season.

• Permit more than one player to return from injured reserve after at least six weeks on injured reserve.

• Allow additional time and testing of draft eligible players in weeks leading up to draft.

• Move final roster cuts before regular season to 4 p.m. ET on Saturday following final preseason games instead of 6 p.m.

The resolution, submitted by the Indianapolis Colts would allow teams to open or close a retractable roof stadium at halftime. Currently the rule stats if the roof is open or closed to start the game, it must stay that way.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10634 ... rent-rules

[dead_poet]

Inside Slant: Focus on roster flexibility

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/ ... lexibility

[saint33]

It really pisses me off that they continue to do everything they can to eliminate kick off returns. They moved the kick off to the 35 yard line a few years back, and now most kicks are put into the endzone. Why do they need to move it to the 40 other than to completely eliminate kick off returns. How is this good for the game? Why would we want to take away electrifying plays from guys like Patterson and Hester? Don't we want a more exciting game? Might as well just eliminate the kick off all together if you're going to move it to the 40, ever kick is going through the endzone

[Thaumaturgist]

They say it's because of player safety. But that's hogwash IMHO. I wonder what the real reason is?

[S197]

Increase gameday roster from 46 to 49 for regular-season games played on days other than Sunday, Monday or on the season-opening weekend.

I like this one, Thursday games can be brutal especially with the new concussion protocols.

[Eli]

Increase gameday roster from 46 to 49 for regular-season games played on days other than Sunday, Monday or on the season-opening weekend.

I'm not in favor of this. There's too much potential to favor one team. The very reason that the game day active player limit is in place is to limit the advantage that one team might have over another team that has injured players.

Increase practice squad to 10 players.

I like this. The cost is minimal and there are more players around, working out and practicing to move up.

Eliminate cut to 75 players in preseason, only make one roster cut, to 53 just before start of regular season.

I'm not sure about this. It would simplify things a little, but it eliminates that cut before the 4th preseason game in which players could be claimed off waivers. Meaning that those players have no ability to play a preseason game with a new team to show themselves. If they eliminated this cut, wouldn't all players claimed off waivers have to be on the active 53 man roster for week 1 of the regular season? Seems to me that it would mean fewer players being claimed and fewer opportunities for fringe players.

I've always wondered why they didn't go the opposite direction and have cuts after the 2nd and 3rd preseason games as well as the final cut, rather than cutting 15 players and then 22 more just a few days later.

Permit more than one player to return from injured reserve after at least six weeks on injured reserve.

Definitely. But do you allow it for all IR'd players, or just increase the number who can be designated for return to more than one? Seems the former would have some serious implications, like maybe a _lot_ of players being placed on IR.

[oldskoolvikingfan]

I really hope that they do not move the kickoff to the 40 yard line. i understand that it is to provide extra safety for the players but it basically eliminates kickoff returns, which the fans want to see. Also i think that the fumble recovery rule should be passed because it was clear that the 49ers linebacker navarro recovered the ball but they could not challenge it because the play was blown dead or something? This basically cost the 49ers a shot at the superbowl which they probably would have won.

[dead_poet]

The NFL has approved an extension of the goalposts by five feet.

It's a simple change that's long overdue. Field goals won't sail over the uprights as often now, making it easier for referees to determine if a kick was good. Call it the Adam Carolla rule. In other rules news, moving the kickoff from the 35- to the 40-yard line and moving PATs back were both voted down. However, the league will experiment with PATs from the 20-yard line during Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason.

[PurpleMustReign]

The NFL has approved an extension of the goalposts by five feet.

It's a simple change that's long overdue. Field goals won't sail over the uprights as often now, making it easier for referees to determine if a kick was good. Call it the Adam Carolla rule. In other rules news, moving the kickoff from the 35- to the 40-yard line and moving PATs back were both voted down. However, the league will experiment with PATs from the 20-yard line during Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason.

I heard they are penalizing for dunking the ball too. Stupid. Thanks to the idiot on NEw Orleans for that one.

[dead_poet]

"Too tough"? Lame.

Roger Goodell - C - Free Agent

Extra points will be attempted from the 15-yard line for the first two weeks of the preseason.

The experiment was originally expected to take place from the 20-yard line, but teams thought that was "too tough." It's unclear if the change will be implemented for the regular season, but it would be unusual for the league to make such a rash change on short notice. The subject is likely being studied with an eye toward 2015.
Source: Bob Glauber on Twitter

[Eli]

An extra point has to have a very high success rate. There is still that idea in Ameican football that touchdowns are worth 7 points, and it permeates everything done during a game. Lower the EP success rate by 1% and you've added a little spice to the game. Lower it 5% and you've fundamentally changed the game of football. Fundamental changes to the game, like eliminating kickoff returns, aren't usually good ideas.

[S197]

Anyone think teams against this would tell their kickers to pull a couple PATs to the side? I'm assuming they're looking for some acceptable % failed chance. Teams could skew the numbers if they want to, it's only preseason afterall.

[Eli]

Nobody would mess with their kicker's head like that.