March 22--REPORTING FROM BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Chop blocks are history, longer extra-point kicks are permanent, and the definition of a horse-collar tackle has been expanded.
Those were among the changes to NFL rules adopted by teams Tuesday on the second full day of the league's three-day annual meetings.
There will be more discussion and voting by team owners Wednesday, including on a proposed rule to eject players after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the same game. But so far, here are the changes that will take effect for the 2016 season:
--The line of scrimmage on PAT kicks is permanently moved to the 15-yard line, as was the case in a one-year trial last season. That turns a gimme into a watchable play;
--Offensive and defensive coaching staffs can now use the coach-to-player communication system whether they're in the booth or on the sideline. The prior rule banned coaches in the booth from tapping into the in-helmet radios of players;
--All chop blocks are now illegal, meaning offensive players cannot throw a block at thigh level or lower on a defensive player who already is being blocked by another player;
--The definition of a horse collar tackle has been expanded to include when a defender grabs the jersey at the name plate or above and pulls a runner to the ground;
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--It is a foul or delay of game when a team attempts to call a timeout when it is not allowed to do so;
--The punishment for an eligible receiver illegally touching a forward pass after being out of bounds and reestablishing himself inbounds has been changed to a five-yard penalty to a loss of down.
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