NFL executive Troy Vincent detailed several rule changes the NFL will consider making this offseason at the NFL's December league meeting. Each year, the NFL considers changes to the rulebook to try and better the game. One of the primary differences for the 2024 NFL season was the addition of the new kickoff return rules.
The NFL is considering expanding replay assist to help on-field officials spot certain penalties, including face masks. Replay assist currently uses officials in the booths to aid on-field referees with determining facets of the game like whether a pass was completed or not, where a player or the football is down, and whether a player is down by contact or not.
A potential big change: NFL exec Troy Vincent says the competition committee will discuss expanding replay assist to include certain penalties such as facemasks.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 11, 2024
What would the standard be to put down a flag from upstairs? “That appetite will have to come from the membership.”
This potential change would come after NFL officials have been criticized for missing multiple instances in which a player grabbed an opponent's face mask, but were not penalized. The most egregious case came during the Los Angeles Rams' 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings in October.
The Vikings had gotten the ball back trailing 28-20 with under two minutes remaining. Minnesota had a chance to drive down the field to tie up the game until Rams defensive tackle Byron Young took Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold down in his own end zone for a safety. However, Young's game-winning safety should not have counted because he grabbed Darnold's face mask while bringing him down. Young did not just tug at Darnold's face mask, but clearly twisted and pulled Darnold down by his face mask. He was not called for the penalty, which had an impact on the game's outcome.
A game-sealing safety on what should've been a facemask call against the Rams.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 25, 2024
"They cannot review that. But he definitely got the facemask (of Sam Darnold). " - Kirk Herbstreit
"Viking fans are going 'What the hell?!'" - Al Michaels #NFL #TNF 🏈🦓🎙️ pic.twitter.com/DbfLrhtXHr
The missed face mask call on Darnold created an outcry, which has only continued when several other players have not been flagged for grabbing face masks.
Refs miss a facemask penalty on Cowboys on Joe Burrow wow pic.twitter.com/F09bgoAKur
— Tedd Buddwell 🏀🏈 (@TedBuddy8) December 10, 2024
Missed facemask on that tackle on 3rd down. Would have been an automatic first. pic.twitter.com/NUXhZpzpAC
— Patrick (@PhillyPMC) December 8, 2024
refs did NOT call this a face mask pic.twitter.com/OXX8ECSpf5
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 1, 2024
refs miss a facemask penalty on the Chiefs… pic.twitter.com/DfOxQRADrl
— Tedd Buddwell 🏀🏈 (@TedBuddy8) November 17, 2024
Vincent addressed these missed calls. “There is a frustration. We believe that is one category that we can get right.”
NFL’s Troy Vincent hinted future replay review could include missed facemask penalties:
— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) December 11, 2024
“There is a frustration. We believe that is one category that we can get right.” pic.twitter.com/juLXV5chqi
In addition to face mask calls, the NFL is considering using replay assists for other penalties, including tripping, taunting, and hits to defenseless players,
Along with the missed calls, the NFL is looking to eliminate blocks that take place below the knees. As players look to avoid making contact with the head or neck area of their opponents, many have aimed lower to avoid penalties or high hits. This, in turn, has resulted in knee or lower leg injuries that have also harmed player health and safety.
“Every block should be above the knee but below the neck," Vincent said. "This is the right time to remove the low block out of the game.”
Most emphatic note from NFL EVP football operations Troy Vincent? Low block.
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) December 11, 2024
“This is the right time for us to remove the low block out of the game. Every block should be above the knee, below the neck.”
Similar tone from execs to hip-drop tackle last year. Which led to action. https://t.co/A9fXSGY3hj
Vincent added that the NFL is also looking at making changes to their onside kick rules. The onside kick has seen a drop in success rate in recent years, and one possible change—that has been suggested previously—would be a team executing a single play to retain possession of the football.
NFL exec Troy Vincent also mentions an openness to seriously considering alternatives to the onside kick, including a single offensive play to retain possssion. Says those proposals have gained support in recent years and coaches could design something creative. One to watch.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 11, 2024
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as NFL Considering Multiple Rule Changes This Offseason: List of What Could Change.
