NFL Owners Approve Rule Changes

There were several items on the agenda at this week’s NFL Owners’ Meetings. Some of them passed, while others were tabled for later. Here’s a short list:

Items that passed:

• Radio communication devices will now be added to one defensive player’s helmet per team. The Broncos would likely employ WLB D.J. Williams or CB Champ Bailey in that regard, although if S John Lynch competes and keeps his starting job I could see him being the signal caller.
• The forceout rule is no more (where a wide receiver’s catch can still be counted as a completion if he was pushed out before his feet hit the turf), in attempts to keep the calls more consistent. Controversial rule to begin with… no surprise.
• Face mask penalties of the minor variety have been removed altogether… only significant contact that tugs or twists the helmet will be called, at only the 15-yard length. Love this move.

Items that went down in flames (possibly just for now):

• The playoffs will not be re-seeded so wild card teams with better records would get the home field advantage instead of division winners. Was never a fan of the idea, but wasn’t opposed to it, either.
• Wear your hair as long as you like, NFL players! Watch out for those locks, Larry Johnson.

Full story [ESPN]