NFL owners and head coaches have descended upon Boca Raton, Florida for the annual owners’ meetings, which started earlier this afternoon.
For the next three days, owners and coaches will meet to discuss some of the latest hot topics, while also deciding on the 19 proposed rule changes for the 2016 season.
Of those 19 proposed changes, two were submitted by the Ravens. The first would eliminate something they have struggled to defend in the past.
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.
Every Ravens fan remembers the eligible/ineligible receiver debacle against the New England Patriots which prompted the league to look into the matter. Although legal, the team felt like it was given a raw deal due to not having the opportunity pre-snap to adjust to New England’s formation changes.
There was also the case of John Urschel reporting eligible last season only to have the referee declare he didn’t see it and tossing a flag following the play.
Currently the rule states that an offensive lineman – or whoever is reporting eligible – must simply notify the referee before the play or before entering the huddle. The Ravens, however, would like to see the player don a vest so the opposing team and sideline are also aware.
While I understand the Ravens’ frustration that goes along with the loss to the Pats and the confusion on the Urschel play, this proposed rule change, to me, just smacks of the team going with a “if you can’t beat it, make it illegal” approach.
The second proposed change, though, is one that makes complete sense.
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.
In the new era of the NFL, with cameras all over the field, and considering the the difficulty referees have had over the past several seasons, this change SHOULD occur.
Far too often throughout last season head coaches, players and fans saw just how bad NFL officiating has become. While taking into consideration the officials’ problem of just how hard it is to see everything at game speed, why not take the extra few seconds or minutes to get the calls right?
And hey, the NFL could load their pockets even more with the sponsor money thanks to all the extra commercial breaks.
Here is a list of the other proposed rule changes the owners will vote on this week:
- 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.
- 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.
- Â By Competition Committee; Makes all chop blocks illegal.
- By Competition Committee; Disqualifies a player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.
- By Competition Committee; Changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
- 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.
- By Carolina; to amend Rule 8, Section 2, Article 1 (Intentional Grounding) to expand the definition of intentional grounding.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- By Washington; to amend Rule 16, Section 1, Articles 1, 4, 6 and 7 (Overtime procedures) to eliminate overtime periods in preseason games.
- By Washington; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Article 4 (Reviewable Plays) to subject personal foul penalties to Instant Replay review.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- By Competition Committee; Eliminates multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession.
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