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Lots of heated debate in the office about the rule changes. I'm kind of wishy washy about the quaterback protection rule.
Touchdown celebrations: Players cannot use the football as a prop or drop to the ground during post-touchdown revelry. Players can spike the football, dunk it over the crossbar, spin it on the ground or jump into the stands with it to celebrate with fans. They won't be permitted to use a goal-line pylon to putt the football or do push-ups, two of the celebrations performed by Cincinnati receiver Chad Johnson last season. Players violating the rule will receive a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, to be imposed on the ensuing kickoff and also may be fined.
Down by contact: Down-by-contact calls can now be reviewed to determine if the ball came out before the ball carrier was down as well as who recovered it. In the past, those plays were not reviewable when officials ruled the whistle had ended the play.
Protecting QBs: Pass rushers are now prohibited from hitting a passer in or below the knee unless they are blocked into him. The NFL officiating department showed low hits that caused injuries to Cincinnati's Carson Palmer, Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and Tampa Bay's Brian Griese, although in all cases, those would not have drawn penalties because the rushers were blocked in such a way that they could not avoid the hits.
Horse-collar tackles: The rule enacted last season was toughened by banning tacklers from taking down ball carriers from the rear by tugging inside their jerseys. Last year's rule required that the tackler's hand got inside the runner's shoulder pads. Only two horse collars were called in the 2005 season, and the officiating department said one was an incorrect call.
Protecting snappers: In an effort to avoid injuries to long snappers, players are prohibited from lining up directly over center on field goals and extra points.
Down by contact: Down-by-contact calls can now be reviewed to determine if the ball came out before the ball carrier was down as well as who recovered it. In the past, those plays were not reviewable when officials ruled the whistle had ended the play.
Protecting QBs: Pass rushers are now prohibited from hitting a passer in or below the knee unless they are blocked into him. The NFL officiating department showed low hits that caused injuries to Cincinnati's Carson Palmer, Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and Tampa Bay's Brian Griese, although in all cases, those would not have drawn penalties because the rushers were blocked in such a way that they could not avoid the hits.
Horse-collar tackles: The rule enacted last season was toughened by banning tacklers from taking down ball carriers from the rear by tugging inside their jerseys. Last year's rule required that the tackler's hand got inside the runner's shoulder pads. Only two horse collars were called in the 2005 season, and the officiating department said one was an incorrect call.
Protecting snappers: In an effort to avoid injuries to long snappers, players are prohibited from lining up directly over center on field goals and extra points.
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