This time of year, the NFL has heavy focus on the Scouting Combine, the start of free agency, and next month, the NFL Draft. As weeks on the NFL calendar go, though, this one is a little underrated. The NFL holds its league meetings in West Palm Beach this week, where important business will be discussed among ownership, front office personnel and head coaches.
This is the week when the various rule change proposals, both from the 32 teams and the competition committee, are reviewed and ultimately voted upon by the 32 teams. Below, I have listed the six proposed rule or bylaw changes that have generated the most conversation among NFL fans and media, along with my prediction on whether or not each one passes.
The votes are reportedly taking place on Tuesday this week, and a 75 percent majority is required for each proposal to pass. Here we go (proposals in BOLD):
By Competition Committee; amends Rule 6, Section 1, to make permanent the new form of free kick play implemented in 2024 designed to 1) resemble a typical scrimmage play by aligning players on both teams closer together and restricting movement to reduce space and speed and 2) promote more returns, subject to the following changes: (a) modifies the alignment requirements for receiving team players in the setup zone; (b) changes the dead ball spot after a touchback to the 35-yard line if the ball lands in the end zone and is downed in the end zone by the receiving team or goes out of bounds behind the receiving team’s goal line; (c) changes the alignment requirements for the kicking team on an onside kick; and (d) permits the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game if trailing its opponent.
SP COMMENT: This is essentially making permanent the radical new kickoff rules that the leagued opted a year ago, where coverage units are attacking the return units from much closer quarters, as opposed to full field sprints like in years past. The only major tweaks from last season are that (a) a touchback comes out to the 35 yard line, as opposed to the 30 yard line last year, and (b) teams that are trailing can announce they are doing an onside kick at any point in the game. There were far more insides restrictions last year. PREDICTION: APPROVED
By Philadelphia; amends Rule 16, Section 1, to align the postseason and regular season overtime rules by granting both teams an opportunity to possess the ball regardless of the outcome of the first possession, subject to a 15-minute overtime period in the regular season.
SP COMMENT: This feels like it's been a slow burn for decades to finally get to a place where both teams get a chance with the ball in overtime. In the regular season, an overtime game can end with the first team to possess the ball scoring a touchdown. This would eliminate that possibility. PREDICTION: APPROVED
By Competition Committee; amends Rule 15, to expand Instant Replay’s ability to advise the on-field officials on specific, objective aspects of a play and/or to address game administration issues when clear and obvious video evidence is present.
SP COMMENT: In plain English, this allows the "eye in the sky" to notify the refs when they've made an egregious error, saving the teams victimized by the error from having to use a challenge. PREDICTION: APPROVED
By Detroit; amends Rule 8, Section 4, to eliminate an automatic first down as a penalty imposed for defensive holding and illegal contact.
SP COMMENT: I've always wondered why a picky tack five yard penalty for anything resulted in an automatic first down. This is the first time I've seen a team clamor about it. For some reason, although it makes sense, I think this gets voted down. PREDICTION: REJECTED
By Green Bay; amends Rule 12, Section 1, to prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap.
SP COMMENT: This is the rule, or potential ban thereof, that has everyone talking. The sentence you read above describes the "Tush Push" that has been made into a near automatic conversion on short yardage plays by the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The teams that are against this play are VERY MUCH against it. Reportedly, discussion of the ban of the play led to a heated exchange between Eagles GM Howie Roseman and Rams head coach Sean McVay this past weekend. There is reportedly growing sentiment to ban the play based on "safety issues." I would just ban the pushing of a teammate forward anywhere on the field, and this solves everything. PREDICTION: REJECTED (but it will be close)
By Detroit; amends Article XX, Section 20.2 of the Constitution & Bylaws, to amend the current playoff seeding format to allow Wild Card teams to be seeded higher than Division Champions if the Wild Card team has a better regular season record.
SP COMMENT: Right now, as we know very well here in Houston, the four division winners in each conference get the top four seeds in the playoffs (out of seven playoff teams in each conference). Those top four seeds all get a home game in their playoff opener. It's how the Texans, with a 10-7 record, get a home game against the Browns and Chargers the last two playoffs, both of whom had an 11-6 record, but did not win their division. This rule would allow all four division winners into the postseason, but seeding would be done through the won-loss records of the seven playoff teams. Personally, I'd leave this the way it is, and make winning the division have supreme importance. PREDICTION: REJECTED
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