As fans get excited for the start of free agency, NFL teams are also preparing for the 2020 league meetings and a chance to shape the game’s future with new rule proposals.
The NFL announced on Tuesday that the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins each proposed rule proposals that will be voted on this month.
- Eagles – Modify the blindside block rule to prevent unnecessary fouls.
- Eagles – Make the expansion of automatic replay reviews permanent, to now include scoring plays and turnovers negated by a foul, plus any successful or unsuccessful try attempt.
- Eagles – Provide an alternative to onside kick that would allow the trailing team the opportunity to maintain possession of the ball after scoring with a fourth-and-15 from kicking team’s 15-yard line.
- Eagles – Restore preseason and regular season overtime to 15 minutes, with rules implemented to minimize the impact of the overtime coin toss.
- Dolphins – Provide the defense with the option to start the game clock on referee’s signal if defense declines an offensive penalty late in the half.
- Ravens and Chargers – Add a “booth umpire” as an eighth game official to the officiating crew.
- Ravens and Chargers – Add a senior technology adviser to the referee to assist officiating crew.
Philadelphia’s proposal with an alternative to the onside kick would follow a similar rule that we’ve seen in the XFL. The implementation of a sky judge, also known as the booth umpire, is also used by the XFL.
While it’s unlikely we see many of these rules implemented, it provides a glimpse into where the game could eventually be headed and what NFL teams are starting to push for.