NFL Owners Pass Rules Changes

[HuskyCaucasian]

2 Minor:

• If a fumble or backward pass goes out of bounds, the game clock will start when the official places the ball in play.
• The NFL eliminated a second onside kick chance if the first onside kick goes out of bounds. The competition committee believed that bad onside kicks should not be rewarded with a second opportunity.

4 "Safety" Rules:

• illegal for a defensive player to hit a defenseless receiver in the head with a hit using the forearm or shoulder.
• illegal for an offensive player to deliver a blindside block by using the helmet, shoulder or forearm to deliver a blow to a defensive player's head.
• The kicking team now is prohibited from bunching too many players in the middle of the field, or on a single side of the field.
• The receiving team now is prohibited from using a blocking "wedge" of more than two players on a kickoff return.

 

They are also redoing the draft order in 2010:

The NFL owners concluded their annual meeting Wednesday by voting to alter the draft order of pick Nos. 21 through 30 based on the teams' performance in the playoffs.

 

Under the new draft order, which will take effect in 2010, the order of teams not in the playoffs is still based on record -- i.e., the team with the worst record will receive the No. 1 draft pick.

 

For the rest, there will be a reseeding based on how far the teams go in the playoffs. For example, the losers of the wild-card games will be seeded 21st through 24th based on their records.

 

The losers in the divisional rounds will be seeded 25th through 28th. Teams eliminated in the conference championship games will be seeded 29th and 30th.

 

The Super Bowl loser will be seeded 31st. The Super Bowl winner will receive the final pick in the draft.

[lostfan]

And also, while I guess it wasn't an official rule change, they told officials to penalize defensive players who lunge at the QB from the ground in an effort to make a tackle. "Tom Brady Rule." They could've just given QBs red jerseys and flags on their hips.

[HuskyCaucasian]

More Changes:

• Loose balls that could have been the result of a fumble or an incomplete pass are now subject to video review. Or, as it will forever be known, "The Hochuli Rule."
• Video replay can be used to determine if a loose ball stayed in bounds or hit the sideline.
• There's a new waiver period during the first two weeks of training camp, and the postseason waiver period will begin after the NFL's final game, whether it's the Pro Bowl or the Super Bowl.