NFL 2019 rule changes: Teams set to vote on NEW onside kick option
NFL teams are set to agree on an alternative to the onside kick after only one owner opposed the plan.
At the beginning of March nine proposals were made by seven teams to the NFL for changes for the 2019 season.
One of these were made by the the Denver Broncos, who suggested a change to how the onside kick works.
The Broncos proposed teams could get the option of not taking a kickoff and instead trying to convert a fourth-and-15 play from their own 35-yard line.
They stipulated that teams would only be able to do this once per game and only in the fourth quarter.
What are we, the Arena Football League?
If the play is converted, the team keeps possession of the ball, Bbt if the attempt fails, the other team would then take over possession.
The proposal has generated a lot of interest from the NFL Competition Committee with only one member opposed to it, Giants owner John Mara, according to NFL Network’s Judy Battista.
"What are we, the Arena Football League?" Mara said of the proposal.
Members believe it could be a viable option for teams to offer an alternative to the onside kick.
Pervious rule changes to the onside kick, designed to make the kickoff safer, have pretty much cancelled out any chance of a team recovering the football off their own onside kick.
The committee will now offer offer their report to owners at the NFL’s annual meeting where they will have the option to vote on it - for a new rule to be adopted it must have the support of 75 percent of the owners.
What is the NFL Competition Committee
The NFL Competition Committee is made up of eight members who the NFL commissioner selects.
As per NFL operations the Competition Committee “reviews all competitive aspects of the game, including (but not limited to) playing rules, roster regulations, technology, game-day operations and player protection.”
At the NFL’s annual meeting, the committee will present a report of its findings to the 32 owners, who will then vote on any proposed new rules or rules changes.
For any changes to be accepted 24 of the 32 owners will have to vote yes for it to come into effect next season.
It currently consists of two owners, two club presidents, two general managers and two head coaches:
Rich McKay (chairman) – president, Atlanta Falcons
John Mara – owner, New York Giants
Stephen Jones – owner, Dallas Cowboys
Mark Murphy – president, Green Bay Packers
Ozzie Newsome – general manager, Baltimore Ravens
Mike Tomlin – head coach, Pittsburgh Steelers
John Elway – general manager, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton – head coach, New Orleans Saints