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What, no cell phones hidden in goalposts?
They are also prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground.
Sitting celebrations bad, standing celebrations acceptable. Okaaaay.
Houston Texans beating Texans.
KC chiefs nee Dallas Texans, lol.
Players with one or more felony counts will be banned from league play?
Determining "conscious effort" will be tough; expect enough extra yellow flags to cancel out the time saved by the instant replay reviews being cut from 90 sec. to 60 sec.
By the way, I cannot believe that I'm in Waco, Texas, and the Dallas Cowboys are playing their first pre-season game, and the only channel carrying it is the Spanish language channel. On the plus side, the commentators seem to be a lot more informed and less irritating than Chris Berman.
So when are they going to start surgically removing the testicles of players deemed to be overagressive? I believe that the spirit of football is in dire peril from people who shouldn't even be watching it.
I sure hope that they left the "Tuck Rule" intact.
Patsy fan here!
This is a bad idea. There was a good reason why these plays weren't "reviewable" in the past. If an official blows his whistle and rules a player down by contact, he has effectively ended the play -- and all players on the field are expected to stop play when the whistle blows. By exposing these calls to official review, the NFL is basically saying that a whistle may or may not signal the end of a play -- so players should ignore it and make every attempt to strip the ball away from a ballcarrier.
I don't think I like this. It seems like it will encourage players to keep playing after a whistle instead of stopping. The idea of down by contact was that the ref would whistle and the play would end right then.
Each instant replay review will be a maximum of 60 seconds in length. Previously, instant replay could last up to 90 seconds.
Good. If you couldn't see it in 60 seconds it wasn't an obvious call.
Individual players are prohibited from using foreign objects or the football while celebrating. They are also prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A celebration shall be deemed excessive or prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a warning from an official. Previously, players were not prohibited from using props or celebrating on the ground.
The No Fun League makes a return... although some of the touchdown antics were pretty silly. Act like you've got a touchdown before and you'll get one again.
• No more than six players can line up on the same side of a formation on a kickoff. Previously, teams could “load up” one side with more players for onside kicks.
Ehh. I'm surprised that teams didn't load up before even on regular kicks. It seems like it would make returns tougher - either run into the big crowd, or go to the other side of the field away from your blockers.
The others I really don't care one way or another.
Does this belong in the Religion forum?
Well, that's going to take all the fun out of onside kicks.
I'm glad this is posted in the Religion forum. I've been a member of The Church of Monday Night Football for several decades.
I expect that the new maximum time limit will be adhered to about as strictly as the old maximum. It's a nice thought, though.
Why is this in the religion forum?
Reason for the change: Promotes sportsmanship.
Good.
• Down by contact calls may be reviewed by instant replay. Previously, a fumble was not reviewable if the ball carrier was ruled down by contact. If the ruling of down by contact is changed, the ball belongs to the recovering player at the spot of the recovery of the fumble.
Reason for the change: Provides a mechanism for correcting an obvious on-field officiating error.
Since the NFL allows instant replay, this change makes sense.
• Each instant replay review will be a maximum of 60 seconds in length. Previously, instant replay could last up to 90 seconds.
Reason for the change: Shortens game length.
Since the NFL allows instant replay, this change makes sense.
• Individual players are prohibited from using foreign objects or the football while celebrating. They are also prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A celebration shall be deemed excessive or prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a warning from an official. Previously, players were not prohibited from using props or celebrating on the ground.
Reason for the change: Promotes sportsmanship.
Good. Brings some of these ego maniacs back to earth. Also, it's a players job to score, it should not be the exception. Excessive celebration does nothing for the game.
• If possible, rushing defenders must make a conscious effort to avoid low hits on the quarterback. Previously, defenders were not compelled to make a conscious effort to avoid low hits if momentum was a factor. Penalty: Roughing the passer, loss of 15 yards.
Reason for the change: Player safety.
Subjective enough to allow an official to make a judgment call. If the official sees it as a punishment, it should be penalized. In reality, it is not necessary to put it in writing in my opinion. If the official thinks it's a personal foul, he should call it as such.
• The prohibition against blocking in the back above the waist applies to a player of the kicking team while the ball is in flight during a scrimmage kick. Previously, this was not a foul. Penalty: Loss of 10 yards.
Reason for the change: Player safety.
Blocking in the back should be a foul at all times, except in the free blocking zone. The player blocked has no idea it is coming and no way to defend himself against it.
• All players are prohibited from grabbing the inside collar of the back of the shoulder pads or jersey, or the inside collar of the side of the shoulder pads or jersey, and immediately pulling down the runner. This does not apply to a runner who is in the tackle box or to a quarterback who is in the pocket. Previously, the “horse-collar” tackle rule did not include the back of the shoulder pads or jersey. This increases the scope of the rule. Penalty: Loss of 15 yards.
Reason for the change: Player safety.
Not good. Player safety should always be a concern though this rule is way too restrictive. A runner should be able to be tackled by any means, including being tripped, other than grabbing the face mask or helmet opening.
• During a field goal attempt or a PAT, any defensive player within one yard of the line of scrimmage at the snap must have his helmet outside the snapper’s shoulder pad. This will provide protection to the snapper, who is in a defenseless position. Penalty: Illegal formation, loss of five yards.
Reason for the change: Player safety.
Good. A snapper that has to snap to a player who is greater than 7 yards deep needs protection until he is in a position to protect himself.
• No more than six players can line up on the same side of a formation on a kickoff. Previously, teams could “load up” one side with more players for onside kicks.
Reason for the change: Player safety.
Neither good nor bad. Seems kind of a waste of ink. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Who cares where they line up and when they do for the onside kick, the other side know what's coming and the onsides kick is risky enough and difficult to execute effectively.
• If there is a personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct foul that is (a) not in the continuing action immediately after the end of a down and (b) occurs between the end of the second period and the beginning of the third period (or between the end of the fourth and beginning of OT), the penalty shall be enforced on ensuing kickoff. Previously, these penalties were not carried over.
Reason for the change: Provides uniform enforcement for personal or unsportsmanlike conduct fouls throughout the game.
Good. Carry them over. Eliminates the free cheap shot.
• If there is a foul during a scrimmage kick or a free kick prior to a player of the receiving team securing possession of the ball, the offended team will have the option of taking the penalty at the previous spot and replaying the down or adding the penalty yardage on to the end of the play. Previously, the offended team could either take the penalty and replay the down or decline the penalty and take the result of the play.
Reason for the change: Eliminates re-kicks.
PSK in high school rule. Good idea.
• If an offensive foul is a foul by the kicking team prior to a player of the receiving team securing possession of the ball during a down in which there is a safety kick, scrimmage kick, or free kick, the period may be extended by an untimed down, if the defense accepts the penalty. This provides the option for a receiving team to extend a period if a kicking team commits a foul prior to a change of possession.
Reason for change: Eliminates fouling to obtain an unfair advantage.
Makes sense.
• Teams can now opt to take the result of the play OR replay the down when there is an inadvertent whistle. Previously, an inadvertent whistle would force the down to be replayed without exception.
Reason for the change: Current rule too punitive.
I am assuming that this inadvertent whistle occurs during a run, which would be the same as high school rules, which if it is, this is good. I am also assuming that an inadvertent whistle which occurs during a loose ball play is replayed, since most of the players during the loose ball play would stop running if a whistle is sounded.