The NFL owners have announced a slew of rule changes at this week's league meetings, all of which will be enacted for the 2016 season. The nine ratified proposals can be found below, courtesy of the Providence Journal's Mark Daniels:
Analysis:The new ejection rule, which passed for 2016 only, is one that's received a lot of attention. Players who are called for a certain type of unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will have to keep in mind that one more will lead to a dismissal from the game. It'll be interesting to see how players react to this alteration and how frequently it makes a difference.
Moving touchbacks to the 25 yard line should have an impact, as well—especially for Devin Hester and other return specialists. It now makes more sense than ever to take a knee when fielding kicks in the end zone.
In addition to these changes, the Competition Committee has decided to tweak the IR-designated to return rule. As committee chairman and Falcons President Rich McKay announced Wednesday, teams no longer have to designate a player to return when he's placed in IR. That said, a player still needs to remain on injured reserve for six or more weeks before he can be inserted onto his club's active roster.
The NFL owners have announced a slew of rule changes at this week's league meetings, all of which will be enacted for the 2016 season. All nine ratified proposals can be found below, courtesy of the Providence Journal's Mark Daniels:
Analysis: Eliminating legal chop blocks could affect the Falcons more than than average club because of their blocking scheme. As Alex Mack told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Our cutting style is still going to be allowed. It's just whether or not, if you can have an adjacent lineman chop down. It's going to be a challenge. It's going to be a part of the game that we'll have to adjust. I think there is a way to do it safely. I'm sure we can do that."
Moving touchbacks to the 25 yard line should have an impact, as well—especially for Devin Hester and other return specialists. It now makes more sense than ever to take a knee when fielding kicks in the end zone.
The new ejection rule, which passed for 2016 only, is one that's received a lot of attention. Players who are called for a certain type of unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will have to keep in mind that one more will lead to a dismissal from the game. It'll be interesting to see how players react to this alteration and how frequently it makes a difference.
In addition to these changes, the Competition Committee has decided to tweak the IR-designated to return rule. As committee chairman and Falcons president Rich McKay announced Wednesday, teams no longer have to designate a player to return when he's placed in IR. That said, a player still needs to remain on injured reserve for six or more weeks before he can return to his club's active roster.
