Significant changes to the use of video replay in the NFL, including reviewing all fouls called by game officials, will be presented by the league’s competition committee at next week’s owners meetings.
In all, there are 13 proposals on the table to amend the NFL’s instant replay rules.
The Detroit Lions have proposed reviewing all penalties called by game officials, including pass interference and holding calls, personal fouls, penalties against defenseless players, any foul that results in an automatic first down and clock issues.
New England suggested that everything except scoring plays or turnovers be challengeable, while Washington proposed increasing a coach’s number of challenges from two to three.
Even stadium-produced video could be used to correct officiating errors if a suggestion by Tennessee is approved.
Currently, no penalties are reviewable. Detroit felt burned when a flag against the Dallas defense for pass interference was immediately rescinded during the Lions’ playoff loss in January.
St Louis coach Jeff Fisher, a member of the powerful competition committee, made it clear that his peers would not favor such a change.
“It would be our responsibility on the field whether these are fouls or not fouls,” Fisher said of his fellow coaches. “This [replay review] was never designed to involve fouls.”
Also to be discussed in Phoenix will be a proposal by the Patriots to place fixed cameras on all boundary lines. That would guarantee coverage of the goal lines, end lines and sidelines, regardless of where television cameras are positioned.
Other proposals include moving the extra point attempt to the 15-yard line; guaranteeing both teams a possession in overtime even if one scores a touchdown on its first drive; and a scenario that gives teams that successfully convert a 2 point conversion the chance to immediately add another point from midfield with a “bonus field goal.”
The Colts also proposed allowing host teams to open a retractable roof at halftime.
Almost certain to also be discussed is an expansion of the playoffs from 12 to 14 teams, which would cut out one wild-card round bye per conference.
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