The NFL owners are meeting this week in Phoenix, Arizona covering a myriad of issues. Here are 10 rules they voted on and the results… and of course… my opinion about each.
The following rules and results were provided by NFL.com.
1. The NFL passed a rule for automatic ejections for egregious hits to the head.
Sifting through it: what I’m hoping is that this rule gives the referee a kick in the seat of the pants so they can feel more empowered when wanting to eject a player who has obviously gone head hunting.
2. The Washington Redskins’ proposal to place the ball at the 20-yard-line if the kicker puts it through the uprights on a kickoff failed.
Sifting through it: what is this… a punt, pass, and kick competition? Wow, the best ideas come out of Washington!
3. The owners approved centralized replay, giving senior VP of officiating Dean Blandino and the New York command center final say on calls in question.
Sifting through it: it’s about frigging time! I’ve been saying this should happen for a few years now. Give some trusted person(s) the ability to make a call they believe is right as fast as the rest of the audience can tell what the right call is… which is usually immediately.
4. Touchbacks on kickoffs will once again result in teams starting from the 25-yard line. The rule was renewed by team owners for another year rather than being made permanent.
Sifting through it: and so we wait.
5. Receivers running pass routes are now being given defenseless player protection. Passed.
Sifting through it: this is another warning to DBs to make sure they follow rule 1 or else.
6. Crackback blocks are now prohibited by a backfield player in motion, even if he’s not more than two yards outside the tackle box when the ball is snapped. Passed.
Sifting through it: NFL owners are moving the game towards flag football here. I understand the purpose for a rule that prohibits cut blocks at the l-o-s but crack back blocks? Not sure I get — or agree — with this one.
7. Unsportsmanlike penalties will be issued to players who commit multiple fouls during the same down in an effort to manipulate the game clock. Passed.
Sifting through it: something had to be done… and now they’ve done it. We’ll see if this actually makes a difference.
8. Similarly, action to conserve time after the two-minute warning of either half would be considered illegal and would result in a penalty now. Passed.
Sifting through it: see #7.
9. Ejections for two unsportsmanlike fouls in a single game, which was introduced last season, is now a permanent rule.
Sifting through it: the league doesn’t need dirty players. The Chiefs don’t have any dirty players so hopefully, we’ll see if this has an effect on guys like Denver’s Aqib Talib.
10. The proposal to shorten the overtime period from 15 minutes to 10 minutes in preseason and regular season games was tabled to May’s Spring League Meeting.
Sifting through it: glad to see this one delayed.
What are your thoughts?