NFL Overtime rules changed!
Rules proposal passes on 28-4 vote
By John Clayton and Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
The NFL owners decided to pass a change in the overtime rule that would give the team that loses the coin toss at the start of overtime to get a possession if the coin-toss winning team scores a field goal with the first possession.
The proposal was passed by a vote of 28-4 as written just for the postseason, but the owners have decided to discuss adopting the changes for the regular season at their next meeting, in May in Dallas.
New postseason overtime rules
• Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner.
• If the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal on its initial possession, the other team shall have the opportunity to possess the ball. If [that team] scores a touchdown on its possession, it is the winner. If the score is tied after [both teams have a] possession, the team next scoring by any method shall be the winner.
• If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if [the overtime period's] initial possession has not ended, another overtime period will begin, and play will continue until a score is made, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.
The Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals voted against.
The Competition Committee recommended the change in a vote of 6-2, and commissioner Roger Goodell supported the plan and was able to secure enough votes to get the move passed on Tuesday, a day before the expected Wednesday vote.
The reason for the change was the increased accuracy of kickers since 1993. In 1994, the NFL moved kickoffs from the 35 to the 30, which created better field position for the teams that won the coin toss and received the kickoffs. Since 1994, kickers have had better than a 50 percent accuracy level on field goals longer than 50 yards.
"We've had this discussion for a number of years," Competition co-chairman Rich McKay said. " We feel this year's proposal gave us the opportunity to a pretty good rule. Statistically we felt it needed to be changed. It wasn't creating the fairest result as far asfield goal accuracy field goal distance and drive starts."
McKay said one of the selling points was it maintained the sudden death aspect of overtime.
This is not a one-year experiment. The vote is a permanent change to the overtime rule, which was established in 1974 to minimize tied games.
If there is discussion about taking this overtime change to involve regular season games, McKay didn't rule out the possibility to be part of the 2010 regular season, but he doubted that a regular-season change would pass.
By John Clayton and Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
The NFL owners decided to pass a change in the overtime rule that would give the team that loses the coin toss at the start of overtime to get a possession if the coin-toss winning team scores a field goal with the first possession.
The proposal was passed by a vote of 28-4 as written just for the postseason, but the owners have decided to discuss adopting the changes for the regular season at their next meeting, in May in Dallas.
New postseason overtime rules
• Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner. • If the team that possesses the ball first scores a field goal on its initial possession, the other team shall have the opportunity to possess the ball. If [that team] scores a touchdown on its possession, it is the winner. If the score is tied after [both teams have a] possession, the team next scoring by any method shall be the winner.
• If the score is tied at the end of a 15-minute overtime period, or if [the overtime period's] initial possession has not ended, another overtime period will begin, and play will continue until a score is made, regardless of how many 15-minute periods are necessary.
The Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals voted against.
The Competition Committee recommended the change in a vote of 6-2, and commissioner Roger Goodell supported the plan and was able to secure enough votes to get the move passed on Tuesday, a day before the expected Wednesday vote.
The reason for the change was the increased accuracy of kickers since 1993. In 1994, the NFL moved kickoffs from the 35 to the 30, which created better field position for the teams that won the coin toss and received the kickoffs. Since 1994, kickers have had better than a 50 percent accuracy level on field goals longer than 50 yards.
"We've had this discussion for a number of years," Competition co-chairman Rich McKay said. " We feel this year's proposal gave us the opportunity to a pretty good rule. Statistically we felt it needed to be changed. It wasn't creating the fairest result as far asfield goal accuracy field goal distance and drive starts."
McKay said one of the selling points was it maintained the sudden death aspect of overtime.
This is not a one-year experiment. The vote is a permanent change to the overtime rule, which was established in 1974 to minimize tied games.
If there is discussion about taking this overtime change to involve regular season games, McKay didn't rule out the possibility to be part of the 2010 regular season, but he doubted that a regular-season change would pass.