NFL set to "tweak" rules

[Willie Bee]

Could be some key changes as far as false starts, holding, tackling and a possible increase in the number of teams in the postseason...not sure how the "make an effort" deal on hitting QBs in the legs will ever stand up, no pun intended.

Full AP Story @ Fox Sports.com

So beginning next week at league meetings in Orlando, Fla., it will tweak a few rules, dealing mostly with player safety, offensive holding and false starts.

The committee also wants to change the rule on hits by defenders below the knee on quarterbacks. McKay said defensive players will be told they must make an effort to avoid hitting QBs in the legs to avoid serious injuries, like the hit on Cincinnati's Carson Palmer against the Steelers in the playoffs.

The committee also is considering an annual proposal from the Kansas City Chiefs to expand the playoffs from 12 to 14 teams. He said there was more interest in it this year, although he stopped short of saying the committee would recommend it.

[bigboydan]

that post season extra team should not be amended. because, if it was. what is the point of the regular season if they made that change.

[onlooker]

I really hope they come up with something good on the holding and false start aspect of the game. Those penalties just kill drives and the chances for teams to get back in or even win a game. If a hold is on the other side of the play, then they need to consider not calling it. Its away from the play and has no effect on it.

Here is the article, so the members dont need to leave our great forum.

NFL concerned with perception of officiating
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - The NFL is satisfied with its officiating but concerned that high-profile errors in the playoffs and Super Bowl left a bad impression.

So beginning next week at league meetings in Orlando, Fla., it will tweak a few rules, dealing mostly with player safety, offensive holding and false starts.

"Because of the magnitude of the games, there's an indictment of the system," Atlanta general manager Rich McKay, co-chairman of the league's competition committee, said Wednesday during a conference call.

The main topic will be the first steps in choosing a successor to Paul Tagliabue. The commissioner will appoint a committee Monday to begin the process.

McKay, a leading candidate, dodged several questions on that subject. Instead, he spent most of his time discussing officiating, as did his committee during meetings the past month in Indianapolis and Naples, Fla.

In the 256 games during the past regular season, there were 850 false-start calls. To cut that number, the committee is ready to recommend that minor flinches by wide receivers be ignored if they have no effect on the play.

The committee also is considering recommending to officials that they make sure there was holding on a play before throwing a flag.

"We want to make sure they actually see the foul," McKay said.

One such play occurred in the Super Bowl. Seattle right tackle Sean Locklear was called for holding on a pass completion early in the fourth quarter that would have put the Seahawks at the Pittsburgh 1-yard line, poised to go in for the tying touchdown. After the penalty, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception and the Steelers eventually scored to take a 14-point lead.

The committee also wants to change the rule on hits by defenders below the knee on quarterbacks. McKay said defensive players will be told they must make an effort to avoid hitting QBs in the legs to avoid serious injuries, like the hit on Cincinnati's Carson Palmer against the Steelers in the playoffs.

Another recommendation expands the rule put in place last year against "horse collar" tackles. That violation mandated flags only when a defensive player coming from behind got his hands inside the shoulder pads of a player with the ball. If it is expanded, it would extend that to tackles inside the shirt.

The committee also is considering an annual proposal from the Kansas City Chiefs to expand the playoffs from 12 to 14 teams. He said there was more interest in it this year, although he stopped short of saying the committee would recommend it.

In addition to McKay, the committee includes coach Jeff Fisher of Tennessee, the co-chairman; general managers Ozzie Newsome of Baltimore; Bill Polian of Indianapolis; and executives John Mara of the New York Giants and Mark Richardson of Carolina. Coach Marvin Lewis of Cincinnati is a nonvoting member.

[Illusion]

Every other league has 16 teams in the playoffs. 14 teams in the NFL would be fine with me.

[bigboydan]

ILL, look at all those bottom feeders in those two leagues that make the playoffs. hell, theres alot of them that get in there with a .500 record or lower. i'm sorry but thats not right at all.

[Winston Smith]

Every other league has 16 teams in the playoffs. 14 teams in the NFL would be fine with me.

I think emulating the NHL or NBA should be the furthest thing from the NFL's mind.