Proposed Rule Changes

[flamingrey]

NFL owners are scheduled to vote on rules changes for overtime, replay and the injury list at the meetings.

Among the changes the competition committee will propose to the owners are:

• Expanding the overtime rule used in the postseason that both sides must have an offensive possession if the receiving team kicks a field goal to start the extra period -- to the regular season.

That rule, instituted in 2010, has yet to become a factor in the playoffs.

• Eliminating referees from instant replay reviews, instead having the booth official make all decisions. The booth official also would be allowed to review all turnovers just as all scoring plays are reviewed.

• A player hurt in preseason or early in the schedule could be designated as able to return from injured reserve after six weeks and play after eight weeks rather than sit out the entire season. The idea is to keep marquee players who get hurt early available to return late in the season.

Until 1990, IR players had to sit out six games.

• The trade deadline could be moved from after the sixth week of games to after the eighth week.

New Orleans Saints' Sean Payton to attend owners' meeting, source says - ESPN

I'm a fan of the new overtime rules and would like to see them implemented in the regular season. There's no reason not to have them identical in both the regular and post season.

If it makes the process quicker, then by all means allow all calls to be made by the booth official. I'm assuming this includes all challenges.

 

[cincygrad]

I like that they are trying to address some of the old IR issues. I've always thought that it was a bit unfair to make teams decide to put a guy on IR, simply because they couldn't afford to keep the roster spot available for so many weeks. Teams are already strapped with injuries..... It would be nice if there was a little more flexibility for teams to see how a guy heals after an early season injury.