No changes planned to helmet rule; Colts announcer resigns
The NFL Competition Committee has recommended not making any changes to the helmet rule approved by owners in the offseason, which means instant replay use for officials will not be instituted for such calls.
After members of the powerful committee held a conference call Wednesday, football operations chief Troy Vincent noted there would be no alterations. Vincent said the feedback after two weeks of preseason games was reviewed and “the committee resolved that there will be no changes “
“The committee also determined that inadvertent or incidental contact with the helmet and/or facemask is not a foul,” Vincent said.
Vincent added that as players, coaches and officials adjust to the rule, the league will provide more feedback and examples of incorrect calls.
Players on both sides of the ball have expressed confusion about the rule that prohibits lowering the helmet to make contact anywhere on an opponent, and also are concerned that officials can’t be consistent whistling such penalties. Colts part ways with announcer: Longtime announcer Bob Lamey, who has announced his retirement as voice of the Indianapolis Colts, used a racial slur while retelling a story last week to a “friend.”
Lamey’s attorney released a statement Wednesday morning acknowledging Lamey used “inappropriate” language during an off-the-air conversation last week and immediately apologized to those involved.
A team official later issued a statement that said in part the Colts “deplore and do not tolerate the use of any racial slur — in any context.” Jets moves: The New York Jets have released kicker Cairo Santos, a day after claiming Jason Myers off waivers from Seattle.
The team signed free agent cornerback Darrelle Revis to the active roster with its corresponding move Wednesday.
No, the seven-time All-Pro is not returning. The one-day contract he signed last month to retire as a member of the Jets was officially submitted since New York had a spot on its 90-man roster.
Santos signed with the Jets in March, but was unable to kick in training camp because of a groin injury suffered late last season while with Chicago. Coach Todd Bowles says New York could add another kicker to compete with Myers and Taylor Bertolet. Sherman to make debut: Richard Shermanhasbeenaround the NFLlongenough that playing in exhibition games might not seem to be of critical importance.
But after going more than nine months without game action following a seasonending Achilles tendon injury and joining a new team with the San Francisco 49ers, Sherman is eager to get back on the field.
He said Wednesday he plans to play in San Francisco’s exhibition game at Indianapolis on Saturday in his first action for the 49ers at cornerback after spending his first seven seasons playing for NFC West rival Seattle.