March 18, 2024

NFL owners shoot down most replay proposals

PHOENIX (AP) — NFL owners shot down nearly every video replay proposal brought to their meetingsTuesday, while approving six safety rule changes.

Of the 13 replay alterations proposed, including extending the number of coaches’ challenges and letting them challenge all officiating calls, the only one passed will allow game officials to use replay for clock issues at the end of a half, game or overtime if more than 1 second remains.

Washington’s suggestion to use replay to review personal fouls was withdrawn. Kansas City withdrew a proposal to allow replay officials to review all potential scores or turnovers.

Proposals defeated were:

— increasing coaches’ challenges by one to three;

— replay reviews of any personal fouls;

— reviews of any penalty resulting in a first down, with no challenge necessary;

— replays on fouls against a defenseless receiver being enforced when a reversal results in an incomplete pass;

— reviewing fouls against a defenseless receiver, with an unsuccessful challenge not costing a timeout;

— reviewing whether time expired on the play clock before the ball is snapped;

— using stadium-produced video for a replay review.

The owners approved a proposal for stopping play when a medical adviser believes a player is unstable and should be taken off the field.

They also approved rules prohibiting players from pushing teammates on the line of scrimmage when the opponent is punting; eliminating all peel-back blocks and chop blocks by running backs outside the tackle box; and extending defenseless player protection during an interception return.

On Monday the league announced it would drop local TV blackouts for the 2015 season.