NFL TO VOTE ON CHANGES TO PUNTS, KICKOFFS
The NFL will consider significant changes to the kicking game with the competition committee proposing that the league adopt the college rule that allows touchbacks on fair catches of kickoffs and moving the touchback spot on punts to the 25yard line.
NFL executive Troy Vincent said Friday that the competition committee looked at various rules on kickoffs in college and the spring leagues to try to reduce injuries on what is one of the more dangerous plays.
Vincent said the league needs more data from an XFL rule that reduces high speed collisions by lining up coverage players 35 yards ahead of the kicker and 5 yards apart from blockers, but said that the college rule that allows fair catches to be treated like touchbacks will reduce injuries about “20 to 25 percent.”
Rich McKay, chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, said the league looked at several ideas to change the punt play, which currently has the highest rate of injuries and penalties.
But for now, the committee is proposing a simple approach of moving touchbacks from the 20 to the 25-yard line in hopes of reducing the number of punts.
Those two rule changes were among the eight put forward by the competition committee that will be considered by owners at their meeting next week in Arizona.
Any rule change requires the support of at least 24 of the 32 teams.
The owners also will consider whether to add a “flex” option for Thursday night football to make sure Amazon has more competitive games in that package.
Notable
The Panthers agreed to a deal with free-agent wide receiver DJ Chark, the team said. The 26-year-old Chark, a five-year veteran, had 30 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns for Detroit last season.
• The Ravens agreed to a contract with wide receiver Nelson Agholor. The team announced that it had reached an agreement in principle with the 29-year-old, who caught 31 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns with the New England Patriots last season.
• The Browns added another speedy wide receiver, agreeing to contract terms with free agent