NFL passes some of the new rules

[VaSteelerFan]

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- NFL owners concluded their annual meeting owners with quick passages of several proposals and by tabling the re-seeding idea for the playoffs.

Without the necessary 24 votes to pass a re-seeding plan to give wild-card teams the chance to host playoff games, the Competition Committee tabled the concept to a later meeting, most likely May.

Among the proposals that were passed:


• A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions on pass completions near the sidelines was approved. Now, officials will only have to decide whether a receiver landed in bounds or not. The intended result is more consistency.

• The "Phil Dawson field goal rule" change passed. Now, certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay, including kicks that bounce off the uprights. Under the previous system, no field goals could be replayed.

• Coaches can now defer a decision on the opening coin toss. This is similar to the college rule. Previously, the winner of the coin toss could only choose to receive or kick off.

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble. Previously, it was ruled a false start.

• The 5-yard face mask penalty was eliminated. Now, only the serious face mask will be called (and will be assessed as a 15-yard penalty). The major foul will involve twisting or grabbing the face mask.

On Tuesday, the league tabled a Kansas City Chiefs' proposal to prohibit hair hanging over the back of jerseys to the nameplate.

It passed a rule to allow defensive players to wear radio helmets on Tuesday.



http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3325273

[Wig]

That defensive headset rule change will certainly help the Patriots out.

Expect them to become the greatest defense ever assembled next year.

[Coryea]

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- NFL owners concluded their annual meeting owners with quick passages of several proposals and by tabling the re-seeding idea for the playoffs.

Without the necessary 24 votes to pass a re-seeding plan to give wild-card teams the chance to host playoff games, the Competition Committee tabled the concept to a later meeting, most likely May.

Among the proposals that were passed:


• A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions on pass completions near the sidelines was approved. Now, officials will only have to decide whether a receiver landed in bounds or not. The intended result is more consistency.


I'm not sure I like that rule. Before the defender had to actually attempt to play the ball because he knew it would be a force out if he just drilled the WR out of bounds. It also takes away the chance for the WR to make a nice catch and get his feet down.

[FistfullofRings]

I'm not sure I like that rule. Before the defender had to actually attempt to play the ball because he knew it would be a force out if he just drilled the WR out of bounds. It also takes away the chance for the WR to make a nice catch and get his feet down.

A defender can't always make a play on the ball, in those instances it forced the defender to decide whether to make a play at all and guess about whether the receiver would get his feet down or how the ref would interpret the play if he did make contact.

I think this rule is long passed due and finally, a rule that helps the defense!

[LetMePlay]

• A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions: YES

• Now, certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay: YES

• Coaches can now defer a decision on the opening coin toss. YES, but I dont care.

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble: YES

• The 5-yard face mask penalty was eliminated: YES

• It passed a rule to allow defensive players to wear radio helmets on Tuesday: NO

[omawho]

• A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions: YES

• Now, certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay: YES

• Coaches can now defer a decision on the opening coin toss. YES, but I dont care.

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble: YES

• The 5-yard face mask penalty was eliminated: YES

• It passed a rule to allow defensive players to wear radio helmets on Tuesday: NO



Agree..............

[markymarc]

• A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions: YES

• Now, certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay: YES

• Coaches can now defer a decision on the opening coin toss. YES, but I dont care.

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble: YES

• The 5-yard face mask penalty was eliminated: YES

• It passed a rule to allow defensive players to wear radio helmets on Tuesday: NO

I agree with all of them except the last one. Just curious why the beef with a defensive player wearing a radio helmet?

[smithessmokin]

so, the hair proposition hasnt been passed yet??

[Steelerman]

The 5-yard face mask penalty was eliminated. Now, only the serious face mask will be called (and will be assessed as a 15-yard penalty). The major foul will involve twisting or grabbing the face mask.

This is going to be interesting.

[markymarc]

so, the hair proposition hasnt been passed yet??

It's been put on hold for now.

[smithessmokin]

It's been put on hold for now.

ah, there is an argument among the coaches, steelers and jacksonville wont say yes. who else will say no??

[SteelerFan448]

Some good changes in there. I wonder what brought up the coin toss rule now?

[BuckeyeSteel]

• It passed a rule to allow defensive players to wear radio helmets on Tuesday: NO

Agree..............

Why?
I think the helmet for defence is fair.

[Guttpuppy]

I'm not sure I like that rule. Before the defender had to actually attempt to play the ball because he knew it would be a force out if he just drilled the WR out of bounds. It also takes away the chance for the WR to make a nice catch and get his feet down.

I agree with you on this, could be very important in the endzone... but I guess it could help and/or hurt every team.

[Big Fella]

So it appears that the list of people that gives a fuck about the hair consists Herman Edwards and Hollywood Bags?

I'm personally outraged at their refusal to take immediate action...or not.

[LetMePlay]

I agree with all of them except the last one. Just curious why the beef with a defensive player wearing a radio helmet?

I dont want any radio helmets. I want them to take it away from the QB.

[Man-O-Steel]

I like the hand signal days instead of radios however, since the offence has them the defence should too. It's only fair and besides its nice to give the defence a chance instead of making more rules to help the offence

[Silent]

Can someone explain this rule change for me..it just isn't clicking in my head -

"A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble"

[TheStoneMan]

I'm not sure I like that rule. Before the defender had to actually attempt to play the ball because he knew it would be a force out if he just drilled the WR out of bounds. It also takes away the chance for the WR to make a nice catch and get his feet down.

what if a defensive player was able to carry a reciever out of bounds from two or three yards from the sidelines?

If he were able to gather possesion and in the air and then be prevented from landing from a considerable distance away? would that be an incompletion?

[SteelrzGirl]

That defensive headset rule change will certainly help the Patriots out.

Expect them to become the greatest defense ever assembled next year.
thats kind of what I was thinking