At this week’s owners’ meetings, the NFL moved to ratify several proposed changes to on- and off-field rules. Here’s the full rundown:
Playing Rules Changes:
- By Competition Committee; Makes permanent the playing rule that changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
- By Competition Committee; Changes standard for a catch.
- By Competition Committee; Authorizes the designated member of the Officiating department to instruct on-field game officials to disqualify a player for a flagrant non-football act when a foul for that act is called on the field.
Approved 2018 Bylaws Summary
- By Competition Committee; Makes permanent the liberalization of rules for timing, testing, and administering physical examinations to draft-eligible players at a club’s facility.
- By Buffalo; For one year only, amends Article XVII, Section 17.4 to liberalize the rule for reacquisition of a player assigned via waivers.
3. By Denver; Amends Article XVII, Section 17.16 to permit clubs to trade players from Reserve/Injured.
4. By Minnesota; Amends Article XVIII, Section 18.1 to replace the 10-day postseason claiming period with a 24-hour period.
The change to this year’s catch rule, naturally, has garnered the most attention given the number of controversies around iffy catches last season. The new language means that the “survive the ground” verbiage will not survive in the new league year.
From a transactions standpoint, the rule change to allow players to be traded from the injured reserve list is an interesting one. Many deals have been scuttled in the past due to this restriction, but this adjustment could result in even more NFL trades going forward.
Conspicuously absent from the list is the “Josh McDaniels rule” that would have allowed assistants to be hired while their teams are still in the postseason. That proposal has been tabled until May, according to NFL.com’s Judy Battista (on Twitter).
The 3rd rule change may as well be called the Mike Evans rule…
Or the Gronk Rule
Or the Cortland Finnegan/Andre Johnson rule
So we’re all agreed on John Vans FinneGronk rule?
What’s the purpose of moving the touchback spot to the 25? I thought they hated kickoff returns.
So there is less reason to return the kick. They do hate kickoff returns. If there is a larger reward for kneeling on it, more returners will do that.
Isn’t this just going to encourage kickers to put the ball in play and negate the effect of moving the kickoff up a couple years ago?
Not a fan of the new tackle/lowering the head. I understand its whole point is to prevent head/neck/back injuries, but I think that the number of lower extremity injuries are going to skyrocket. You’re basically telling ball carriers to give themselves up when they’re about to be tackled and you’re completely going against the way kids are being taught how to tackle properly. I understand you don’t need to lead with your head, but when you go for a tackle, your head will naturally dip down a little bit to help you get leverage. I can see a ton of “clean” tackles now being flagged because it looks like the player is lowering the crown of his helmet. Might as well start telling players to wear flags around their waists.
Only kidding here but does anyone else feel like all these new safety rules are really just ways for the officials to have greater control over the outcome of games lol. Seems like vegas is pitching all these rules
What amuses me is that Goodell is always saying the rules are implemented with player safety in mind. What about the safety of fans whose eyesight is endangered by those hideous Bumblebee costumes the Steelers wear or those radioactive dayglo monstrosities worn by Seattle?