| Sign Up | Google+

NFL Owners Pass Three More Rule Changes

Stay connected for news and updates

The NFL rule changes weren't finished, as the owners voted on a few more issues at the NFL Spring Owners Meeting on Tuesday. In total, three rules were changed, each of which are summarized after the jump:

  • More Clarification on "Defenseless" Players: In the past, defenseless players were those individuals who were not given an opportunity to complete a catch. The new verbiage in the rule book includes the following, per the NFL Network:
    • the receiver who "has not clearly become a runner,"
    • a kicker or punter during a return
    • a quarterback following a change of possession,
    • a player who takes a blindside block from an opponent "moving toward his own endline" and approaches from the back or side.

  • "Launching" Change: This is sort of more of a "clarification of the rule" change as opposed to a complete change. The launching rule is now more clearly stated to include:
    • players who leave both "prior to contact to spring forward and upward,"
    • players who "use any part of their helmet."
       
  • Blow to the Head of a Quarterback: This is the one rule I really appreciate the league changing, and I hope the officials call things right next season. When a defender makes contact with the quarterbacks head/helmet, it is no longer an automatic personal foul penalty. Instead, it will be at the official's discretion as to whether or not the contact warrants a penalty.

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Recent Posts

The Next Read

There are 21 Comments. Load Now. Loading

Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.

C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read

R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next

Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read

Comment Settings

Live comment alert: Hide it!

Comments for this post are closed.

tracking_pixel_5341_tracker tracking_pixel_5351_tracker