NFL owners voted on proposed rule changes this week, but not all of them were approved. Most notably, a proposal to allow teams to attempt a fourth-and-15 play instead of an onside kick was not approved and has been tabled for the time being.
Owners did approve four other changes, though, including an important tweak to the injured reserve list. Teams can now designate three players to return from IR rather than just two. That makes the decision easier for teams when several key players suffer significant injuries.
Additionally, automatic replay on scoring plays and turnovers negated by a penalty has been made permanent. The defenseless player protection has been expanded to kickoffs and punt returns, too.
And lastly, teams can no longer kill the clock by committing penalties while the clock is running – a technique utilized by Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel in recent years.
None of these rule changes were proposed by the Rams but they do pertain to the team. The added IR-return slot is important and gives teams more flexibility during the season. It’ll open up more roster spots because teams will be more willing to place players on IR when they’re expected to miss significant time.
