It’s March and that means the 30 NFL owners gather for their annual meetings and rule changes.
The biggest change to come out of those meetings so far is a major adjustment to kick off’s to start each half.
A few years ago, the NFL owners practically eliminated the kickoff return; now they are adopting an NFL, XFL hybrid that will include new alignments and a “landing zone”
Kickoffs begin on the 35 year line but the coverage team – five on each side – will be on the 40. Nine players from the receiving team will be lined up in the “set up zone” – 30 to 35 yard line; at least seven of the nine must be touching the 35. Two return players will be allowed inside the 20 yard line – the area between the goal line and the 20 is considered a “landing zone”.
Only the kicker and the two return men will be in motion until the kicked ball hits the ground or has been touched by one of the return men.
The receiving team has the option of returning any kickoff that reaches the end zone in the air or taking a touchback where the ball will be replace on the 30 yard line. Any ball that goes out of the end zone will be a touchback and placed on the 30.
If the ball hits a return man and not recovered or hits the ground and goes into the end zone, the touchback will be placed on the 20 yard line.
The rule change is under the “temporary” category while the NFL reviews how the new ruled plays out over the 2024 season and will be re-evaluated before the beginning of the 2025 season. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell noted that he expected some tweaking in the rule but called it, “a big improvement”.
While the “tush push” is still a part of the game, the “hip drop” tackle is no longer allowed. The vote was unanimously approved.
Two tweaks were made to the instant replay rules…
Replays will now be allowed to determine whether a play clock expired before the snap of a ball. The instant replay may also be used to correct an error when a quarterback is ruled down by contact or out of bounds prior to throwing the ball.
Other rule changes…
Playoff teams may now have unlimited returns from players on Injured Reserve is they have missed at least four games.
Team will be allowed to place two players on the Injured Reserve, physically unable to perform, or non-football injury list prior to cutting down to the 53 man roster. Those players will be considered eligible to return.
The trade deadline has been moved to the Tuesday following week nine of the season.
A team is no longer limited in the number of times they can evaluate a “bona fide” quarterback on the practice squad to take the role of a third emergency quarterback.
The NFL has long had Thursday night and Monday night games. For the 2024 season, there will also be a Wednesday game when there will be two games played on Christmas Day which falls on a Wednesday in 2024.
Items tabled for a later date…
The owners did not vote on whether Tom Brady can purchase a stake in ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders.