Change to charge rule alters strategy
Owners to discuss field goals, much more,
In an effort to make officiating more consistent, NFL owners will consider a proposal allowing the game referee to consult with officials at the league’s headquarters in New York. The owners will meet Sunday to Wednesday in Orlando. The competition committee will present 13 playing rule changes, seven bylaws and one resolution during the sessions.
The committee is not, however, recommending a centralized replay system in which final rulings come from New York.
“One of the things we’re trying to achieve is consistency and also efficiency,” competition committee chairman Rich McKay said during a conference call Wednesday. “What you’ll have is threeway communication between the replay official that is in the stadium, New York central command and then wireless headset communication to the referee.
“We’re hoping that will help speed up the process for purposes of the referee looking at the appropriate (television angle) shot.”
Competition committee member and St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher said the proposal would allow the referee to consult with members of the NFL officiating department in an effort to get the call right.
“It’s not going to change the process. Replay review will be initiated by the booth or by the coach,” Fisher said.
“The referee will go to the booth, talk to the observer. But during that process, our command center headed by (vice president of officiating) Dean Blandino will already be reviewing the play.
“What’s going to happen is we’re going to make sure that every single review is correct. And we also feel this will speed up the instant replay process and timing.”
To be ratified, a rules change proposal must receive at least 24 of 32 owner votes.
Among the other changes being considered:
A crackdown on racial slurs and taunting will be a significant point of emphasis. Fisher said it would be enforced with the current 15-yard unsportsmanlikeconduct penalty.
“(The rule) states using abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates, officials or representatives of the league is unsportsmanlike conduct,” Fisher said. “So the N-word would fall under that category. The officials will be empowered to call a foul if there is racial slurs or statements regarding another player’s sexual orientation or even baiting or insulting verbal abuse.
“It’s going to be a very signifi- cant point of emphasis.”
A proposal for adding a wildcard team in each conference to increase the total number of playoff teams to 14 is not expected to be voted on, though that could change based on discussion momentum.
“There will be a report on the potential of expanded playoffs. I do not know if there will be any vote at this meeting,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
The Washington Redskins proposed moving kickoffs from the 35-yard line to the 40, expanding replay to include personal foul calls and eliminating overtime in the preseason.
The New England Patriots proposed increasing the height of the goal posts by 5 feet and moving extra point attempts back 23 yards to the 25-yard line while keeping two-point conversation attempts at the 2-yard line.
Fisher said the committee would suggest that extra points be moved back to the 20-yard line during one preseason game for every team as an experiment.
The Patriots proposed adding six cameras to cover all of the boundary lines — those cameras would be in addition to the network TV cameras already used for replay — and permitting challenges of any official decision except on scoring plays.
The committee discussed narrowing the goal posts but made no recommendation. Kickers not only made 99.6% of extra points but also converted 86.6% of field goal attempts last season.
“Narrowing the goal posts we’ve talked about this year,” McKay said. “That discussion gets a little past the extra points and to the actual field goal statistics themselves. In 1970, 59% of field goals were made. I don’t think there’s enough momentum to do it this year. But there will be dis cussion going forward.”