The NFL announced a series of rule proposals ahead of the 2021 season.
There are 11 possible changes on the table, four of which were proposed by the competition committee while seven came from clubs. Earlier in the week, the league announced the addition of a 17th game to the regular season, the first expansion of the schedule since it increased from 14 to 16 games in 1978. The four NFC East teams will travel to the AFC East teams that finished in the same position in the standings in 2020, meaning the Giants added a trip to Hard Rock Stadium to face the Miami Dolphins this upcoming season.
During upcoming owners' meetings, clubs will vote on the following proposed rules changes. All proposals must be approved by 75 percent (24) of the owners to be adopted.
COMPETITION COMMITTEE RULES PROPOSALS
By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 16, to eliminate overtime in the preseason.
By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 6, Section 1, Article 3, for one year only, to establish a maximum number of players in the setup zone.
By Competition Committee; to amend Rule 12, Section 2, Article 4, to expand the prohibition on blocking below the waist by offensive and defensive players on scrimmage downs when contact occurs beyond five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and more than two yards outside of either offensive tackle.
By Competition Committee, Coaches Subcommittee, and Baltimore; to amend Rule 15, Section 3, Article 9, and Rule 19, Section 2, to permit the Replay Official and designated members of the Officiating department to provide certain objective information to the on-field officials.
CLUB PLAYING RULE PROPOSALS
By Chicago; to amend Rule 11, Section 3, Article 3, to ensure the enforcement of all accepted penalties committed by either team during successive Try attempts.
By Los Angeles Rams; to amend Rule 8, Section 1, Article 2, to add a loss of down for a second forward pass from behind the line and for a pass thrown after the ball returns behind the line.
By Kansas City; to amend Rule 5, Section 1, Article 2, to expand jersey number options for certain positions.
By Baltimore and Philadelphia; to amend Rule 16, Section 1, to change the options for winner of an overtime coin toss, and create a true sudden death format.
By Baltimore; to amend Rule 16, Section 1, to change the options for winner of an overtime coin toss, eliminate sudden death format, and eliminate overtime in the preseason.
By Philadelphia; to amend Rule 6, Section 1, Article 1, to permit a team to maintain possession of the ball after a score by substituting one offensive play (4th and 15 from the kicking team's 25-yard line) for an onside kickoff attempt.
By Baltimore; to amend Rule 19, Section 1, Article 1, to add an eighth official who is positioned somewhere other than the playing field, with full communication to on-field officials and access to a television monitor.
For full details on the proposals, CLICK HERE.
