Player Lockout, Overtime Rule Tops NFL Discussions

Possible player lockout, overtime rule top NFL agenda

By Charles Chandler
cchandler@charlotteobserver.com

Posted: Sunday, Mar. 21, 2010

ORLANDO, Fla. - NFL owners have a full slate of big business to conduct during their annual meetings, which are scheduled for the next three days.

Some years, it's a stretch to find compelling storylines at these meetings, but not this time.

Owners are pondering what's likely their most important topic of the century as they continue to map their strategy for dealing with the NFL Players Association.

Negotiations for a new collective-bargaining agreement are stalled and owners are bracing for a possible lockout of players by next March, which could lead to a work stoppage of America's most popular sport.

Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is playing a leading role in the discussions, which so far have owners putting forth a strong, united front. New England owner Bob Kraft told the Boston Globe that in his 17 years in the league, he hasn't seen owners as united on any other topic.

As usual, owners also will vote on recommended rules changes put forth by the league's competition committee.

The headliner clearly is a recommendation for a modification to the sudden death overtime system, but only for the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

The proposal would allow for at least two possessions if the team that wins the overtime coin toss scores a field goal on its first possession.

Instead of the game ending on a quick field goal, as sometimes happens now, the other team would get the ball and could force a pure sudden death with a field goal or win the game with a touchdown.

The competition committee has put together extensive statistical data showing that since 1994 the team winning the overtime coin toss is about 20percent more likely to win the game.

"There are advocates who will say that we're trying to put in a system that emphasizes more skill and more strategy in overtime as opposed to the randomness of the coin flip," said competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay. "Those on the other side will tell you it works pretty well, it's exciting, and there's an opportunity for less plays, and that is an important product that's needed in overtime."

Overtime will draw most of the headlines, but also on the agenda are:

Further protection of defenseless players.

Unnecessary roughness penalties were up slightly during 2009. The committee found instances of hits it would like to see changed by lowering the target area and ensuring a receiver not only has completed a catch, but has had time to protect himself.

A defensive player would be prohibited from launching into the receiver in any way that causes the defensive player's helmet, face mask, shoulder or forearm to forcibly strike the receiver's head.

Further protection of long snappers on field-goal attempts. The committee proposes that no player can line up within the frame of the body of the snapper, which should give the snapper an opportunity to get his head up and protect himself.

A dead ball if a runner loses or has his helmet come off during a play. This is similar to college rules.

A ball hitting a scoreboard - based on punts potentially hitting the overhanging video board at Cowboys Stadium - is a dead ball. This rule temporarily was instituted for the 2009 season.

Dead-ball penalties would carry over to the second half or into overtime when they happen as the clock runs out in the second or fourth quarters.

The Associated Press contributed.