The NFL Competition Committee has formally submitted new playing rule proposals to be considered by league clubs during next week's annual meeting, including a major change to onside kicks. According to Adam Schefter, the committee is looking to significantly alter how teams approach special teams late in games.
The first major proposal would permit the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during a game. This change is designed to revitalize the play, which has seen success rates plummet in recent seasons following safety-related kickoff restrictions that prohibited the kicking team from getting a running start. By allowing teams to declare their intent, the league may be looking to create a specific set of alignment rules for those situations.
Additionally, the NFL Competition Committee proposed a rule to eliminate the kicking team’s incentive to intentionally kick the ball out of bounds. These proposals represent the league's ongoing effort to balance player safety with the competitive excitement of potential late-game comebacks. For these rules to be adopted for the upcoming season, they must receive approval from at least 24 of the 32 NFL club owners during the meetings scheduled for next week.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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