NFL Adopts More Rules Change Proposals

Photo by: Jeff Fusco.

BOCA RATON, FL — The following playing rules proposals were adopted by NFL teams at the annual meeting in Boca Raton, Florida, which concluded earlier today:

• Disqualifies a player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. Amended to one-year only.
• Changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line. Amended to one-year only.

The NFL also tabled Baltimore’s proposal to expand reviewable plays for further discussion, and adopted several changes yesterday:

• Permanently moves the line of scrimmage for Try kicks to the defensive team’s 15-yard line, and allows the defense to return any missed Try.
• Permits the offensive and defensive play callers on the coaching staffs to use the coach-to-player communication system regardless of whether they are on the field or in the coaches’ booth.
• Makes all chop blocks illegal.
• Expands the horse collar rule to include when a defender grabs the jersey at the name plate or above and pulls a runner toward the ground.
• Makes it a foul for delay of game when a team attempts to call a timeout when it is not permitted to do so.
• Eliminates the five-yard penalty for an eligible receiver illegally touching a forward pass after being out of bounds and re-establishing himself inbounds, and makes it a loss of down.
• Eliminates multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession.