GregR
Footballguy
Here's a summary of the NFL rule changes that came out of the owner's meeting.
[*]Regular season uses same overtime rules as playoffs now.
In overtime it is sudden death unless the team who receives the kickoff scores a FG on their first possession, in which case the other team will get a possession. This is how the playoffs have done it the last 2 years, but now regular season will follow suit.
[*]Turnovers are now subject to automatic booth review.
Last year a change was that all touchdowns are subject to automatic review. I heard on NFLN that games last season lasted on average 1 second longer last year than they had in the past. So since it doesn't seem to be slowing the game down, it has been expanded to turnovers. Note that only actual turnovers are affected. If the play should have been a fumble, but was ruled down by contact, the coach would have to challenge it. Also on the bad side, if the booth does not initiate a review, the coach cannot. If I had my preference, the coach could still initiate a challenge if the booth doesn't, and would be given his challenge back if he wins it.
[*]Can't hit target of a crackback block in head or neck, or lead with your helmet.
Essentially such a player joins QBs in the act of passing and receivers in the act of making a catch on the defenseless player list. So what is a crackback block? It's a block, within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage, where the offensive player was at least 2 yards outside of the offensive tackle, and he is heading back towards the center of the play when he makes a block. Basically it is singled out because it's often a block coming from the defender's blind side, so he isn't in a position to be able to defend himself.
It was previously illegal to block anywhere below the waist on a crackback block. It is now illegal to hit someone in the head or neck on such a block, or to lead with your helmet. It is still legal to block them anywhere from the shoulders to the waist.
What didn't pass or was tabled:
[*]Moving trade deadline back was tabled
The proposal to push the trade deadline back to later in the season was tabled, so could still go into effect in 2012. This will be voted on in May I believe.
[*]Making horse collar tackles on QBs in the pocket illegal voted down
One place horse collar tackles are still legal is when done on a QB in the pocket. The NFL considered removing this exception, but according to the league, "We watched the tape and didn't feel that was a change that was also fair to the defender. The defender in the pocket is fighting off an offensive player, grabbing and just trying to do everything he can."
My take: I think the biggest injury risk on a horse collar is when they happen on a player on the run, and the defender falls on the player's legs as he's yanked backwards. Unable to bend freely, a knee injury is much more likely. I don't see that being a common problem with QBs in the pocket, so I don't know that making them illegal would do much for player safety. So, good they voted this one down.
[*]Addition of an IR exception tabled until May
One proposal is to allow each team to bring a single player off of IR each season. They would have to be on IR for at least 8 weeks before they would be eligible to be brought back to the active roster. Currently, once a player is placed on IR they are done for the season. Will be voted on in May.
[*]1 week roster exemption for player with a concussion tabled until May
The proposal is to allow 1 player each season who has a concussion to be deactivated from the roster and replaced by another player for 1 week, after which he would count towards the active roster again.
[*]Offseason roster size increase from 80 to 90, but including undrafted free agents tabled until May
Right now undrafted free agents don't count towards the roster early in the offseason. This would increase the roster size, but would include those players in the count.
Worth noting that the reason given for some of the proposals being tabled was that they needed to clean up the wording on them, as opposed to some reason like there being a lot of opposition to them.
[*]Regular season uses same overtime rules as playoffs now.
In overtime it is sudden death unless the team who receives the kickoff scores a FG on their first possession, in which case the other team will get a possession. This is how the playoffs have done it the last 2 years, but now regular season will follow suit.
[*]Turnovers are now subject to automatic booth review.
Last year a change was that all touchdowns are subject to automatic review. I heard on NFLN that games last season lasted on average 1 second longer last year than they had in the past. So since it doesn't seem to be slowing the game down, it has been expanded to turnovers. Note that only actual turnovers are affected. If the play should have been a fumble, but was ruled down by contact, the coach would have to challenge it. Also on the bad side, if the booth does not initiate a review, the coach cannot. If I had my preference, the coach could still initiate a challenge if the booth doesn't, and would be given his challenge back if he wins it.
[*]Can't hit target of a crackback block in head or neck, or lead with your helmet.
Essentially such a player joins QBs in the act of passing and receivers in the act of making a catch on the defenseless player list. So what is a crackback block? It's a block, within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage, where the offensive player was at least 2 yards outside of the offensive tackle, and he is heading back towards the center of the play when he makes a block. Basically it is singled out because it's often a block coming from the defender's blind side, so he isn't in a position to be able to defend himself.
It was previously illegal to block anywhere below the waist on a crackback block. It is now illegal to hit someone in the head or neck on such a block, or to lead with your helmet. It is still legal to block them anywhere from the shoulders to the waist.
What didn't pass or was tabled:
[*]Moving trade deadline back was tabled
The proposal to push the trade deadline back to later in the season was tabled, so could still go into effect in 2012. This will be voted on in May I believe.
[*]Making horse collar tackles on QBs in the pocket illegal voted down
One place horse collar tackles are still legal is when done on a QB in the pocket. The NFL considered removing this exception, but according to the league, "We watched the tape and didn't feel that was a change that was also fair to the defender. The defender in the pocket is fighting off an offensive player, grabbing and just trying to do everything he can."
My take: I think the biggest injury risk on a horse collar is when they happen on a player on the run, and the defender falls on the player's legs as he's yanked backwards. Unable to bend freely, a knee injury is much more likely. I don't see that being a common problem with QBs in the pocket, so I don't know that making them illegal would do much for player safety. So, good they voted this one down.
[*]Addition of an IR exception tabled until May
One proposal is to allow each team to bring a single player off of IR each season. They would have to be on IR for at least 8 weeks before they would be eligible to be brought back to the active roster. Currently, once a player is placed on IR they are done for the season. Will be voted on in May.
[*]1 week roster exemption for player with a concussion tabled until May
The proposal is to allow 1 player each season who has a concussion to be deactivated from the roster and replaced by another player for 1 week, after which he would count towards the active roster again.
[*]Offseason roster size increase from 80 to 90, but including undrafted free agents tabled until May
Right now undrafted free agents don't count towards the roster early in the offseason. This would increase the roster size, but would include those players in the count.
Worth noting that the reason given for some of the proposals being tabled was that they needed to clean up the wording on them, as opposed to some reason like there being a lot of opposition to them.
