NFL will vote on video review for all ejections
ByReuters
Published 16/05/2018 at 21:44 GMT
NFL owners will vote at next week's league meetings on a proposal to make all ejections subject to video review, the league announced Wednesday in a written rules proposal.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
The proposed rule change, which will apply to "any disqualification of a
player," is another step in the league's emphasis on player safety this
offseason, after a rule was approved in March to penalize, and for flagrant
offenses eject, players who lower their helmets to make contact with an
opponent. Paired together, the two rules would function similarly to the
NCAA's targeting rule.
player," is another step in the league's emphasis on player safety this
offseason, after a rule was approved in March to penalize, and for flagrant
offenses eject, players who lower their helmets to make contact with an
opponent. Paired together, the two rules would function similarly to the
NCAA's targeting rule.
Many coaches and members of the league's competition committee have pushed to
make ejections reviewable as a backstop for the enforcement of the "lowering
the helmet" rule, which was initially met with skepticism from some.
make ejections reviewable as a backstop for the enforcement of the "lowering
the helmet" rule, which was initially met with skepticism from some.
If approved, the new rule would require the league's officiating center in New
York to review video of any offense after an ejection is called and confirm or
overturn the decision. The on-field referee will not be involved in reviewing
the play or making the decision.
York to review video of any offense after an ejection is called and confirm or
overturn the decision. The on-field referee will not be involved in reviewing
the play or making the decision.
In its current form, the rule would allow for a review only when an ejection
has been called, not to determine if an ejection is merited after one was not
called on the field. Additionally, reviewing a play on which an ejection was
called will not make other aspects of that play reviewable. Currently, all
reviewable aspects of any play are subject to be overturned once a replay
review has been initiated.
has been called, not to determine if an ejection is merited after one was not
called on the field. Additionally, reviewing a play on which an ejection was
called will not make other aspects of that play reviewable. Currently, all
reviewable aspects of any play are subject to be overturned once a replay
review has been initiated.
The other major proposal owners will vote on at next week's meetings in
Atlanta is a tweaking of kickoffs, intended to make the play more like a punt
in order to reduce high-speed collisions and improve player safety.
Atlanta is a tweaking of kickoffs, intended to make the play more like a punt
in order to reduce high-speed collisions and improve player safety.
The new rule would require all members of the kickoff team to be within one
yard of the ball when it is kicked, at least eight players on the return team
to be within 15 yards of the ball when it is kicked, and no blocking permitted
in that 15-yard area until the ball hits the ground or is caught.
Additionally, no wedge blocks of any kind would be permitted.
yard of the ball when it is kicked, at least eight players on the return team
to be within 15 yards of the ball when it is kicked, and no blocking permitted
in that 15-yard area until the ball hits the ground or is caught.
Additionally, no wedge blocks of any kind would be permitted.
Also expected at the league meetings is the approval of David Tepper as the
new owner of the Carolina Panthers.
new owner of the Carolina Panthers.
--Field Level Media
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