The Las Vegas Raiders are relevant again as they are shrouded in optimism with a new coach, a collection of hired guns in free agency and the No. 1 draft pick next month.
They will also take center stage at the NFL’s league meetings, which kick off in earnest Monday at The Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.
In addition to the usual items on the agenda such as rules change proposals and discussions of how to make the game better, the Raiders ownership succession plan will be up for vote.
The Raiders and Allegiant Stadium are also expected to be awarded the 2029 Super Bowl with a vote from owners a mere formality.
Neither should draw much opposition or controversy.
The same could be said of most of the potential rules changes, though some may at least warrant some discussion. At least 24 of the 32 clubs must vote on a proposal for passage and all of the agenda items have already been discussed and vetted by the competition committee.
One topic that will not be addressed this time around is the so-called “Tush Push.” There are no proposals on the agenda involving the controversial play, which has faced a ban the last few seasons at this get together.
“The success rate on the traditional sneak is above the Tush Push success rate,” Atlanta Falcons CEO and competition committee chairman Rich McKay said. “So, I just think there’s less talk about it within the football community, and there was no proposal on the table to put anything in this year to deal with that.”
A play that will be discussed quite a bit is the kickoff. The league appears content with the new concept, but will vote on some adjustments that allow return teams more creativity in formations and schemes that will be aimed at creating more opportunities for big plays.
“It is a new play,” McKay said. “I think there’s a lot to be learned about it from a blocking scheme standpoint and from a return standpoint. So, we like the fact that they’re action plays, they’re not touchbacks.”
But the rule was implemented in a very restrictive manner in order to gauge how it worked both from an excitement standpoint and how it affected injury rates. The data backs up an expansion of the allowable formations.
“So now, we’re back to let’s not limit them,” McKay said. “Let’s create a little more opportunity to create more offensive plays that could be run out of this formation, and potentially for safety, a way to block some of the free runners, because there is four on the back line, meaning five yards off. So, that’s kind of where we are. We’re comfortable with it now.”
Those tweaks should be passed, along with a proposal to declare an onside kick at any time and not just when a team is trailing in the fourth quarter.
One of the only potential true debates may be over a Cleveland Browns proposal to allow teams to trade draft picks five years into the future instead of just three.
It’s the kind of thing the league will probably push back on a bit because of the desire to keep fanbases engaged in the viewing element of the draft, but the outcome will be interesting to follow.
Two replay-related changes are also expected to pass, though one has a huge caveat.
Teams will vote on a plan to allow the league’s replay command center in New York to correct clear and obvious errors on the field only in the event replacement officials are needed this season. Negotiations between the referee’s association and the league have stalled and there is a chance for a work stoppage with the CBA set to expire on May 31.
This rule would be nullified should the regular officials be in place for the season.
Another proposal calls for replay officials to be able to assist on-field officials on decisions that could determine whether or not a player should be disqualified, even if no flag is thrown on the field.
The rest of the proposals are fairly procedural, such as return to practice protocols for players who start the year on the physically unable to perform list and an adjustment for roster deadline days for the start of the season, which will come a day earlier than normal because of international play in Week 1.
Most of the rest of the time will be used by team officials to network and discuss the future of the game.
“This year, we’ll be talking a lot about technology, the application of artificial intelligence, and other new cutting-edge technologies to try to improve the game, for the game’s purpose, as well as for the enjoyment of our fans,” said Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president overseeing player health and safety. “Speaking of fans, we’ll spend a fair amount of time talking about international growth.
“We’ll speak at length about flag and its growth, including the run up to the Olympics in 2028 and the premier time for flag to be in the Olympics. We’ll talk about media at length. I am sure health and safety will be a part of it, as always, and a lot more over the course of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.”
The lack of major potential changes signals the game is in a good place overall, according to Miller. Games were closer than ever last year and many teams stayed relevant in the playoff picture last year, which is something the league has been hoping to achieve.
It should be a pretty smooth week, though there could be some interesting moments when Raiders and Baltimore Ravens officials get together in the same room for the first time since the Maxx Crosby trade fiasco.
NFC coaches are scheduled to meet with the media on Monday with the AFC to follow on Tuesday morning.
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