Rule Changes in the works? (merged 2x)

[petejet]

Albert Breer of NFL Network reports Competition Committee chair Rich McKay said they are proposing moving kickoffs to 35 yard line and touchbacks to the 25 on the table.

Currently, kickoffs are at the 30 yard line and touchbacks are at the 20 yard line.

Albert Breer of NFL Network reports the Competition Committee is proposing all scoring plays be reviewed automatically by replay assistant, thus moving closer to college review system.

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Not sure I like either.

[Jerricho89]

[url]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/16/nfl-considers-kickoffs-at-35-yard-line-touchbacks-to-25-yard-line/[/url]

[QUOTE]Significant changes on kickoffs are coming to the NFL in 2011 if the NFL’s Competition Committee gets its way.

Falcons President and Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay revealed on a conference call with the media today that the Competition Committee is proposing a major modification of kickoffs, moving the kickoff back to the 35-yard line instead of the 30, and giving the receiving team the ball at the 25-yard line, instead of the 20, if there’s a touchback.

In other words, it will be easier for the kicker to boot the ball into the end zone, and there will be greater incentive for the return man to stay in the end zone instead of running it out.

The Competition Committee is also proposing the elimination of all forms of the wedge block, including the two-man wedge, and requiring players on the kickoff team to line up between the 30-yard line and the 35-yard line. All of these changes, the Competition Committee believes, will cut down on injuries on kickoffs.

“The injury rate on kickoffs remains a concern for us,” McKay said.

One thing that will not change is what happens after a kickoff goes out of bounds: The Competition Committee’s proposal is still for the receiving team to get the ball on the 40-yard line.

All Competition Committee proposals will be voted on by the owners at next week’s NFL Annual Meeting.[/QUOTE]

Since our kickoff return and coverage units have long been a strength and a frequent advantage over other teams, this would really have a negative effect. The majority of kicks would go into the end zone or beyond, and without any kind of wedge, those kicks that are returned would probably not produce long gains.

This would also have an impact on the market valueof guys like Brad Smith. On one hand, it would make it easier to re-sign him; on the other hand, he won't be worth as much to the Jets.

[LockeJET]

[url]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6223700[/url]


The NFL will be more aggressive in suspending players next season for illegal hits, and also could make changes to instant replay and kickoffs.

Ray Anderson, the league's chief disciplinarian, said Wednesday in a conference call that repeat offenders or players committing flagrant illegal hits will have a much greater chance of being suspended during the 2011 season.

No suspensions were handed down in 2010 even after the NFL's crackdown on such hits, in part because "we were operating under the principle unless you have given sufficent advance notice of what the results could be, you need to be more lenient," Anderson said.

"Frankly, now that the notice has been given, players and coaches and clubs are very aware of what the emphasis is and we won't have that hesitation," Anderson said. "Everyone will be very clearly on notice now that a suspension is very viable for us and we will exercise it ... when it comes to illegal hits to the head and neck area and to defenseless players."

The NFL increased the amount on its fines for such hits last year after a series of fouls on one October weekend. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison was fined $75,000 for one such tackle, while Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dunta Robinson and New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather were docked $50,000 for hits to defenseless opponents that weekend.

Many more fines were implemented throughout the remainder of last season but no player was suspended, even though suspensions were considered, Anderson said.

"We want to be much more clear on what can be a suspendable incident," Anderson said. "The emphasis is on head and neck hits and what a defenseless player is. And we will work hard that people understand what is a repeat offender and what is a flagrant foul."

The league looks at two years worth of plays to determined repeat offenders.

Rules defining a defenseless player will be expanded and now will include eight categories:

• A quarterback in the act of throwing;

• A receiver trying to catch a pass;

• A runner already in the grasp of tacklers and having his forward progress stopped;

• A player fielding a punt or a kickoff;

• A kicker or punter during the kick;

• A quarterback at any time after change of possession;

• A receever who receives a blind-side block;

• A player already on the ground.

The league's competition committee plans to propose at next week's owners meetings moving the kickoff up to the 35-yard line and bringing a touchback out to the 25. It also will propose making all scoring plays reviewable by the replay official.

In addition, the full NFL schedule will be released in April as scheduled, regardless of the lockout.

[CV 40]

So are we one step away from giving the receiving team the ball on the 25 and eliminating kickoffs altogether? This also diminishes the importance of special team specialists if you only have to worry about Punts and Field Goals.

[petejet]

[QUOTE=LockeJET;3981331][url]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6223700[/url]


.

Rules defining a defenseless player will be expanded and now will include eight categories:

•[B] A quarterback in the act of throwing;[/B]

•[B] A receiver trying to catch a pass;[/B]

• A runner already in the grasp of tacklers and having his forward progress stopped;

• [B]A player fielding a punt or a kickoff;[/B]

• A kicker or punter during the kick;

• [B]A quarterback at any time after change of possession;[/B]

• A receever who receives a blind-side block;

• A player already on the ground.

The league's competition committee plans to propose at next week's owners meetings moving the kickoff up to the 35-yard line and bringing a touchback out to the 25. It also will propose making all scoring plays reviewable by the replay official.

[/QUOTE]


Boooooo. This is so effin lame. I might as well watch figure skating.

[Johnny Bravo]

The kickoffs are fine just the way they are, leave it alone!

[Jets Things]

[QUOTE=petejet;3981337]Boooooo. This is so effin lame. I might as well watch figure skating.[/QUOTE]

+1

Might as well turn it into two hand touch.

[petejet]

• A quarterback at any time after change of possession;

-----------------

So if the ball is turned over and the QB is trying to tackle the ball carrier you are not allowed to hit/block him?

[LockeJET]

[QUOTE=petejet;3981346]• A quarterback at any time after change of possession;

-----------------

So if the ball is turned over and the QB is trying to tackle the ball carrier you are not allowed to hit/block him?[/QUOTE]

Of course you can..but not if he's defenseless and not involved in the play.

[Sanchez05]

This would ruin the special teams

[Traitor Jay & the Woodies]

[QUOTE=LockeJET;3981331]
Rules defining a defenseless player will be expanded and now will include eight categories:

• A quarterback in the act of throwing;

• A receiver trying to catch a pass;

• A runner already in the grasp of tacklers and having his forward progress stopped;

• A player fielding a punt or a kickoff;

• A kicker or punter during the kick;

• A quarterback at any time after change of possession;

• A receever who receives a blind-side block;

• A player already on the ground.

[/QUOTE]


Wait, this isn't an article from the Onion Sports Network??? Seriously? WTF? :confused:

[Joe W. Namath]

Someone off goddell. Year by year he is slowly ruining the sport.

[Jason423]

Im not really in favor of this move, though I think this would have been a smart move to make for overtime play rather than the current playoff rules. It hurts teams with dynamic kick returners who will not get nearly as many chances for a return.

[SAR I]

[QUOTE=CV 40;3981335]So are we one step away from giving the receiving team the ball on the 25 and eliminating kickoffs altogether? This also diminishes the importance of special team specialists if you only have to worry about Punts and Field Goals.[/QUOTE]

+1.

What a way to get back at the NFLPA. If we have a sport without special teams, that's 20% of the roster we can get rid of.

If we just have 1 player from the Jets and 1 player from the opposition play Madden on the LCD's, wow, the owners will make billions.

SAR I

[greenwichjetfan]

[QUOTE=petejet;3981346]• A quarterback at any time after change of possession;

-----------------

So if the ball is turned over and the QB is trying to tackle the ball carrier you are not allowed to hit/block him?[/QUOTE]

Forget that...what about the throwing one?!?

How the heck is anybody supposed to tackle a QB...anytime he thinks he's gonna get hit, he can just start the act of throwing...

I'm not one of the people that criticized the NFL for all it's rule changes...as a fan I likethe big hits but I cann understand the fines. I actually lovethe NFL just as it is currently.

But these proposals about throwing motion and in the act of the catch are just preposterous and will ruin the actual sport and not jus the game..

[Traitor Jay & the Woodies]

[QUOTE=greenwichjetfan;3981384]Forget that...what about the throwing one?!?

How the heck is anybody supposed to tackle a QB...anytime he thinks he's gonna get hit, he can just start the act of throwing...

I'm not one of the people that criticized the NFL for all it's rule changes...as a fan I likethe big hits but I cann understand the fines. I actually lovethe NFL just as it is currently.

But these proposals about throwing motion and in the act of the catch are just preposterous and will ruin the actual sport and not jus the game..[/QUOTE]

So who determines if the QB is in the act of throwing or the act of pump faking?

[CV 40]

Also, you guys are misinterpreting these proposals. The defenseless player categories don't mean these players cannot be touched, it means they cannot be hit to the head or neck during the listed actions. These rules are already in place but they are trying to make it more specific in writing.

[petejet]

[QUOTE=Joe W. Namath;3981376]Someone off goddell. Year by year he is slowly ruining the sport.[/QUOTE]

Its not Goodell. Its the Competition Committee.

[isired]

[QUOTE=CV 40;3981393]Also, you guys are misinterpreting these proposals. The defenseless player categories don't mean these players cannot be touched, it means they cannot be hit to the head or neck during the listed actions. These rules are already in place but they are trying to make it more specific in writing.[/QUOTE] This.



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[FlagmanL11]

Our kickers still won't reach the endzone....