FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The annual league meetings will take place in Phoenix beginning Sunday. For the ensuing four days, NFL owners, head coaches and general managers will gather to discuss several topics, including potential rule changes.
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The two main rule proposal changes are expected to focus on overtime and instant replay. The Kansas City Chiefs have proposed a change in overtime that would allow both teams to get an opportunity to possess the ball at least once, even if the team that receives the ball first scores a touchdown.
The current rules give both teams the opportunity to possess the ball at least once in overtime unless the team that receives the overtime kickoff scores a touchdown on its first possession.
Of the nine proposals, seven are related to replay in some capacity. Several teams have sent in proposals that would expand the use of replay.
In order for any of these rules to be changed, 24 of the 32 owners have to vote in favor of the change.
Here are the formal proposals that were sent the league office:
- By Kansas City; to amend Rule 16 to (1) allow both teams the opportunity to possess the ball at least one time in overtime, even if the first team to possess the ball in overtime scores a touchdown; (2) eliminate overtime for preseason; and (3) eliminate overtime coin toss so that winner of initial coin toss to begin game may choose whether to kick or receive, or which goal to defend.
- By Denver; to amend Rule 6, Section 1, Article 1 to provide an alternative to the onside kick that would allow a team who is trailing in the game an opportunity to maintain possession of the ball after scoring.
- By Washington; to amend Rule 15, Section 2 to subject all plays that occur during a game to coaches' challenge by teams or review by the Officiating department in the instant replay system.
- By Washington; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, Article 5 to add review of personal fouls as reviewable plays in the instant replay system.
- By Kansas City; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add review of personal fouls (called or not called on the field) as plays subject to coaches' challenge in the instant replay system.
- By Carolina, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia and Seattle; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add review of designated player safety-related fouls (called or not called on the field) as plays subject to coaches' challenge in the instant replay system.
- By Philadelphia; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add scoring plays and turnovers negated by a foul to be subject to automatic review in the instant replay system.
- By Denver; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add all fourth down plays that are spotted short of the line to gain or goal line to be subject to automatic review in the instant replay system.
- By Denver; to amend Rule 15, Section 2, to add all Try attempts (Extra point or Two-point conversion) to be subject to automatic review in the instant replay system.
In addition to the meetings that will take place, the head coaches will also have a breakfast on March 26. Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is expected to be on hand and available to various media outlets.
