NFL Passes Five Rule Changes

National Football League teams approved five rule changes during this week's league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, including the proposal to make the overtime rules the same during the regular season as they are in the post-season. This change means that overtime is no longer a "sudden death" scenario where a team can the win the game by winning the coin toss and kicking a field goal on the opening possession, a touchdown on the opening possession by the receiving team, however, would end the game. Other rule changes for 2012 were having the Replay Official initiate reviews of certain turnovers, adding a loss of down aspect to the penalty for the rare kicking a loose ball, making the "Too Many Men" penalty a dead ball foul, and adding recipients of a crack-back to the list of defenseless players. The two proposed rule changes that did not pass were having the Replay Official determine all reviews from the booth, which was opposed by NFL coaches who undoubtedly want the person determining the replays be an individual they could immediately talk to and/or lobby. Also, the league will not be applying the horse-collar tackle rule to quarterbacks in the pocket, which was proposed by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Source: Mac's Football Blog

 

What's this do/mean? Players receiving a crack-back block are protected like WRs/QBs? Good to see defenders being protected.

 

so, overtime has completely changed. should be interesting.

 

So you can horse collar a QB? :laughy32:

 

I hate the overtime rule, the best part of overtime was that it was sudden death.

 

Keep heckin' with it......

 

They should make overtime like college tbh.

 

Agreed.

 

Does anyone else think it doesn't make sense that they review all scoring plays, but not plays not ruled a TD? For example when a receiver is ruled out of bounce, or ruled not to have crossed the goal line.

 

Also agree.

 

Jesus Christ no why in the hell? Screw no.

 

Yea I don't like colleges overtime. I actually like the way the rule is now.

 

I know I am in the vast minority but I like Sudden Death

 

I hate the idea of a hard fought game decided by the coin flip and a field goal. This plan is pretty good.

 

I hate the idea of a team whose defense sucked and gave up a long drive that sputtered at the 30 getting the win on a technicality.

If your team isn't good enough to win in regulation you should only get one shot to win in OT. Stop them and get the ball back or you lose. Isn't that the Defense's job in the first place?

 

Didn't you get the memo. Defense is being phased out.

 

I heard Goodel say that in the next 3 years every game will be like the Pro Bowl.

 

that is right. No injuries that way unless they play touch on the beach.

 

You never know somebody might pull a groin trying to hard NOT to tackle someone.

 

I understand the rule changes for player safety. But you can just do so much to make it safer. It is still big men running full speed and crashing into each other. You can water down a good thing just so much.