No changes coming to helmet rule

The NFL Competition Committee recommended not making any changes to the helmet rule approved by owners in the offseason, meaning 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.

◆ Cowboys Pro Bowl center Travis Frederick is suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disease.

◆ The Patriots released veteran receiver Kenny Britt, who became the third wideout let go by the team this preseason.

◆ The Vikings signed safety George Iloka, who is a former pupil of coach Mike Zimmer.

◆ The Raiders agreed to a deal with cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

◆ Longtime announcer Bob Lamey announced his retirement as voice of the Colts after using a racial slur while retelling a story last week to a “friend.”

MISCELLANEOUS Tiger, Phil to square off Nov. 23

The winner-take-all match between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be held Nov. 23 at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. The $9 million match-play event will be televised on pay-perview by WarnerMedia, in addition to DirecTV and AT&T U-verse.

◆ Flyers center Sean Couturier will be out four weeks after suffering a knee injury for the second time in five months.