NFL Owners Meeting: Rules Changes

[Amnorix]

So as I understand it, so far the NFL owners have decided the following:

1. rejected the "everything is reviewable" on replay suggestion.

2. adopted a rule change (suggested by Miami) eliminating peel back blocks. Such a block (then legal) resulted in the Texans' Cushing getting his ACL torn. Now it's a 15 yard penalty.

3. adopted a rule allowing an NFL official in a booth to stop action on the field and communicate with an official to remove a player who is exhibiting a medical concern such as concussion symptoms.

4. tabled for review/analysis a proposal to install cameras along sidelines and the goal line to improve angles for replay reviews. The NFL has cited cost as a major concern to adopting this proposal. As Belichick said last year "maybe we could have a car wash. Or a bake sale."

5. Made a slight tweak to the rules regarding completing a catch.

Ever since an apparent Calvin Johnson touchdown was ruled an incomplete pass in 2010, there has been confusion about what constitutes a catch. At the time, the NFL upheld its interpretation that a receiver must not only complete the catch, but he must also make a football move afterward while still in possession of the football. On Monday, the competition committee changed the language to say a pass-catcher needs establish himself as a runner after gaining possession of the ball. Dean Blandino, the NFL's supervisor of officials, believes this language change will clear up the confusion.

6. Players are now prohibited from pushing teammates in connection with trying to block a punt.

7. Defenseless receivers are now protected as such immediately following an interception. My assumption on this is that under the old rule, if the ball was intercepted, someone else could "block" receivers into oblivion. No more.

[Hootie]

I think no extra points (and no just electing to get a free point instead) and tougher field goals would be AMAZING for the game. It would make everything so much more exciting.

Imagine if it was 4th and 3 from the opposing 30 and instead of a 48 yard field goal being an 85% decision it was a 60% chance. A ton of teams are going to start going for it on 4th down and that is awesome. That's an NFL I could get behind. You know, as long as they stop calling illegal contact and illegal hands to the face every ****ing play.

[morphius]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

They looked at it and made a very minor change, but it doesn't really affect anything. Instead of "a football move", nwo they say "established himself as a runner".

The problem with changing the rule is that if you make it too "easy" to complete a catch, then defenders will kill shot receivers half a second after their feet hit the ground, and then it's a FUMBLE.

Unless you want to see a dramatic spike in fumbles that weren't fumbles before, there is no way to "fix" the catch rule.

I'd love them to be fumbles!

Their fix still isn't much of one. Is tapping your feet on the sideline enough to establish yourself as a runner, I would say no. The whole thing about catches being defined differently by where they are on the field bothers me.

[Bugeater]

How about we just get rid of kicking altogether? No kickoffs, no XPs, no FGs, no punts.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by morphius

I'd love them to be fumbles!

Their fix still isn't much of one. Is tapping your feet on the sideline enough to establish yourself as a runner, I would say no. The whole thing about catches being defined differently by where they are on the field bothers me.

Yeah, I love fumbles. We need more fumbles.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by morphius

I'd love them to be fumbles!

Their fix still isn't much of one. Is tapping your feet on the sideline enough to establish yourself as a runner, I would say no. The whole thing about catches being defined differently by where they are on the field bothers me.

They aren't really defined differently by location anymore. They are define by 'occupation' now. If you are a receiver you have to maintain possession or it's an incompletion.

It only changes when the receiver turns himself into a running back. Then it becomes a fumble. Only a fumble out of bounds returns possession to the last team that fully possessed it.

Receiver = incompletion
Running back = fumble

Unless receiver is in full YAC/RB mode it's incompletion.

Dez Bryant falling/stretching/getting 2 feet down doesn't mean anything at all.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

it's pretty easy what the NFL needs to do ...

they need to bargain the next CBA, give the players more money and more of what they "want" (like health insurance for the rest of their lives), and in return the players HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER TO PLAY IN THE NFL THAT STATES THE NFL WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SHORT/LONG TERM HEALTH PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CONCUSSIONS OR OTHER HEAD TRAUMA.

Don't like it? I agree. Don't play in the NFL.

It's really that simple.

Give the players more $$$ and lifetime health insurance, in return, they have to sign THE waiver.

I don't think a court would ever support such a waiver.

they would find an exception or rule that it was illegal or something

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

uhm, incorrect

the judge looked at the plea and denied it ... citing it was ridiculous and that it was no way enough money.

There's a shit storm coming. I wish they would just deal with it, instead of ruining the game by continually forcing these kinds of meaningless rules changes that hurt the quality of the game.

And it's not just because of that. The NFL can run this league straight into the ground if they keep punting. Knowing the NFL, they'll continue to punt until this becomes catastrophic.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

would anyone really be that upset if they just scrapped the extra point and forced every team to go for two? The ONLY thing that would effect would be overtime. There would be less overtimes. But, it would also be a nice little boost for fantasy since every two point try would equate to more fantasy points (which I know the NFL loves).

I think it would be awesome.

Hell, I wish they'd also make field goals tougher like they did in the Pro Bowl, too. Hell, FG% is way over 80% the last few years. I hate field goals. I want to see FG% around 65-70%. I'd love to see teams stop kicking field goals. The kicker in football is the WORST.

I don't like the concept. I still like the 2 point conversion to be a strategic decision. It would become boring if it became a way of life. The only reason the NFL is pushing this is to squeeze more commercials in.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

There's a shit storm coming. I wish they would just deal with it, instead of ruining the game by continually forcing these kinds of meaningless rules changes that hurt the quality of the game.

And it's not just because of that. The NFL can run this league straight into the ground if they keep punting. Knowing the NFL, they'll continue to punt until this becomes catastrophic.

If there is a way for football to continue safely and ethically, then I'm all for it. If people want to subject their bodies if they are truly aware of the risks, then that is their choice. But when the NFL admits the destructive consequences of brain trauma and then changes tack and embraces unethical scientific findings and bullies other investigators for two decades in order to protect their financial interests, then maybe there are other things more important than the quality of a form of entertainment.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

uhm, incorrect

the judge looked at the plea and denied it ... citing it was ridiculous and that it was no way enough money.

amending deal but still going on
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...bc1_story.html

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

If there is a way for football to continue safely and ethically, then I'm all for it. If people want to subject their bodies if they are truly aware of the risks, then that is their choice. But when the NFL admits the destructive consequences of brain trauma and then changes tack and embraces unethical scientific findings and bullies other investigators for two decades in order to protect their financial interests, then maybe there are other things more important than the quality of a form of entertainment.

Agreed. The dam is going to burst. It's just a matter of when. I wish they would just let it burst instead of throwing bandaids on this. This is a tough problem to solve, but it would be a hell of a lot better if they just dealt with it. Much as I hate Goodell, this is probably more of a tagliabue issue than it is Goodell. Goodell, true to form, was only involved with fumbling it a little further

[Hootie]

at this point, I think everyone that puts on a helmet (from pee-wee to NFL) realizes football isn't safe. It just isn't. Hell, I would let my kids play football IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED but I'd prefer if they concentrated on baseball, basketball or even soccer.

Want to play in the NFL? Want to make millions of dollars? Ok. Sign this waiver. No one is forcing these guys to play in the NFL and risk their futures. No one.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Agreed. The dam is going to burst. It's just a matter of when. I wish they would just let it burst instead of throwing bandaids on this. This is a tough problem to solve, but it would be a hell of a lot better if they just dealt with it. Much as I hate Goodell, this is probably more of a tagliabue issue than it is Goodell. Goodell, true to form, was only involved with fumbling it a little further

That will never happen because the NFL is far too myopic about ensuring revenue streams for the next week, like most corporate structures (spare me the NP status, others).

I can't imagine them requiring a waiver at the level of the NFL if they don't require it for shit like coal mining (I'm assuming they don't here). The biggest issue isn't the inherent danger of the NFL but their obfuscation of the danger because they were afraid of the aforementioned revenue streams being jeopardized.

Penny-wise, pound foolish.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

at this point, I think everyone that puts on a helmet (from pee-wee to NFL) realizes football isn't safe. It just isn't. Hell, I would let my kids play football IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED but I'd prefer if they concentrated on baseball, basketball or even soccer.

Want to play in the NFL? Want to make millions of dollars? Ok. Sign this waiver. No one is forcing these guys to play in the NFL and risk their futures. No one.

There's a lot of interesting debate about equipment too. Basically, the more protection you give a player, the more license you give them to throw their bodies around. There's probably a delicate balance. Mouthpieces can reduce risk of concussion, and yet, Kellen Winslow says players don't use them.

It's hurting the game. I hate watching star players leave playoff games because of concussions. I worry that a lot of great next gen athletes will pick baseball or basketball. More and more players retiring early. The nfls dumbass approach has always been to fine players and chase shiny objects, and do just enough to raise PR without actually doing anything to fix the problem. I just hope they don't burn the NFL to the ground before they realize they made a mistake.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Mr. Laz

This is the same idiotic country who had a woman win a lawsuit because the hot coffee she order was TOO hot.

Don't get me wrong I had the same opinion of this lawsuit at first too. The coffee she was served was hotter than the allowable legal limits of a hot beverage being served to a customer. Not just a little hotter but more than 10 degrees hotter the restaurant standard is 160-170 degrees.
McDonalds then demanded that their franchises keep the coffee between 180 and 190 degrees. Those temperatures cause 3rd degree burns from any liquid spilled. McDonalds admitted to knowing for more than 10 years prior that they were at risk for scalding someone. She was not moving when this happened. She was setting in the drive up waiting for her food. The lid was not properly put on the cup, so when she put it between her legs it lid came off and the coffee spilled.
This woman had to have skin graphs and plastic surgery on her...."private parts" and the surrounding area because of McDonalds knowingly being negligent.
How would you feel if this woman that had to go through all of this was your wife or mother?