NFL Rule Changes

Every year there are a lot of rule changes in the NFL. Some seem like they should have been in the books for some time. Some on the other hand leave you scratching your head, and asking yourself ‘What are they thinking?’. Here is a quick list of some of the most recent changes to come to the NFL rule books:

1. The defense will now have a defensive player with speakers in their helmet.

2. Force out has been eliminated on receptions. The receiver now has to get both feet down unless he is carried out of bounds by the defender after catching the ball.

3. Teams can defer to the second half when winning the opening coin toss.

4. Field goals and extra points are now reviewable as to whether the ball actually passed through the uprights and over the crossbar.

5. Any direct snap from center that is untouched by the QB will now be considered a live ball. It used to be considered a false start and the ball blown dead.

6. The incidental contact with the facemask 5 yard penalty has been eliminated. Only the serious 15 yards for grasping and turning will be used.

I personally think the field goal, defensive helmet speakers, and direct snap rules are long overdue. They will fit in, and seem like they have been in the books from the beginning. The defensive helmet speaker rule will have an impact on the league, but one that is needed to counter all the rules that seem to favor the offense. The other rules though, the force out and the incidental face mask penalty elimination, could be hard to get used to depending upon how they are interpreted by league officials.

A question, are there any rules you would like to see implemented? Any rules you would like to see stricken from the rule books?

~ by 1crute on April 6, 2008.