The NFL Competition Committee and a number of NFL franchises suggested a total of 19 rules changes or amendments to current rules during a league meeting yesterday
One of the more interesting rule change suggestions comes from the Baltimore Ravens, where they want players to put on "pinnies" (those ugly vets that teams wear in practice over their jerseys during scout or 7 on 7 periods) with numbers appropriate for their positions. The reason behind this is likely inspired by limiting surprise plays like a tackle-eligible pass, or putting defensive lineman in the backfield as a blocker. My thought on that is that if you're in the NFL, you should be able to quickly decipher who is eligible and who is not so please don't make a lineman squeeze on a pinnie on national television.
The one rule that should get passed, no questions asked, is from the Competition Committe who want to make all chop blocks illegal. We're not talking about legal cut blocks here, at the NFL level, high-low blocks are permitted in certain circumstances. Those are the type of blocks that end careers, and there is no place stuff like that in football.
Other proposals include changes in the number of challenges, and what can be challenged, an expansion of how intentional grounding is called, and awarding teams that won their first two challenges with a bonus third challenge - because why should a team be penalized for correctly challenging two calls that the officials got wrong? That's another change I'd be 100% on board with.
Here's a break down on the suggestions:
From the 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
- 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
- Disqualifies a player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.
- Changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line
- 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.
From the Baltimore Ravens:
- 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
- to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Articles 1, 4, and 5 (Instant Replay) to provide each team with three challenges and expand reviewable plays
From the Buffalo Bills:
- 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
From the Carolina Panthers:
- to amend Rule 8, Section 2, Article 1 (Intentional Grounding) to expand the definition of intentional grounding
From the Kansas City Chiefs:
- to amend Rule 14, Section 2, Article 1 (Half-distance Penalty) to add penalty yards to the distance needed to gain a First Down
- 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
From the Minnesota Vikings:
- 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
From the Washington Redskins:
- to amend Rule 16, Section 1, Articles 1, 4, 6 and 7 (Overtime procedures) to eliminate overtime periods in preseason games
- to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Article 4 (Reviewable Plays) to subject personal foul penalties to Instant Replay review.
- 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