Rules Changes

[Dr. Jack]

What does everyone think of the few changes?

To me the one that will cause controversy and debate is where you have to come down with two feet and there is no more push-outs? You know corners are going to love this. Any thoughts?

From John Clayton/ESPN

Among the proposals that were passed:

• A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions on pass completions near the sidelines. Now, officials will have to decide only whether a receiver landed inbounds or not. The intended result is more consistency.

• The "Phil Dawson field goal rule." Now, certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay, including kicks that bounce off the uprights. Under the previous system, no field goals could be reviewed.

• Deferring the opening coin toss. This is similar to the college rule. Previously, the winner of the coin toss could choose only to receive or to kick off.

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble. Previously, it was ruled a false start.

• Eliminating the 5-yard face mask penalty. Now, only the serious face mask will be called (and will be assessed as a 15-yard penalty). The major foul will involve twisting or grabbing the face mask.

Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher said eliminating the force-out rule was approved unanimously and that it will help officiating. A receiver now must get two feet inbounds unless he actually is carried out of bounds by a defender after catching the ball.

Fisher also noted how strongly deferring the choice on the coin toss was accepted. The vote was 30-2.

"I was surprised by the support. We'll see how that goes," he said. "It now gives coaches a third option. After talking to a number of coaches, many prefer to start on offense. I think we may see [more] deferrals later in the year with weather considerations."

On Tuesday, the league tabled a Kansas City Chiefs proposal to prohibit hair hanging over the back of jerseys to the nameplate, and passed a rule to allow defensive players to wear radio helmets.

[jim1701]

Just another method of getting the focus off the serious issues...blah blah blah.

[Gerk]

I have no problems with all of them except the new rule on catches at the sideline

Now that no decision has to be made, seems like DB's don't ever have to worry about playing the ball, just knocking the receiver out of bounds will take away alot of the acrobatic tip toe catches on the sidelines, I think

[jaypasco]

think we need the force out rule

[Grizzly Joe]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jack

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble. Previously, it was ruled a false start.

In addition, an illegal forward handoff, too, is now a fumble, no longer a dead ball.

I know these don't happen that often, but overall, I'm concerned how these new rules are gonna affect my Props betting. Betting for the "TOTAL FUMBLES LOST" to go Under 1.5 was usually a good bet for most games, now it may not be as solid.

[Chicago RED]

I like these two rules:

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble. Previously, it was ruled a false start.

• Eliminating the 5-yard face mask penalty. Now, only the serious face mask will be called (and will be assessed as a 15-yard penalty). The major foul will involve twisting or grabbing the face mask.

Last seasson I thought they called to many face masks just based upon a touch and not a grab.