New NFL Rules Adopted At League Meeting

BOCA RATON, FL — The following rules proposals were adopted today by NFL teams at the annual meeting:

• 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.

Discussion and voting on other proposals will continue tomorrow, including the following:

• Eject any player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.
• Change the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
• Provide each team with three challenges and expand reviewable plays.
• Expand the definition of intentional grounding.
• Eliminate overtime in preseason games.