NFL - Are you ready for some Football - Draft and Off Season

[Ming]

Continued from http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...5&pagenumber=1

[Imran Siddiqui]

Here are all the rule changes:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3325273

Among the proposals that were passed:

• A recommendation to eliminate force-out decisions on pass completions near the sidelines. Now, officials will have to decide only whether a receiver landed inbounds or not. The intended result is more consistency.

• The "Phil Dawson field goal rule." Now, certain field goals can be reviewed by instant replay, including kicks that bounce off the uprights. Under the previous system, no field goals could be reviewed.

• Deferring the opening coin toss. This is similar to the college rule. Previously, the winner of the coin toss could choose only to receive or to kick off.

• A direct snap from center that goes backward will now be treated as a fumble. Previously, it was ruled a false start.

• Eliminating the 5-yard face mask penalty. Now, only the serious face mask will be called (and will be assessed as a 15-yard penalty). The major foul will involve twisting or grabbing the face mask.

[Guynemer]

Good changes.

If a defender can push a guy out before he gets his feet down, he should be rewarded for that.

[Tuberski]

And now the swing begins. Defensive rule changes will dominate for a few more years.

ACK!

[Lord Avalon]

Originally posted by Guynemer

If a defender can push a guy out before he gets his feet down, he should be rewarded for that.

Or before he controls the ball.

Not sure I like this rule, though. Could eliminate some spectacular catches.

[Ming]

I see it as also leading to some spectacular injuries.
But I guess the NFL feels it's only ok to protect QB's and not WR's

[-Jrabbit]

More fun in Cinci...

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals have released wide receiver Chris Henry after his fifth arrest since 2005.

The 24-year-old Henry was in Hamilton County Jail pending a court appearance Thursday after being accused of punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle. Police said he surrendered after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging.

Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement that Henry had forfeited his career with the club.

Henry was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the first half of last season for repeatedly violating the league's conduct policy.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I like the change with push outs as well... swing the pendulum a bit more to the defensive side.

And it isn't like defenders don't try to push recivers out anyway.

Besides the change was a UNANIMOUS vote... so apparently it was something a long time coming.

[-Jrabbit]

One of the proposed changes not adopted was a yardage penalty for punts out of bounds. One GM was quoted as saying that "Devin hester doesn't need any more help."

[snoopy369]

Punts out of bounds are pretty boring, though... and Hester's not the only one who would benefit, several other punt returners are punted away from (Dante Hall in his prime, etc.)

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, but punters kicking to the coffin corner is pretty good bit of strategy... depending on the skill, they either totally miss-hit it, or get it nice.

[Jaguar]

Coffin corner punting adds another dimension to the punting game and should be kept.

[snoopy369]

Strategy is not something the owners selectively put into the game rules-wise, though. They put things in based on what makes the game more exciting to fans; and a PR-TD is one of the most exciting things in football...

[flash9286]

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals have released wide receiver Chris Henry after his fifth arrest since 2005.

The 24-year-old Henry was in Hamilton County Jail pending a court appearance Thursday after being accused of punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle. Police said he surrendered after a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging.

Bengals president Mike Brown said in a statement that Henry had forfeited his career with the club.

Henry was suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the first half of last season for repeatedly violating the league's conduct policy.

In other words, Cowboys to sign Chris Henry.

[snoopy369]

He's going to get at least a year off before that's possible