Possible NFL Rule Changes

[broncoslover115]

Aqib was one mentioned as an example who would have been ejected if the rule was in place in the SB. Hey man, you will need to get yourself under control this season. No eye pokes, no personal fouls...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000645204/article/which-rule-changes-will-be-considered-next-week

The league's Competition Committee will have plenty to discuss at next week's NFL Annual Meeting, which begins Sunday in Boca Raton, Fla.

The NFL will conduct a conference call on Thursday with executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent and Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay to announce the agenda, but we already have an idea of what will headline the gathering.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that the automatic ejection rule suggested by Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to pass, per two members of the Competition Committee. The new rule would eject any player flagged for two personal fouls in a game. The key to that discussion is determining which two personal foul penalties would count toward an ejection. The committee will pick from a short list of infractions -- fewer than five.

1. Sorry, NFL fans, but the catch rule won't change. Rapoport was told the league will make a continued effort to offer more public education on the rule and how it's officiated.

2. The Competition Committee will tweak the chop block rule to make it safer, Rapoport was told. The NFL remains uncomfortable with elements of the rule and plans to tinker with some of the language.

3. Per Rapoport, the horse collar rule will also be tweaked, "perhaps to include when a player pulls at a nameplate just below the shoulder pads," meaning officials could throw a horse-collar flag "even if shoulder pads aren't pulled, because the effect on the ball carrier is the same."

4. Changes to instant replay aren't expected, despite the Competition Committee eyeing several options and different ways to expand replay and make other penalties reviewable. Teams will submit proposals, but don't expect much change to what plays are reviewable.

5. There will be a vote to clarify the rule on low hits to the quarterback. Specifically, per Rapoport, hits that put the quarterback in danger, including driving the head or shoulders into the lower body of a signal-caller. Some of that language already exists in the rule book.

[Rastic]

I actually am in favor of the two personnel foul ejection. It will be interested to see how they work that out.

The catch rule sort of surprises me since if you watch a questionable play, ask 10 different refs, you are likely to get varied and/or inconsistent responses.

Hopefully the horse collar chances won't result in more subjective calls, which I fear it may.

No OT in preseason. Duh! No-brainer. Actually, fans that sat though an OT game in preseason should be allowed to lobby the league for a full refund of their tickets, parking, concessions times 150%.

[80stheman]

I'm all for the no preseason OT games. Those should have been done away with long ago.

[Grandpa]

I'm all for the no preseason OT games. Those should have been done away with long ago.

Absolutely. And, as an added benefit, it makes the broadcasters ecstatic because it gives them an extra 15 minutes of commercial breaks.

[one_bad_55]

They need to UNDO all the stupid rules they have already messed up.

[HurricaneDovs]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14997291/peyton-manning-proposal-kansas-city-chiefs-seek-pass-rule-change

[Grandpa]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14...ss-rule-change

Good on the committee. If the defense is too [insert derogatory description of IQ here] to simply touch the QB when/if he goes to ground untouched, then they deserve whatever happens if he gets up and tosses one.

[broncoslover115]

The ejection rule was amended to 2 unsportsmanlike penalties, not personal fouls.

So when whiny Brady gets in a ref's face a couple of times a game, I'm expecting him to be ejected. He gets away with that all the time.

All chop blocks out.

Moved touchbacks to 25 yard line. Can someone explain to me how this increases player safety? I don't get it.

Can't remember the rest. Please add others.

[Rastic]

The ejection rule was amended to 2 unsportsmanlike penalties, not personal fouls.

So when whiny Brady gets in a ref's face a couple of times a game, I'm expecting him to be ejected. He gets away with that all the time.

All chop blocks out.

Moved touchbacks to 25 yard line. Can someone explain to me how this increases player safety? I don't get it.

Can't remember the rest. Please add others.

Teams will become more willing to take the TBs because of starting field position at the 25 is better than the 20, I'd imagine.

[Bootleg]

Teams will become more willing to take the TBs because of starting field position at the 25 is better than the 20, I'd imagine.

Do you think it might be possible we see more squib/awkward kicks now?

[Grandpa]

Do you think it might be possible we see more squib/awkward kicks now?

My feelings? I wouldn't count on it. Trying to keep the ball OUT of the end zone is going to take precedent over "willing to take the TBs." No coach, no QB, no offensive player, wants to hand the opposition 2 pts, with the possibility of the ball coming loose in the end zone and handing the opposition 6 points. No; they'll continue to try to move it beyond the end zone and the kick from wherever they have to.

The only team(s) I could see handing the other team(s) 2 points are teams with a defense so weak they couldn't stop a snowflake from hitting the ground. Wouldn't matter where they kick from; they can't stop the other team whether the other team has to start on their own 40 or down close to the end zone.

[Rastic]

Do you think it might be possible we see more squib/awkward kicks now?

I wouldn't think so. The purpose of a squib / pooch kick is to prevent a long return by the receiving team. Being a low, short kick often causes A) the ball to bounce around a bit before it's picked up, secured and returned B) slower players on the receiving team to get the ball rather.

Preventing a big return has it's drawbacks though. Being a shorter kick tends to give better field position even if there is no return.

[samparnell]

Teams will become more willing to take the TBs because of starting field position at the 25 is better than the 20, I'd imagine.

Most kickers can kick the ball high so that it will come down at/near the GL.

[CanDB]

The ejection rule was amended to 2 unsportsmanlike penalties, not personal fouls.

So when whiny Brady gets in a ref's face a couple of times a game, I'm expecting him to be ejected. He gets away with that all the time.

All chop blocks out.

Moved touchbacks to 25 yard line. Can someone explain to me how this increases player safety? I don't get it.

Can't remember the rest. Please add others.

Teams will become more willing to take the TBs because of starting field position at the 25 is better than the 20, I'd imagine.

They say that returned KOs are a significant safety issue, based on their stats, so they are going to do all they can to discourage returns. One might wonder why have returns at all, if they are so dangerous. I guess until they find a way to rule out onside kickoffs, and squibs etc., they will allow returns.

The automatic 25 yard line is too O biased in my opinion.

[broncoslover115]

They say that returned KOs are a significant safety issue, based on their stats, so they are going to do all they can to discourage returns. One might wonder why have returns at all, if they are so dangerous. I guess until they find a way to rule out onside kickoffs, and squibs etc., they will allow returns.

The automatic 25 yard line is too O biased in my opinion.

I always scoff at the league when they preach player safety until it hits their bottom line. The players have consistently said they don't want to play on Thursday night because they haven't had time to heal up from Sunday but the league doesn't stop that because it increases their bottom line.

The league has discussed increasing to 18 games which again would increase injuries but if it increases profit margins, they will do it. The rule of moving the TB to the 25 yard line seems silly to me.