BOCA RATON, Fla. – As always, there will be plenty of rules to discuss at this week's Owners Meetings in Florida.
A total of 19 proposals will be voted on, including a rule impacting the Colts' offensive play calling, the possible expansion of replay and eliminating all chop blocks.
For a rule to pass, 24 of 32 owners must vote in favor of it.
Here are the 19 rule proposals:
- By Competition Committee: Permanently moves the line of scrimmage for try kicks to the defensive team's 15-yard line, and allows the defense to return any missed try.
Bowen Analysis: This rule change in 2015 seemed to go over pretty well, creating much more of an actual "play" versus having it on the two-yard line.
- By Competition Committee: Permits the offensive and defensive play callers on the coaching staffs to use the coach-to-player communication system regardless of whether they are on the field or in the coaches' booth.
Bowen Analysis: Is this the Chud rule? With Rob Chudzinski in the booth this would take out one extra line of communication in getting ahold of Andrew Luck.
- By Competition Committee: Makes all chop blocks illegal.
Bowen Analysis: Arthur Jones has been the victim of such blocks in recent injuries with the Colts.
- By Competition Committee: Disqualifies a player who is penalized twice in one game for certain types of unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.
Bowen Analysis: I expect this to be widely debated after what transpired last year in the Giants/Panthers regular season game and the Steelers/Bengals playoff matchup.
- By Competition Committee: Changes the spot of the next snap after a touchback resulting from a free kick to the 25-yard line.
Bowen Analysis: This would greatly, greatly enhance teams electing not to bring the ball out of the end zone on such kicks.
- By Baltimore: Require players to wear jersey vests with numbers appropriate for their positions.
Bowen Analysis: Is this like we are back in physical education classes wearing pinnies during dodge ball?
- By Baltimore: Provide each team with three challenges and expand reviewable plays.
Bowen Analysis: A very intriguing proposal. I always felt like two challenges were too few with how difficult it can be to overturn plays.
- By Buffalo: Permit a coach to challenge any official's decision except scoring plays and turnovers.
Bowen Analysis: With all scoring plays already reviewed, we could get a challenge at any point during the game.
- By Carolina: Expand the definition of intentional grounding.
Bowen Analysis: I don't see much impact with quarterbacks flipping the ball to the ground.
- By Kansas City: (Half-distance Penalty) Add penalty yards to the distance needed to gain a First Down.
Bowen Analysis: This does make some sense with how "half-distance to the goal" infractions impact down and distance.
- By Kansas City: Prohibit quarterbacks from falling to the ground, getting up, and throwing a forward pass.
Bowen Analysis: The "Peyton Manning" rule? This play from Manning was a massive one in the Broncos' playoff victory over the Steelers.
- By Minnesota: Eliminate the requirement that a team be successful on each of its first two Instant Replay challenges in order to be awarded a third challenge.
Bowen Analysis: This goes in line to what Baltimore is proposing above.
- By Washington: Eliminate overtime periods in preseason games.
Bowen Analysis: The thought of a one-possession, fourth quarter preseason games makes me nervous.
- By Washington: Subject personal foul penalties to Instant Replay review.
Bowen Analysis: Another proposal that should spark some serious debate.
- By Washington: Eliminate the requirement that a team be successful on each of its first two Instant Replay challenges in order to be awarded a third challenge.
Bowen Analysis: I agree with this.
- By Competition Committee: Expands the horse collar rule to include when a defender grabs the jersey at the name plate or above and pulls a runner toward the ground.
Bowen Analysis: Already a very delicate "striking" zone for defenders.
- By Competition Committee: Makes it a foul for delay of game when a team attempts to call a timeout when it is not permitted to do so.
Bowen Analysis: To be honest, I thought this was already a rule.
- By Competition Committee: Eliminates the five-yard penalty for an eligible receiver illegally touching a forward pass after being out of bounds and re-establishing himself inbounds, and makes it a loss of down.
Bowen Analysis: I have no real opinion on this one either way. I assume the pass would just be ruled as incomplete.
- By Competition Committee: Eliminates multiple spots of enforcement for a double foul after a change of possession.
Bowen Analysis: Again, no real passion on this proposal.
