NFL teams have submitted a total of 15 rule and rule change proposals for owners to consider when they meet later this month in Phoenix, mainly five potential improvements to the system. league replay analysis.
The NFL’s competition committee has yet to weigh in on the proposals, or propose any of its own. But unless they are withdrawn, each of the team’s suggestions will be put before the owners.
The Detroit Lions submitted three changes to the replay-based rule. One would allow coaches to challenge personal penalties. Another would allow replay officials to consult on penalty execution, rather than the more limited menu of plays they can currently assist. The third will give coaches a third challenge if they win one of their first two challenges; the current rule requires them to win both to get third.
The Houston Texans added a related proposal that would have given replay official jurisdiction to review failed fourth-down attempts. The final replay-based rule proposal comes from Los Angeles Ramswho like roughing up pass penalties so coaches can check and/or challenge them.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles take another stab at creating an alternative to the onside kick. The Eagles’ proposal would allow a team to retain possession after a score if it converts a fourth-and-20 play from its own 20-yard line immediately afterward. Previous attempts that set the fourth and 15th conversions were voted down by the owners.
Some of the proposals are directed at obscure parts of the game. Other highlights include:
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Use of the uniform number “0,” submitted by the Eagles.
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Requiring game clocks to show tenths of a second in the final 30 seconds of each half, also from the Eagles.
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Allowing teams to assign emergency No. 3 quarterbacks from its inactive list or practice squad who would be eligible to enter a game if the team’s other two quarterbacks were ruled out, from the Lions.
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Allowing a wild-card team to be seeded higher than the division champion if the division champion has a losing record and the wild-card team has won at least four more games than the division champion, from Los Angeles Chargers.
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An expansion of the illegal crackback rule, from New York Jets.
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Reducing all preseason roster cutdown deadlines by one day, proposed by 25 teams.