On Thursday, the NFL continues its yearly offseason meetings with the competition committee’s proposed changes to rules and gameplay.
Like last week, the meetings will once again be virtual. But the biggest news out of the meetings will be the changes that teams have proposed.
Read also, NFL considering changes to the Rooney Rule
According to NFL Operations, there are four teams that have proposed new league rules regarding the infield product, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore, and LA Chargers.
Philadelphia may have proposed the most intriguing amendments of the offseason. Allowing teams to choose to attempt a 4th and 15 play from the kicking team’s 25 HD line in lieu of an onside kick.
While their proposal says it’s for teams that are trailing, the amendment that is being voted on does not have that distinction. Instead:
- teams are simply limited to two attempts per game
- the play will be untimed. Teams would not be able to score late, and run the clock out by running the play in lieu of a kickoff.
- Not available during overtime. Teams cannot kick a field goal, and run the play in an attempt to keep the opposition from getting a possession.
Since the league disallowed the running start by the kicking team, onside kick attempts have gone down tremendously. Not to mention the success rate now makes the try almost pointless.
By allowing the kicking team the chance at gaining 15 yards on one play to continue their comeback, we could end up seeing even more excitement at the end of games.
Not limiting the try to trailing teams allows for the play to become a strategic tool that could even be used on the opening kickoff.
Baltimore and the LA Chargers have proposed the other, and maybe the bigger, rules change yet.
The clubs have submitted a request to add what the AAF called a sky judge. An additional member of the field officials would be in the booth, overseeing the replays onsite. To assist this officials, the teams have also requested a tech supervisor to be there as well.
This could completely change the way challenges, and reviews are handled. We saw how leagues like the AAF and the XFL served the calls in an almost on-demand style. Taking far less time away from off-the-field play.
We could see some of the biggest impacts the spring leagues have had on football come from these meetings. Which again proves that there is a place for spring football.
The return of a league sooner rather than later could in fact be a possibility. Whether it’s the XFL, or another league, the need for the NFL to have a developmental league could be the biggest realization of the week.
You can see the full list of proposed changes here.
