Updated 4:30 p.m. MDT
More announcements out of the NFL Annual Meeting — the league has announced several rule changes, one rule “adjustment” and a couple points of emphasis for the 2009 season.
First, the adjustment. Defenders that are knocked down to the ground can no longer lunge at a quarterback below the knees if the play is ongoing. Taking a swipe to try to cause a sack is acceptable, but diving when the defender is already on the ground will not be allowed.
Most of the rule changes have to do with player safety.
First, the initial force of a blindside block cannot be made by a helmet, forearm or shoulder to an opponent’s head or neck. That will draw a 15-yard penalty.
Second, initial contact to the head of a “defenseless” receiver will draw a 15-yard penalty.
Third, a blocking wedge on kickoffs cannot consist of more than two players. That’s a 15-yard penalty as well.
Fourth, also on kickoffs, the team attempting to recover an onside kick cannot have more than five players bunched together. That’s a 5-yard penalty.
Finally, on Wednesday the NFL owners concluded their annual meeting by deciding to alter the draft order from picks No. 21 – 30 based on the respective teams’ success in the playoffs. The first picks will still be doled out based on record, but, for example, the losers in the wild card round of the playoffs will select No. 21 – No. 24 based on record. It goes that way until the Super Bowl loser at No. 31 and the winner at No. 32.
That rule will go into effect in 2010.
Two more minor rules were also adopted. First, if a fumble or backwards pass goes out of bounds, the clock will start when the official places the ball in play. Second, the NFL eliminated a second chance onside kick if the first onside kick goes out of bounds.
As for the two points of emphasis — horse-collar tackles will continue to be a focus for officiating crews, and the league is also attempting to have more consistency from crew to crew on holding calls. The league is putting together a video of holding calls to show officials, and the penalty will be a point of emphasis in 2009.
Check out the story on NFL.com here.
NOTICE SOME CHANGES?
We’ve had a few updates here on the Denver Broncos blogs, and we hope you like them. Just a little change in how things look, and now from the blog.denverbroncos.com site you will be able to see all the newest posts from every author in the Broncos blogosphere.
Let us know what you think of the changes.
7 out of 100 kickoffs result in a serious injury.
295lb players in the wedge is crazy. This rule is a good thing in my opinion.
The rule changes are a good move, the hits are one of the best parts of the game but the best way to tackle someone is their legs. He can’t run without his legs so tackle them. No need to hit someone in the head when all the action is happening down lower.
Also question on the changes to the blog, are we able to set an avatar, is that what the little frame thing is at the top right hand corner of each comment and if so how is that done?
aSharpIdea_84
No, I’m not saying they don’t know how to hit. However, a lot of players choose not to be safety conscious when making a hit. You see a lot of players drop their head when making a hit. All it takes is another player doing the same. That’s what happened to that one wedge buster from the Bills a couple years ago. He made that mistake. Now he’ll never play again.
He’s lucky to walk!
I hope I remember in about 20 more years, my kid’s kids will ask me if I remember the time where tackling was aloud in Football and if it was always FLAG football. I can see the reasoning behind some of these but come on let them HIT someone!!!
At this rate, even Madden will be rougher than real NFL!
I guess this is all about money. Rules not made for a better game, but for protection of money invested in a player. I mean, too much money paid to a player for “his show”, and they don’t want that player watching the game at home, injured.
Broncooooos!
well im not sure if this was coincidence or what but i havnt seen jay cutlers pic on the website lately, til today. it could be nothing or the webmaster knows something we dont. either way ill take it as a positive.
I disagree with the rule about diving for the quarterback when going down IT IS FOOTBALL people get hurt thats why there are pads pretty soon you’re going to have to tell each other before you hit them its studip it takes away from the ends you cant think about how you are going to hit someone you just grab something this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of.
i love the rule changes
I think the changes are better besides the fact that onside kicks are to get the ball back, not watch the other team recover it closer to the goalline
For oldtimers like me, the passing of Lou Saban is filled with mixed emotions. While he lost his job and the respect of the Bronco fans for his infamous “half a loaf is better than none” statement after tying Miami, as Pat Bolwen said, what Lou established is the basis for all the success the Broncos have had through the years. Pat, if you really meant what you said about Lou, his name will be on the ring of fame this season. It should have been up there many years ago.
Definitely a mixed bag on the rules changes! Kudos for the “blindside” protection, the initial head hits on “defenseless” receives, and the kick return wedges. Jeers for the extra UNNECESSARY layer of quarterback protection. Good night, I saw qb roughing called this last season when the qb wasn’t even knocked off his feet. Pretty soon defense won’t be allowed to lay a pinky on the qb and Myles will be given a million dollar bonus to play! Whatever is happening to good old fashioned smash-mouth football?
6-15OnlyWay says:
March 30, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Hey real quick I just read a report from an ESPN analyst that said pretty much that the broncos have offered Cutler a contract extension..
Has anyone read anything else on it..
Here is the link.. Its under exec..
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcwest/0-3-1862/How-to-solve-the-Cutler-mess.html
Well I guess that last question is kind of void now huh..