THe NFL Announces Proposed Rule Changes for the 2015 Season
The NFL has announced its rule change proposal, bylaw change proposals, and resolution change proposals that will be discussed by the Competition Committee next week at the annual league meetings in Arizona. For any of these changes to take effect 24 of the 32 owners will have to vote for them, and given how many there are this year it would seem that not all of them.
The single resolution to be considered is to allow teams with a retractable roof to open it during halftime. The proposed by law changes include allowing more pre-draft contact between teams and players, the elimination of the 75 player cut down, and other roster oriented items.
The big news and the most pressuring concerns are the rules of play and there are a number of proposals that seem very intriguing. According to Pro Football Talk all of the following rule changes will be discussed:
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— Allow any call to be challenged.
— Allow penalties to be challenged.
— Allow coaches to challenge personal fouls.
— Allow personal fouls to be reviewed, but not necessarily on coaches' challenges.
— Make all fouls that result in automatic first downs reviewable.
— Allow replay review of rulings related to hits on defenseless receivers.
— Review every foul for hits on defenseless players.
— Increase the number of coaches' challenges from two to three.
— Add the game clock at the end of the half and end of the game to the list of things that can be reviewed on replay.
— Add the play clock to the list of things that can be reviewed on replay.
— Put fixed cameras on all boundaries of the playing field, sidelines, goal line.
— Allow a "bonus try" after a two-point conversion.
— Do not allow players to push rushers when a team is punting. (This is already the rule on field goals and extra points.)
— Guarantee both teams a possession in overtime.
— Ban peelback blocks by any offensive player.
— Give defensive players "defenseless receiver" protection on interceptions.
— If there's a dead ball foul, unsportsmanlike conduct or taunting at the end of the first half, it will carry over to the second half.
— Ban running backs from chop blocking outside the tackle box.
— Allow linebackers to wear jersey numbers 40-49 in addition to 50-59 and 90-99.
— If an eligible player reports as an ineligible receiver to the referee, he must align within the tackle box.
