NFL owners approve new 2021 rules for replay, onside kicks

[tk13]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...es-2021-season

Owners rejected more robust proposals for a full-time sky judge, including one from the Baltimore Ravens that would have created a booth umpire. Instead, owners took the more modest step of giving the existing replay officials -- who sit in the press box of each stadium -- the authority to consult with referees on certain "specific, objective aspects of a play when clear and obvious video evidence is present," according to the language of the rule.

Replay officials will not be able to throw flags or reverse calls on their own. But they can now offer referees advice based on what they've seen on broadcast replays in the areas of possession, completed or intercepted passes, the location of the ball relative to the boundary or end line, and whether a player is down by contact. Previously, replay officials have been limited to participating in plays that were under review. Coaches will not have to throw challenge flags to prompt that advice, which some replay officials have been giving referees informally for years.

In other news regarding Wednesday's votes, NFL owners:

• Approved a relaxation of rules for the numbers that players of certain positions can wear because of expanded practice squads. Running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, defensive backs and linebackers can all wear numbers in the single digits if they choose. Based on preexisting NFL rules, players who want to change their numbers this season will have to buy out the inventory of the NFL's manufacturing partners. This wouldn't apply to players who give notice in 2021 that they want to change numbers in 2022.
  
  
• Approved a one-year experiment in an attempt to make it easier to recover onside kicks. In 2021, the receiving team on kickoffs will be limited to nine players within 25 yards of the ball. Last season, NFL teams recovered only three of 67 onside kicks, the lowest total and recovery rate since at least 2001. As a result, the Philadelphia Eagles tabled a proposal that would have given teams an option to gain 15 yards on one offensive play from their own 25-yard line to retain possession after a score.
  
  
• Tabled a rule that would have expanded the area where players are prohibited from blocking below the waist. McKay said that there is enough support to pass the rule now, but that several teams had questions that will take some time to address. It could be revisited next month.
  
  
• Eliminated overtime in preseason games.
  
  
• Changed a rule that will now force a loss of down if two passes are completed behind the line of scrimmage.
  
  
• Approved a rule change that ensures the enforcement of all accepted penalties during successive try attempts, defined as an opportunity for a team to score one or two additional points during one scrimmage down.
  
  
• Did not act on a "spot or choose" proposal from the Ravens for the winner of the overtime coin toss. In that scenario, the team would have the option to choose either which team will have the first possession of overtime or where the ball would be spotted.
  
  
• Decided to include taunting among its points of emphasis for 2021. McKay clarified that the emphasis wouldn't be directed at celebrations but toward acrimonious interaction among players.
  
  
• Completed a study of the sharp drop in offensive holding during the 2020 season. McKay said that Walt Anderson, the NFL's senior vice president of training and development, would clarify the standard and put together a video for teams to consume before the 2021 season.

[lcarus]

Under the old rules, the kicking team had like a 10-15% chance to recover. The year before the rule change it was actually 21%. I would vote for it to revert back to the old rules.

But if they implement the new rule where you have to get 15 yards, that would be a great advantage for Mahomes, so by all means....

[ChiefBlueCFC]

Originally Posted by eDave

Hill peace sign is out.

I don't know why the NFL has such a problem with "taunting." Like Hill throwing up the dueces, when he is 15-20 yards away from any defender and being flagged for taunting is stupid as shit. Like what happened in the Super Bowl I sorta get, but at the same time, you gotta expect it thrown back in your face when you have the worst game of your career in the super bowl.

NFL is truly the no fun league.

[The Franchise]

Imagine that. Tom Brady is a whiny bitch about everything.

[The Franchise]

Kickers/punters around the NFL today pic.twitter.com/rx8z3dKU57

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) April 21, 2021

[JakeF]

I'm not sure why the NFL is so intent on taunting. These are grown, men. Just make sure they know they can retaliate. A little taunting actually fires people up and makes the game more physical.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

edave's youtube channel when people are mean to alex smith:

It has nothing to do with anything like that. What it does have to do with is the rule not having anything close to what his joke is asserting. Though it had already been clarified a few times before he delivered that gem.

Get it now?

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by The Franchise

Imagine that. Tom Brady is a whiny bitch about everything.

[cdcox]

I hate this.

Approved a one-year experiment in an attempt to make it easier to recover onside kicks. In 2021, the receiving team on kickoffs will be limited to nine players within 25 yards of the ball. Last season, NFL teams recovered only three of 67 onside kicks, the lowest total and recovery rate since at least 2001. As a result, the Philadelphia Eagles tabled a proposal that would have given teams an option to gain 15 yards on one offensive play from their own 25-yard line to retain possession after a score.

Just roll dice and create an automatic turnover. It would have as much basis in the skill of players as making onside kicks successful more frequently.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I still want DPI to be a flat 15 yard penalty instead of the spot foul shit.

Defenders will hack on any play where they are beat over 30 yards, or with potential to score. You think you want it, but it would severely cut the effectiveness of long passes, which would neuter much of Mahomes value.

[RealSNR]

If Tom Brady actually gave a shit about good football, he would have killed himself years ago.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

If Tom Brady actually gave a shit about good football, he would have killed himself years ago.

Saanap!

[oldman]

Originally Posted by morphius

It just means that everyone else will have to be at the 40 on the opposite side of the field, or back, until the ball is kicked.

That's the way I read it, too. But there will be "someone" that will argue that a player on the far side is 25 yards away from the ball. You know how he is.

[oldman]

Originally Posted by cdcox

Defenders will hack on any play where they are beat over 30 yards, or with potential to score.

You see some of that now. I'd be in favor of creating a spot foul for flagrant DPI and 15 for incidental contact. But again, there'd be "some QBs" that would get the gray calls.

[KChiefs1]

[morphius]

Originally Posted by oldman

You see some of that now. I'd be in favor of creating a spot foul for flagrant DPI and 15 for incidental contact. But again, there'd be "some QBs" that would get the gray calls.

Heck, I would like to see them just change the rule so that if the defender is in a position, and the receiver tries to run through him, then it shouldn't be a penalty on the defender.