Proposed New Rule/Bylaw changes

Some very interesting thoughts here:

Proposed rule changes for 2012 | ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/21/nfl-weighs-changes-on-overtime-defenseless-players-trade-deadline/)

1) Playoff OT rules now Regular season as well
2) several defensive player type protections
3) roster exemption for a concussed player
4) one IR could be designated to come back in season

and more.

Thoughts?

I like the overtime rule change, all fumble plays being instantly reviewed, the IR rule change, etc....

I don't necessarily have a big issue with any of them.

Pending explanation on #2, I like the rule changes for once.

I hope #2 doesn't hamper zone-blocking teams.

Pending explanation on #2, I like the rule changes for once.

I hope #2 doesn't hamper zone-blocking teams.

Making the crackback blocks illegal if the defensive player is hit in the head/neck area.

Anybody wanna copy/paste the story? I can't read the link.

As far as the OP goes, I like all the proposed changes, although I say that knowing how vague #2 is in the OP. If the crackback rule hurt what we do on offense, I'd tell them to adjust, because that same rule would prevent other offenses from potentially injuring our defensive players some day. Imagine how pissed we'd be if some player took out Kerrigan or Orakpo on a crackback hit and it cost them their season, yet we didn't even get so much as a penalty.

I wish they would bring back celebrations and return the kickoff to the 30

Pending explanation on #2, I like the rule changes for once.

I hope #2 doesn't hamper zone-blocking teams.

If the blocking is done right there should be not issue. Plus there already is a rule in place... no chop blocking (cutting a guys legs out from underneith while he's engaged by another player. Those kinds of rules.

Maybe they could add any face mask is a penalty. It's one thing to stiff arm a defensemen by using his body it's another to grab the CB's facemask and try to hold him off. If the defense can't do it neither should the offense.

Proposed rule changes for 2012
Posted by Michael David Smith on March 21, 2012, 4:03 PM EDT
Cowboys defensive coordinator Ryan argues with referee Coleman about a penalty call during their NFL football game against the Patriots in Foxborough Reuters

The NFL’s Competition Committee announced several proposed changes to the game-day rules and the league bylaws on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

The rules changes that are being proposed are:

1. Giving the authority to determine replay reviews to the replay official in the booth, not the referee on the field.

2. Modifying the horse-collar tackle rule to remove the exception for quarterbacks in the pocket, so that a quarterback in the pocket may not be yanked down by the back of his shoulder pads or inside collar of his jersey.

3. Changing overtime so that the postseason rule will be used in the regular season as well, and no regular-season games will be ended on a field goal on the first possession of overtime.

4. Adding a loss of down to the penalty for kicking a loose ball, as is the case in college football.

5. Adopting the college rule for too many men on the field, which is a dead-ball foul if a team lines up on offense for more than three seconds, or if a team on defense lines up with too many men and the snap is imminent. In those cases, the officials will blow the play dead and assess a five-yard penalty. This change wouldn’t affect the rulings on players running off the field who don’t get off in time.

6. Expanding the defenseless player rule to protect defensive players on crackback blocks, making it illegal to hit them in the head or neck area.

7. Automatically reviewing turnovers via instant replay, just as scoring plays are automatically reviewed.

The league also considered the following bylaws:

1. Modifying the roster rules for teams that play on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

2. Moving the trade deadline from Week 6 to Week 8.

3. Expanding the roster limit for training camp and the offseason to 90 players, with unsigned draft picks now counting toward that limit, whereas in the past unsigned draft picks did not count toward the 80-player limit.

4. Moving this year’s final roster cutdown day to Friday night instead of Saturday, which is designed to give an extra day of work after cutting down to final rosters for the two teams playing in the first game of the season, which this year is on Wednesday instead of Thursday.

5. Adding an injured reserve exemption so that if a player was on the roster through the first regular season weekend, that player can be placed on injured reserve and designated for return, and then can return to practice six weeks later and play in a game eight weeks later, rather than having all players on injured reserve out for the season.

6. Allowing one roster exemption per team per week for a player who is inactive with a concussion.

PFT Planet, tell us how you feel about the proposed rules changes.


sorry didn't have time before.

Thanks for doing that CR. From reading it I don't have a problem wih any of those rule changes, although I don't think all of them will pass.