Potential Rule Changes

The Associated Press announced today that the competition committee will propose multiple new rules at the owner's meetings in New Orleans next week.

These new rules can be broken down into three categories: Kickoff rules, Replay rules, and the "Calvin Johnson" rule.

Lets start with the proposed rule changes for kickoffs.

• Moving kickoff to 35-yard line, and bringing touchback out to 25. However, no changes for touchbacks on any other plays would be made.
• Only the kicker would be allowed to line up more than 5 yards behind ball.
• The wedge would be outlawed. The wedge was previously reduced to two players in 2009.

Next is the rule changes for replay.

• All scoring plays would be reviewable. Meaning the replay official would order replays on any touchdowns, field goals, safeties and extra points without needing a challenge from a coach. This is basically the same system that is already in play for the final two minutes of each half, and for college football throughout the entire game.
• The third coach's challenge would be eliminated.

Finally, the "Calvin Johnson" rule.
 

For those of you who do not know about the Calvin Johnson debate, here it is in a nutshell. In a game against Chicago in September, Johnson seemingly made a touchdown reception late in the game, putting the Lions ahead with little time remaining, but the catch was ruled incomplete because, with the ball still in his hand, it touched the ground as Johnson got up to run off and celebrate. The Lions ended up losing the game, causing chaos in the city of Detroit.

•  There will not be a proposal for the "Calvin Johnson" rule made by the committee. However, the committee will ask for further clarification on what is a catch, and what is not a catch. 

In the end, I am a fan of some of these proposed rule changes. I am not a fan of the proposed kickoff rule changes.

I understand that the NFL is trying to protect the players, but moving the kickoff up to the 35-yard line would cause a massive increase in the number of touchbacks in a game. Increasing the number of touchbacks would decrease the amount of good returns, and return touchdowns, during the season. The whole outcome of a game can be determined by one good return, so to see a touchback instead would not be as interesting to watch.

On that note, moving the touchback to the 25-yard line would be bad as well. The team would have to drive five fewer yards to reach the end zone, or get into field goal range. Also, it would be more difficult to have a team punt from their own end zone, because causing the offense lose about 10 yards is much easier than causing them to lose about 15.

On the other hand, I am a fan of the replay rule proposal. Being able to review scoring plays without a challenge will help the officials make the correct call. Fans are constantly harassing officials about calls that they may have blown, so being able to review some extra plays would be beneficial for everyone.

I also like getting rid of the third challenge by a coach. The third challenge was rarely used in the first place, and if the officials are able to review scoring plays without needing a coach to challenge the play, the third challenge is pretty much obsolete.

As for the "Calvin Johnson" rule, clarification of the rule is absolutely necessary. I understand if the NFL rules it a non-catch, but they need to clearly put in the rule book what a catch and non-catch is.

• In other news, the NFL will release the schedule as normal for this season. A specific date is not set at the moment, but it will be released around the same time as usual.

- Sal LaFata