Personal foul ejection, chop block ban among 19 NFL rule proposals
Some key changes could be coming to the NFL.
The league’s competition committee announced the proposals it will present to ownership during next week’s annual owners’ meetings, held in Boca Raton, Fla.
Among the most significant include a proposal that will automatically eject players from a game in which they have committed two personal fouls, one that will make all chop blocks illegal and one that will move the ball spot following a touchback from the 20-yard line to the 25-yard line.
Additionally, the Baltimore Ravens submitted a proposal that could expand the use of instant replay to three challenges and increase the list of reviewable plays.
The Buffalo Bills took it one step further, submitting a proposal that would allow teams “to challenge any official's decision except scoring plays and turnovers.”
The Minnesota Vikings’ proposed tweak to replay would eliminate the condition that teams would need to be successful on their first two challenges to be awarded a third.
The Washington Redskins also proposed a change to preseason games, in which overtime periods would be eliminated for any games that end in a tie at the end of regulation.
For any rule changes to be ratified, they must receive at least 24 of 32 votes during the competition committee sessions in Boca Raton.
The proposal that would eject a player for two personal fouls limits the list of eligible infractions to throwing a punch, a forearm, or kicking; using abusive, threatening, or insulting language; and using baiting or taunting acts.
Therefore, if a player were to be penalized twice for personal fouls for facemasks, for example, he would not be subject to ejection.
Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Atlanta Falcons president and CEO Rich McKay, the chairman of the competition committee said there would have been only two automatic ejections last season if the proposal would have been in effect.
Some NFL fans – and players – might be disappointed to discover that there will not be any proposals with significant changes to the much-maligned catch rule that has prompted controversy due to ambiguity in what constitutes a catch.
At last month’s NFL scouting combine, Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett called it “a controversial issue” but later added that he had faith in the committee to “get it right.”
According to the NFL, the committee spent an “exorbitant” amount of time watching “hundreds” of replays of questionable catch calls, but did not see the need to alter the language on the catch rule.
“After watching a ton of video and bringing in voices, both from outside and inside, it was unanimous that the language the way it was stated is appropriate,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said, before adding that player safety was a key factor in not pursuing a change to the rule.
The meetings will be held at the Boca Raton Resort & Club from March 20-23.
A full list of the rules subject for voting are below:
2016 Playing Rules Proposals
1. By Competition Committee; 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.
2. By Competition Committee; 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.
3. By Competition Committee; Makes all chop blocks illegal.
4. By Competition Committee; Disqualifies a player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.
5. By Competition Committee; Changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
6. By Baltimore; to amend Rule 5, Sections 3, Articles 1 and 2 (Changes in Position) to require players to wear jersey vests with numbers appropriate for their positions.
7. By Baltimore; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Articles 1, 4, and 5 (Instant Replay) to provide each team with three challenges and expand reviewable plays.
8. By Buffalo; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Articles 1, 4, and 5 (Instant Replay) to permit a coach to challenge any official's decision except scoring plays and turnovers.
9. By Carolina; to amend Rule 8, Section 2, Article 1 (Intentional Grounding) to expand the definition of intentional grounding.
10. By Kansas City; to amend Rule 14, Section 2, Article 1 (Half-distance Penalty) to add penalty yards to the distance needed to gain a First Down.
11. By Kansas City; to amend Rule 8, Section 1, Article 2 (Legal Forward Pass) to prohibit quarterbacks from falling to the ground, getting up, and throwing a forward pass.
12. By Minnesota; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Article 1 (Coaches' Challenge) to eliminate the requirement that a team be successful on each of its first two Instant Replay challenges in order to be awarded a third challenge.
13. By Washington; to amend Rule 16, Section 1, Articles 1, 4, 6 and 7 (Overtime procedures) to eliminate overtime periods in preseason games.
14. By Washington; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Article 4 (Reviewable Plays) to subject personal foul penalties to Instant Replay review.
15. By Washington; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Article 1 (Coaches' Challenge) to eliminate the requirement that a team be successful on each of its first two Instant Replay challenges in order to be awarded a third challenge.
16. By Competition Committee; 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.
17. By Competition Committee; Makes it a foul for delay of game when a team attempts to call a timeout when it is not permitted to do so.
18. By Competition Committee; 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.
19. By Competition Committee; Eliminates multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession.