Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 26, 2012 7:49:31 GMT
Rules ChangesThe following rules changes have been proposed (but not finalized) by the competition committee for the 2012 season:
The Replay Official would have the final decision on whether to overturn/uphold replay reviews instead of the Referee, similar to how the NCAA football replay system works.
The Replay Booth can initiate replay reviews on turnover plays at any time during the game, similar to a change made in the 2011 season regarding booth reviews on scoring plays outside of the final 2:00 of the game or in overtime.
The overtime rules in the playoffs (adopted for the 2010 season) would be extended to the regular season. Instead of a straight sudden death, the game will not immediately end if the team that wins the coin toss only scores a field goal on its first possession (they can still win the game if they score a touchdown). Instead, the other team gets a possession. If the coin toss loser then scores a touchdown, it is declared the winner. If the score is tied after both teams had a possession whether the coin toss loser scored a field goal to tie it or punted it away, then it goes back to sudden death.
The penalty for 12 men on the field (not in the huddle) would be changed from a live-ball foul to a dead-ball foul, possibly in response to the New York Giants committing such a foul on defense in the late stages of Super Bowl XLVI, costing the New England Patriots seconds on a late drive.
Abolish the exemption on horse-collar tackles on the quarterback inside the pocket. Such fouls would be penalized as on any other such tackle; 15 yards and an automatic first down.
The Replay Official would have the final decision on whether to overturn/uphold replay reviews instead of the Referee, similar to how the NCAA football replay system works.
The Replay Booth can initiate replay reviews on turnover plays at any time during the game, similar to a change made in the 2011 season regarding booth reviews on scoring plays outside of the final 2:00 of the game or in overtime.
The overtime rules in the playoffs (adopted for the 2010 season) would be extended to the regular season. Instead of a straight sudden death, the game will not immediately end if the team that wins the coin toss only scores a field goal on its first possession (they can still win the game if they score a touchdown). Instead, the other team gets a possession. If the coin toss loser then scores a touchdown, it is declared the winner. If the score is tied after both teams had a possession whether the coin toss loser scored a field goal to tie it or punted it away, then it goes back to sudden death.
The penalty for 12 men on the field (not in the huddle) would be changed from a live-ball foul to a dead-ball foul, possibly in response to the New York Giants committing such a foul on defense in the late stages of Super Bowl XLVI, costing the New England Patriots seconds on a late drive.
Abolish the exemption on horse-collar tackles on the quarterback inside the pocket. Such fouls would be penalized as on any other such tackle; 15 yards and an automatic first down.